Remembering

The first Lucy in my life (besides the Peanut's character) was Lucy Sather, Jess's dog. She was an adorable creature that I fell in love with shortly after I met Jess in 2004 when I moved to Austin.

Sadly, last week, Lucy suddenly got sick and after many tests it was determined she had suffered from some strokes and had bleeding on her brain.

Jess and Ken got to bring her home for a few days but eventually made the tough decision to say goodbye, knowing her quality of life wasn't the same.

I know how hard the loss of a pet is. It's one of the hardest things I've been through but it's also a true reflection of the impact they have on your life. The pain and sadness is all worth it (although believe me it doesn't feel that way at the time) because it just means you loved them so much.

I am aware that Buster's little life will be over before mine and it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. But it also makes me aware of how much I should take advantage of every moment we have together.

I'm honored that I got to be such a big part of Lucy's life. I will always remember what a great singer she was, her licking mine and Jess's legs after long runs (mmmm....salt) and her beautiful eyes. Lucy also inspired me to get my own dog. After knowing her for a year I decided to get Max. I am forever grateful that she led me to that path.

I already miss Lucy and wish I could take the sadness away from Jess and Ken's life. But I do know it will get easier and that we're all lucky to have known her.

Updates

I've had a lot going on but not much time to catch everyone up so this is just going to be one of those blog posts where I try to catch you all up. So I apologize for the lack of humor and creativity - I'm just sticking to the facts.

It's that time of year when life gets busy and stressful but I have to admit, I love it. I love the temperature change, the smells, the music and food and the overall sense of festiveness.

So let's begin in Mexico. One of my 2010 goals was to take an actual vacation. Sure, I've taken time off from work this year and in year's past but it's usually for an event for one of my beloved friends or when I tag on extra days of a work trip to travel or see friends.

So Devon and I decided to book a trip to Mexico and invite our friends. Turns out they all (well, almost all) wanted to go. There were 6 of us, divided into two rooms (hence the pictures). My room was known as 'Team Half Marathon' as we're all in training mode right now. But we quickly coined ourselves as 'Team Sensitive' b/c we are also the girls who cry easily and get hurt feelings. But it's only b/c we care so much! The other room was 'Team Sorority Girl' b/c they were all in sororities in college.

It was the most relaxing 5 days I've had in years. I turned my blackberry off and didn't read emails for the entire trip - it was so worth it to completely disconnect. Suffice it to say, I'd like to make this a regular occurrence.

Next up was Thanksgiving and Door Busting. My dad came in town for Thanksgiving and despite a nasty stomach bug that he (and many others) caught, we had a great week together and he got to meet Audrey for the first time. I then went with Devon and Kelsey for our second annual 'Door Busting' black Friday experience. We shopped from 1 - 5am and had some good successes. It was the coldest night of the year thus far, though, as you can see in the pics (note: if I'm ever lost, you can return me to LIVESTRONG).

I then got to enjoy a 'fancy' night with co workers at our annual holiday party. This year it was at the club level of the Austonian - the tallest building in downtown Austin. The view was amazing - you literally forget you're in Austin. It was tons of fun but I'm not cut out for 2am nights anymore. It takes me all day to recover. Here I am with the rest of the 'Navigation' Team:

But what better way is there to recover from a late night by eating delicious food and watching holiday movies. Haley hosted our third annual 'Love Actually' viewing party and potluck. As you can see, we love to eat. And the company was great, too:

I woke up refreshed and ready to spend the next day with Lucie. We walked to a park near Chris and Missy's house (after Lance passed us on his bike) and checked out the peacocks and peahens. Lucie could have stayed for hours. But we decided to go to lunch and met Jen, Larkin and Layne at Phil's Ice House, where she promptly wanted to sit on a cow:

Last but certainly not least. I got a new TV. I have officially entered the 21st century and have a flat screen HDTV. I don't know how I went this long without one. No picture for this but suffice it to say it's pretty magical.

Happy Home-iversary To Me!

One year ago today I closed on my house.

It's been a great year and hard to believe how quickly it's gone by. This blog also started about a year ago (as you may recall after a few drinks by Devon and Haley) to chronicle my home ownership. It's certainly turned into a chronicle of other aspects of my life but I still try to share all the details of home ownership. Something excited that happened this past weekend is that I fixed my back door that was had a sticky lock. Guess how? Good old WD-40. Oh sure, I've learned that WD-40 and duct tape can work wonders.

I still love coming home everyday, especially this time of year now that I have a Christmas tree up. Thanks to my Dad for helping me decorate it last night. I'm still a bit in denial that it's my first 'non-real' tree but I'll get used to it.

I know I'm way behind on blogs and I promise to catch up but I had to post on this special 1 year day.

Party Success

Last year, Jess and I co-hosted a clothing swap at her house. It was such a huge success, we decided to do it again this year and it was my turn to host at my house!

I've had a few events at my house in the year I've lived here (can you believe it's almost been 1 year!) but I always get excited to have people over. Not only is it a good excuse to clean it's fun to share my house love with others.

