Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy Birthday to my Dee. My dad is kind, smart, funny, the life-of-the-party, protective, loving, sensitive, emotional and fiercely proud to be an American. He only drives Fords, is a fabulous cook and is in his glory when I spend the night at home. I am so happy this man is my dad, and can't wait for the day he gets to walk me down the aisle!

I am a daddy's girl. And I like it that way!

Outside at the Noschelman's (and other random musings)

Last weekend was a fellow Mitten Kitten's 30th b-day celebration back near my hometown of Manchester. Since we live about an hour away, Ryan and I often just spend the night with the Novess', friends' or at my dad's when we go into town (which feels about every weekend!). The party was literally a stone's throw from my childhood home, so I stayed there for the night. Before I left on Sunday, I packed up some plants and flowers from my stepmom's garden. Mary has the greenest thumb known to man, and she has so many flowers that she constantly has to thin them out. My front flower beds needed a little pick-me-up, so I happily nabbed some things to plant. Keep your fingers crossed they don't die on me- my thumb is still on the brown side! Here's a few pics of our little home from the outside. Inside pics to come! NOTE: we live smack dab in the middle of the city. Homes are small bungalows, lawns are postage size and you better love your neighbors cause you're awfully close! But it's without any uncertainly that we will be settling in the country permanently within a few years, so for now, this works for us and I'm just in love with our little home.

You can't see them cause they are so small at this point, but there are little cactus flower plants next to each of the solar lights.

I'll take follow-up pics once things perk up and flourish!

Hi, Doggies!

Standing at front door looking out.

And to completely switch subjects, here's some recent happenings at the Noschelman household:

• I have had two phone interviews, one assessment test and one appointment for a face to face interview set up within the past five days. Woot woot! I feel a job coming on!
• Busy, busy, busy is what we're feeling right now. With the Fourth coming up, there are people to see and things to do! My mom arrives on Thursday- yay! And another Mitten Kitten is visiting from Texas. In the next few days I'll be catching up on lost time with some besties and my mom, spending time at the lake, going to a Tigers baseball game, attending summertime cookouts and watching the fireworks in my small hometown.
• My hair, though a little shorter than I originally thought I was going to go, turned out cute. Whew...

Bye Bye, Frumpalumpagus

After weeks, no- months, of not going to the salon, I'm finally getting my haircut tonight. In Florida and Memphis, I went every six to eight weeks. It's amazing how good you feel about yourself with freshly cut and styled hair! But without a job these past couple of months, I felt it was just an extravagance I really needed to do without. However, Ryan's sister, Alicia, is in school at an Aveda salon in Ann Arbor, and needs a "model" tonight. Which means I get my hair washed, cut and blown out ALL FOR FREE. Yippee! I'm so excited. My hair is long right now, definitely the longest I've had it for years. I had layers, and they've grown out. I had bangs, and they've grown out. So I'm just totally in this frumpy stage. But not for long! Here's what I'm thinking (sans tattoos, of course):

What do you think? Cute, eh? Hopefully Ryan agrees!

Keep Your Fingers Crossed

When I woke up this morning, I had a feeling today was going to be a good day. Maybe it was because Ryan asked for my help with something he was working on, so I felt like I was needed. Or maybe it was because yesterday he bought me the latest Tori Spelling book (YES!!!). Or maybe it was because the weekend is almost here, which means two days free from this tedious job search process. So when I received a call from a very notable Detroit area ad agency inquiring about my recent application, lets just say I wasn't surprised the call came today. Surprised...No. Extremely happy, thrilled, excited, prepared and ready...Yes! So, my fingers are crossed that they will love what I have to say, see that I'm passionate about this industry and bring me in for a face-to-face interview. I also have a lead at the University of Michigan, so things are starting to look up! Whew- I was beginning to think this unemployment period would never end.

25 Things To Do Before I'm 40

Since I just entered a new decade of my life, I thought it would be a neat idea to put to paper (or blog) some things I would like to accomplish between now and 40. Without further ado, my list:

1. Get married
2. Start a family
3. Buy a house in the country
4. Travel internationally- Ireland or Italy
5. Buy a big girl camera and learn how to really use it
6. Napa Valley wine tour
7. Run a 10k
8. Learn CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver
9. Pay off all debt (well, a mortgage is ok)
10. Learn how to change a flat tire
11. Buy a Dyson
12. Host a dinner party- where I do the cooking!
13. Become a mentor
14. Build a garden from dirt to veggies!
15. Volunteer
16. Get a second tattoo- this one with meaning
17. Eat more seafood
18. Live without envy
19. Contribute WAY more to savings and my 401k
20. Take better care of my body/skin- drink more water, get facials, buy proper make-up, stay out of the sun, exercise often!
21. Learn how to shoot a gun
22. Take a roadtrip with my mom
23. Smile more, worry less
24. Be content
25. Be a good, loving wife and mom

