Wedding Rings

The rings for the wedding came on Saturday, and I've finally got a photo of them. Rings with me are tricky, because I'm allergic to some metals, and others.. my skin will eat right through them. So, finding jewelry is hard for me.

I'm also very nervous about losing things, so I did not want to spend a fortune on something that I fear I will lose. My engagement ring is titanium, which was allergy-free, and rather inexpensive. Added bonus was that it was simple, and not too fancy for this simple girl.

So, I decided to go a step beyond titanium and get a matching set of cobalt rings. From my research, cobalt is supposed to be strong, less prone to breakage, is more like a lighter color (as opposed to titanium, being grey-ish), and is relatively lightweight. They came, and I don't think I could be happier.

 

Please excuse my pride in that photo, I'm trying to learn how to use the Nikon D3200 that I got for Christmas, and this is probably the most awesome photo I have taken with it. Anyway, the rings are beautiful, I think. I purchased them on Etsy, and they were under the label of "Homemade" but... I'm not entirely sure they were.

Not sure that I care at this point, because I think they look nice. I guess a part of me wanted something "special" to us a couple. I tried to go the made to order route, but oh well. The prices of cobalt rings were expensive, so I was happy to get the pair at a cost that I would have paid for only one.

As you have probably guessed already, I love working at JCPenney for the awesome clearance things that I see come through. Once I got off work last night, I went shopping for a little bit before I came home, and found some cute little underwear for only $1.97. Plus the promotion that was going on - an extra 25% off clearance. Awesome!

I picked up 7 pairs of cute little underwear. After the extra 25% for clearance, these were such a good deal to pass up. I have honestly never owned underwear from JCPenney before, so I'm wondering if they are going to fit as well as my Lane Bryant panties - but am willing to try.

Can't beat that price, at all! So happy to have been able to get the panties I wanted when I got off. Usually clearance items are rather picked over by the time I get to them, so these made me happy.

Tomorrow, my wedding dress comes! So excited!

Clearances and Sales

Just like most people, I love getting a good deal. Obviously. Working at JCPenney, I see a lot of clearance items lately. It seems to be the season where a lot of items are going on really cheap clearance, and of course, it does not help my New Year's resolution to get out of debt. I am perfectly happy leaving the "sales" and more expensive clearance items alone... but when it comes to $5.97, $2.97 or even .97 cent clearance... I'm a sucker for them.

Well, JCPenney was doing an extra 25% off clearance as well. So... I had to buy some items. First, I knew I needed a coat, and had my eyes set on one particular coat for months now.

 

It was normally $200. When it went on clearance for $59.99, I was still holding out for a lower price. The extra 25% clearance sale helped a lot, and I couldn't hold out any longer. I bought it. And I love it just as much as I loved it on the rack. Once I came to Iowa, I noticed a lot of faux-fur hood lined coats, and I loved the look, so now I finally have one of my own. Am I officially fitting into Iowa now?

This is not something I'd buy for myself... normally. But at $5.97? I totally bought it. Honestly, if I'd have seen this for that price before I had ordered my city hall wedding dress from David's Bridal, I probably would have made this work. For now, I have no clue what purpose I would need a floor length gown for, but for that price.. I'll find something. It's not exactly shape forgiving with the material it's made out of, but I plan on picking up some spanx, anyway.

The JCPenney that I work at is attached to a mall, as well. So, from customers to co-workers, I hear about sales and promotions from other mall stores. That said, I was informed me that Victoria's Secret was having a rather good sale. Victoria's Secret doesn't really interest me that much, considering I can't fit into the majority of their things. But, I guess fragrance mist was one of the items on sale! I was like, What?!

It was rather picked over when I went, but I managed to grab two fragrance mists - Deep berry, and Forbidden Vanilla. Only for $1.99 each! Win! (I also figure that one of these fragrances, I should use for the wedding, so I have something "special and unique" for it). I also had a free trial size 3oz coupon for Bath and Body Works, a preview for their new spring fragrance that I found as a facebook offer. So I had to pick that one up. They are so perfect for stuffing in a purse or bag!

In wedding news, our rings have came in the mail today, I'm going to try and snap a photo of them tomorrow morning so I can blog about them. And, I got an email the other day from David's Bridal, telling me my dress has shipped, so it should be here on Wednesday! So nervous!

Wedding Preparations

As my few blog readers might know, I got engaged a while ago. There as been really no rush in getting married. I have been perfectly happy waiting for getting married as long as I can... until now. Due to health care issues on Tyler's check, there has been a huge hurry to our marriage. He had listed me as a domestic partner on his benefits from his work, and because of that, he had over $400 taken out because of taxes and everything for benefits. We were only expecting a little over $200. This was a huge blow to his paycheck, one that we couldn't afford. Especially when we are trying to have a baby, and move to a nicer apartment, at the same time.

We had two options: one was that he could go down to 30 hours a week for 4 weeks, and not accrue any paid vacation or time off for the next 6 months, and lose all that extra income that we need to live... or... get married. On our way home one day, we stopped off at the courthouse to see what kind of cost it will be and how to proceed. We found out that to get married, it would cost $35, and 4 days for the license to be valid. (And of course, ceremony, which is performed in the courthouse for free on business days).

So guess what? We are getting married... and soon! I've kind of wanted a courthouse marriage, because I don't like to be center of attention, and I honestly don't have anyone to invite. I have no bridal party, and my mother is in California. So this works out fine for me, Tyler was the one who wanted a big church wedding, and reception. I was so not into the big-wedding thing, that I was even going to purchase a bridal gown online. I searched on David's Bridal website for a dress.

I had two requirements: It has to be able to be worn again (like for a fancy dinner at Luciano's), and I need it to be low-cost, because this wedding is simple and in a courthouse in a few weeks. I couldn't find any actual bridal gowns that fit my requirements, but one look at this particular bridesmaid dress... I was in love.

I made an appointment last night to my local David's Bridal, and went in when they opened early this morning. They had the dress for me to try on, but didn't have either colors I was looking at in stock. I had fallen for the dress, but was a little undecided on the color they had. Tyler liked a red swatch they had, but once I tried on a different dress in the red color, I decided it wasn't for me. The other color I thought I liked on the website, I tried on in yet a different dress, and loved the color. Once I tried on a dress in the Malibu, I couldn't imagine any other color I would wear. I ordered the dress in Malibu color.

After I purchased my dress online with them (to be shipped to my house next week), they handed me a booklet of coupons, one of which was one to Helzberg Diamonds, for a free pair of earrings. Of course I went across the street to grab them!

While I'm not sure if I would use them, they are definitely pretty. Freshwater pearl earrings, and free. The guy who I gave the coupon to wasn't the friendliest, but hey, earrings! I wanted to go to JCPenney to find another piece of jewelry for my dress. Maybe a necklace that matches the earrings?

Checked out some pearls, but for some reason I couldn't decide on one that I would like with my blue dress. But I came across these bracelets. They would go absolutely perfect with the color of dress I chose! I am not the biggest fan of the gold of course, I prefer silver, but how often can you find a bracelet this perfect to the dress? The best part: these also had a clearance sticker on them for $6.97. JCPenney was also doing some kind of extra percent off clearance, and after my associate discount... I ended up paying $4.13 for the set. Can't beat that!

Dress is expected to be here next week, so be on the look out for photos of the dress!

Meet: Athena and Nyxie

So, it's been a while since I have posted here, hasn't it? Lots of things has changed since then. I quit my job at the call center that I was working at, and got a new job working retail at JC Penney. While it was a substantial pay cut from working at the call center, I find I am much happier and less stressed now.

Also, we welcomed two cats into our house over the past year. Being so far from home and my mother, there was a point where I needed a taste of my life in California, early this year, it really hit me that I miss my hometown. Tyler suggested that we look into getting a kitten. That day, we found a post on Craigslist, advertising free kittens. One look at the photo they posted, I was in love. Within the hour, we were in the car, heading to Petco, and purchasing everything I would need for a kitten. Then, we spent the next 2 hours, driving to Dunlap, Iowa. She was a barn cat, raised on a farm with pigs, and chickens. She's all grown up now, but she is an amazing at, and just what I needed at that point in my life.

Meet Athena. She's beautiful, calm, and seems to know just when you need her. She's got the nickname "Mom" now, because she seems to take care of us, comforting us when we need it the most, and will come looking for us, just so she knows we are still okay. She'll share my pillow with me, making sure I get to sleep okay, then sometime in the night, she will come next to me just so I can put my arm over her, and she will sleep like that with me. She's a great cat.

Athena will literally let you do what you want with her. She'll let you put her on her back and scratch her belly, she will let you look at her teeth, and claws. She will even let you carry her around the house like a baby.

 

Nyxie was a cat who was likely going to be dropped off at the shelter. Tyler had called me one day from work, to ask me if I wanted another kitten. Of course I did! A woman at his work was going around asking if anyone wanted a kitten, because her cat had had kittens a while ago, and she had found homes for all of them, except one. So, we went that night and picked up a small, average looking cat that we call Nyxie. She's our adventuring cat, who loves exploring the closet (which we now call Narnia), and is always on a constant mission to escape from the front door of the apartment.