Dear 20-year-old Self

Recently, I turned 30. And then I had an old family friend stay with me for the weekend. Nancy has known me since I was in the womb. She's married to my dad's childhood best friend, and has known my dad since he was a wee one. She even once had a school-yard crush on my dad. Cute :) So, I'm not sure if it was the memories Nancy and I relived, or the fact that I'm now entering a new decade of my life, where exciting, life-altering things will happen (you know...marriage, babies, etc). But something has prompted me to write this letter to my 20-year-old self.

Dear 20-year-old Me:
Boy were you wound tight! I wish someone would have told you that it's ok to let your hair down and go with the flow, but if you knew then what I know now, then I guess this journey wouldn't have been quite so...meaningful. Plus, you probably would have told that person to mind their own business! But, here's what I wish I could tell you:

• Trust your instincts. It's ok to break up with that boy now, just like you want to. You will not end up marrying him, life will go on, and you should instead spend the next two carefree years living it up with your best girlfriends.
• Be the best friend you can. These women in your life will be with you when you're 30, and probably 40, 50...100, so cherish the friendships and don't disappear like you do for those few years when you first get to Florida.
• Be the best daughter you can be. Your mom will have some rough years health-wise, so being patient, kind and loving will get you a lot farther. And then you wont carry any regrets.
• Stay out of that hot Florida sun, and stop tanning! It is NOT good for your skin, no matter how good it makes you feel.
• WEAR YOUR RETAINER :)
• Rid yourself of the ugly "green with envy" emotion. Your life is good. It is yours. It is beautiful. You are a much better person without it, and life is NOT a competition.
• Remain positive no matter what is thrown your way. It will carry you through the hard times.
• Thank you...Thank you for finishing college. Thank you for taking that job, even though it's 1000 miles from home. Thank you for dating gentlemen who know how to treat women. Thank you for not marrying so young. Thank you for not falling into the dark blackhole of addiction. Thank you for making the 30-year-old you proud.
• And never forget...old friends, new friends. Good times, bad times. Atlanta, Daytona. Saline, Manchester, Portugal, Kalamazoo, Florida, Memphis, Royal Oak. Guys that come, guys that go. The one that will remain. It all makes you who you are. Just live your life, love your life, and don't forget to laugh.
  

It's Not ALL Bad

From my last post, you can tell I am anxiously awaiting my dream job. But, here are the top 10 things I WILL miss about being unemployed:

1. Waking up at 9
2. Kelly, Ellen and the ladies at The View
3. Spending all day with my Boom and Kai
4. My spic-and-span, spotless home
5. Talking on the phone to friends/my mom anytime I want
6. Sitting on my deck, soaking up the sun's rays at noon
7. Going to bed past 10pm
8. Wearing comfy (read: PJs) clothes for as long as I want throughout the day
9. Drinking a glass of wine everynight with dinner
10. Facebooking at any hour of the day. 'Cause I can ;)

A Stay-at-home Mom I'm Not

After living almost seven years in southwest Florida and one year in Tennessee, getting word that Ryan's job was transferring him back to the Mitten was quite a shock. Don't get me wrong, I was happy. I have missed my family and friends. And seasons. But at the same time, we were quite happy in Memphis. I had a good job, great friends and the mid-south is lovely. Plus, Memphis is one cool city (if you ever get the chance to go, do it! You won't regret it.). So leaving there was bittersweet. And although I have picked right back up here, almost like I've never even left, there is just one thing missing from my life right now. A JOB! This is one tough job market, folks. Staying at home being a stay-at-home-dog-mom these past couple of months has made me realize- I am SO meant to be at work. All day. Every day. I'm trying to remain positive because I know this period (hopefully) won't last forever, so in the meantime I should enjoy these lazy summer days while I can. However, I can't wait for the day where my alarm goes off and putting on work clothes becomes the norm. Now, if you'll excuse me...The View is about to come on. Gotta go!

New Blog...Take 2

I've already tried this blogging thing, and I was a bit unsuccessful the first time around. While living in Memphis from November '08 to April '10, I briefly blogged about my and Ryan's time in that wonderful city. But then I got busy at work, and completely ignored and neglected my blog. So here's my second attempt, and maybe, just maybe, I'll be better this time around ;)