We had worried about the possibility of them not getting along, because Athena was older, and getting set in her ways, but we were shocked when Nyxie was the one who was hissing and not getting along with Athena. But, once Nyxie got used to the apartment, they became inseparable. They sleep together, groom each other, and run around the house like children together.

They are the most spoiled cats on the planet, I think. They have a Littermaid automatic litterbox, and even a drinking fountain. They eat only grain free Wellness food, and also won't eat any treat that isn't healthy either. They ate turkey with us for Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Ahh, the things we do for our cats, right?

Diabetic Lunches

So, in the month that I have not been blogging, a lot of.... stuff has happened. I got a very painful urinary tract infection that would not go away, so I found myself at the urgent care clinic. When I was there, they gave me medication for my infection, and told me that I was diabetic. Now, diabetes runs in my family, and my grandmother died of it. So, I knew it was just a matter of time before I was going to come up with it. I never thought I would get it so soon though. But now I have it, and there is no going back, I suppose. We literally spent the majority of that Monday at the clinic, being pushed from doctor, to nutritionist, to the financial department. It was a horrible experience. I was unemployed, with no money, so being diabetic, I know is going to cost a fortune. My next doctor's appointment, 2 weeks later, coast us over $200. When we went to the grocery store the next time, I cringed at the cost of healthier foods. Just getting whole wheat bread cost almost 75 cents more. It doesn't seem like much but you add it up on everything, it really amounts.

Luckily, the fiance seems to be understanding with my diabetic issues. He raises no issues with the cost, and even sacrifices some of the things he wants from the store, just so I could get my sugar-free necessities. It was hard, looking at all the labels of the food I enjoy, seeing how many carbs they have. I looked at a Sprite bottle, and it was 64 grams of carbs! A limit for an entire meal I can eat is only 60 carbs. It was an eye opener. I got as many sugar free things I could, but still tried to maintain the foods I love to eat. I still have a lot of work to do, but I have my successes. I have trouble saying no to fast food, Red Robin, and some things, but on the other hand, I have successfully cut out my sugary drinks, which was a HUGE thing for me. I would drink a 52 ounce soda in just four hours, which I could never do again. Instead, I found that diet soda does not taste all that bad, and unsweetened tea with Splenda isn't bad either. I've switched my coffee creamer to sugar free, and the sugar in my coffee to Splenda. So, I'm trying to work on it.

However, lunches. I recently started working full time, and the lure of vending machines and the food place on site look really good. I sit with co-workers who order burgers, hash browns, tuna melts, and I'm usually caught, staring longing at their food. I've been offered chocolate, cookies, candy, and I force myself to say no. So, I've been eating a small breakfast, and fixing my lunch before I leave home every morning. The night before, I will take my fruit (which for now, are usually raspberries, or strawberries), and put them in a cup. I save all the those little condiment cups I get from restaurant to-go orders and planned on using them for my African violets - but they are even more awesome for lunch packing, too! I'll then take out a can of diet soda, for now, I'm drinking diet 7-up, because it was cheapest at the store. Also, I'll mix up some tuna salad, and put it in bowl in the refrigerator. I'll gather up my vegetable, in this case, carrots, and put them in a container, and put some hummus in a condiment cup to dip my carrots in. Right before I go to bed, I get my coffee ready and put the water in the machine, so all I have to do is turn it on in the morning.

When I wake up the next morning, I'll bathe, dress and if I have time, eat a yogurt while my hair dries. If I don't, then I pack a granola bar into my bag and eat it at work. So, before I go out the door, I fix my coffee, put the tuna salad on some bread, pack everything in the lunch bag, and that's it. So much nicer than eating all those carbs at work.What is nice, is that where I'm working, I can have soda and my coffee at my desk, and I can have little snacks. So if I don't eat all my carrots at lunch, I can eat them at my desk later if I get hungry... instead of going to the vending machines and buying Doritos. My lunch is filling though, and I am usually good until dinnertime.

Moving to another subject, Yes! I finally got a job! I looked for a job for a while, and couldn't find one. When retail around here started hiring for the holidays, I jumped on it as soon as I could. I had a phone interview at one place, and a group interview at another. I was not good enough for either. I was depressed and stopped looking. After being told I was diabetic though, I knew I was going to need money for medical care, prescriptions, and healthier food, so I applied at one more place. The place I wasn't really excited about. I applied at the company Tyler worked at. I was hired on the spot, and was told I was "too good to be true". For the past couple weeks, I have been in crazy intensive training, and finally start the actual job on Monday. I am terrified, but kind of excited. They offer really good medical, dental, and vision plans, and they even provide a 401K.

A Few Finished Projects

So, usually I wake up, roll out of bed and turn on the computer. From there, I check email, then Twitter. I do my rounds on my favorite blogs and websites. Then I write my NaNoWriMo word count for the day while I chat with the fiance at work. Afterwards, I'm free to do whatever. Free to do housework, clean, watch some of my many television shows that I hoard onto the DVR. Lately, the fiance and I have been watching Doctor Who when he gets home. I'll fix dinner, and we will start an episode while we eat. After dinner, I work on knitting projects. So, today's blog post is kind of a finished project photo day. I have a couple that I have finished recently, and just got around to photographing.



These are socks that I made for Tyler for his birthday a couple weeks ago. I had tried a different pattern before this one. It was really fancy, with cables, ribbing, patterns, and even a toe-up, which had be stressing for almost a full day. I just could not understand the Judy's Magic Cast-on. But, I eventually did it, and it wasn't until I got a good 4 inches into the sock, that I realized it was going to be way too big for him. I took it out and realized I was going to be pressed for time to finish it, so I picked a less complicated pattern, which fit him much better. He had to show every single person at his birthday get-together, I think he was proud of my work, and wanted to show it off to everyone. He put them on immediately when we got home. I think they turned out nice, and they should be a good starter sock for him, to see if he likes them and will wear them. If he does, I'll probably make more for him.



This Henslowe Shawl I finished last month. It was a complete nightmare to block, and had both me and Tyler pinning it out (the poor fiance had no idea what he was doing, honestly, but I appreciated the help he did do). It was brutal, and I'm not sure I'll make another one of these. Which is sad because I rarely pay for patterns, and this was one of the only that I purchased. The instructions on picking up stitches were a little confusing, probably because I have never done Shetland lace construction before? I don't know, but I can't foresee myself doing another.



These miserable fingerless mitts. I first started them on double pointed needles, and kept taking them out for some reason or another. One day I thought they were too long, the next day too short, or, I didn't like how the picot edging looked. It was always something. After it sat for many weeks, I eventually just divided the yarn into two balls (with my cheap new kitchen scale, yay!), and cast on for two at a time. I was determined to finish them, and finally did. I am extremely pleased with them, and for the past 2 days, I've been wearing them everywhere.

NaNoWriMo Begins!

Today is November 1st, the beginning of National Novel Writing Month! I've heard a lot about NaNoWriMo throughout the years, and this year, I have decided to participate! I've been waiting for it for weeks, thinking of what I'm going to write, then making character profiles, and then just making general notes about what I want to happen. I have started my novel, and completed my first 1,667 words this morning. Yay! I'm excited. I told the fiance that I'll be spending November working on this, and he has been really supportive about it. Even today when I told him I was stuck, I don't know what to write, he tried his best to give me ideas, even when he had no idea about the direction of the story.

Anyway, I've been gathering resources for the past month, and I thought I'd write a blog post on some of the things that I've found helpful.



The single, most helpful thing I've found is StoryBox. It appears to be a program that you pay for, but the creator offers the full program with no trial, no restrictions. So, you can use this software completely free, forever. At first I didn't think I needed this program, it's filled wit SO many features that I didn't think I'd need. But, as I started to outline my characters, locations and plot, there are just so many things that I don't think I'd be able to live without now. I can upload photos of places, animals, layouts, floorplans, anything up into the file so that I don't forget about what places look like. I can completely list out everything about my characters. Especially helpful so I don't forget what side that scar is on. Left or right.  If you are participating in NaNoWriMo, you need this program. Or a similar one. I love it. (By the way, you can click on the photo to go to the Flickr page, where you can view in full size).

If you prefer an online based outline service, check out LitLift. You can create characters, settings, and items on there. The most useful thing for me is their character generator. I'm horrible at coming up with names, so I just tell the generator if I want a male or a female, and it pops out several names for me to choose from. I love this feature.

Also, for backup, I'm intending to upload to Dropbox. Through the years, I have lost many important files. Many that were hours, days or even weeks of work. For this novel which will require even more time than anything I've ever done before, I'm becoming a backup fiend. I have a little 4GB flash drive that I'll be using for this, as well as Dropbox. The cool thing about Dropbox is if you have multiple devices to work on, Dropbox syncs your work to all devices. I can work on my desktop computer, then leave the house and work where I left off at the mall from my phone.