For those of you who don't know what a clothing swap is, essentially we invite all of our girlfriends to clean out their closets. Whatever you find that you don't want, need or doesn't fit anymore, you bring to the swap. This could include clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry and scarves. Among the group of women, there are most likely 1 or 2 people who are similar sized to you and then it's a free for all! We organize the items in categories and then you just take what you want.

After we're all done taking what we want, we show each other what we picked out and discuss the items. Then we bag up the leftovers (of which there are usually a lot). This year we donated items to Dress For Success and Goodwill. Despite the fact that many of us got a lot of items, there were still 7 bags of items left to donate.

I've found that I'm more likely to bring an item to a swap than just donate to Goodwill directly (even though it may end up there eventually). Somethings that I may be reluctant to let go of, I like the idea of knowing that they may go to someone else's home. Truly, one person's junk is another person's treasure.

Best of all, it's like going shopping without spending any money!

While the clothing swap part if fun, it was also nice to have people over. I really enjoy entertaining and I think last night was a big success.

So same time next year, back to Jess's house? I hope so!

Family Bonding

Last night I babysat Lucie and Audrey (as well as a 15 month old baby of Chris and Missy's friend). The 'older' kids were asleep by 7:30 and that left Audrey and me.

It was the first time I felt like I was really starting to bond with her. I fed her a couple of times, changed her diaper and overall just enjoyed snuggling with her. At four weeks old, she's pretty alert and quite adorable - making all the cute baby noises, stretching in odd positions and nuzzling into my arms - and it made my heart swell for her.

I was also relieved.

I hadn't felt that bond with Audrey yet. Most of the four weeks of her life, when I've been with Chris and Missy, it's to help with Lucie. So tonight it was much more about Audrey and I was so happy.

I give my friend, Jen, a hard time on behalf of second/younger children around the world. While I'm largely joking, it is different. Your first child and everything they do is special and exciting and scary (I imagine) at times. As a second child, I felt it was my duty to make sure parents (especially those who were older children) understand that we're just as important.

But of course we are. And of course it's different. It can't possibly be the same. But it doesn't mean it's better or worse.

I know that Lucie will always be my first niece and hold a special place in my heart. But holding Audrey last night and getting some time with just her is exactly what I needed to know I will also hold a special (but different) place in my heart for her.

Meanwhile, Lucie woke up several times while I was there and needed some extra nurturing to fall back asleep. It made me feel good to know I could do that for her, while still love on Audrey. As always, I continue to be in awe of all mothers and how they do it.

Katie Gets Married!

I've been in Greenville, SC for the past 4 days for Katie's wedding.

I could still cry as I type this b/c it was such an amazing experience - lovely weather, adorable town, wonderful events, beautiful bride, great friends - need I say more?

Katie moved to England over a year and a half ago and shortly thereafter met and fell in love with Rob, her now husband. This may have been the first time I was in a wedding and hadn't me the groom first. But I've known Katie for most of my life and completely trust her and had no doubt Rob was the one for her. Turns out, she was right. He clearly loves and adores her and she deserves nothing less.

I've been to a lot of weddings and been in a lot of weddings but there was something extra special about this one for me. I don't know if I just got caught up in the amazing weather and days of festivities but when a childhood friend gets married you can't help but reflect on how long you've known each other and all the things you've been through.

I'm so lucky that I'm so close with so many friends from high school. Jenn, Steph, Katie and I may go months or years without seeing each other but it's so easy and comfortable to be around them. It had been years since we'd all been together but it felt like yesterday. I guess that's the beauty of people knowing you maybe better than you know yourself sometimes.

I could go on and on about all the mushy details but suffice it to say it was a wonderful weekend. I laughed, cried, ate and drank my way through Greenville. Katie's parents and sister and her family were fantastic hosts.

Here are a few shots from the weekend:

Katie, me, Jenn and Steph out for 'ladies night'

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dunn - just moments after their 'I dos'

The four of us, again, on the last night eating east coast bbq (which still wins my vote any day over Texas bbq)

I can't thank Katie enough for including me in such a wonderful event and my oldest and dearest friends for making me laugh so much this weekend. I already miss you!

Like Riding a Bike?

They say that you never forget how to ride a bike. That it comes right back to you as soon as you get on one again. I've actually found this to be true. I got a bike as an adult and quickly felt comfortable on it, remembering fond times on my purple Schwinn 10 speed I had a kid.

So why doesn't running feel this way? I mean I know I don't forget how to run but after only a few short weeks not running, it does feel like you have to start from square one (or at least two or three) again. But maybe that's just me?

I ran 3 miles today for the first time since the half marathon from three weeks ago. I've purposely been taking time off from running b/c I'll start training for the next half marathon in a few weeks. But boy did 3 miles feel tough. Admittedly it was hilly and we did walk some but geez.

But the most important thing about the run was why I was there. It was LIVESTRONG's annual Austin Challenge. What started as annual bike event in Austin to raise money for LIVESTRONG, turned into an entire weekend affair, 5k and all, several years ago.

I've participated in this event for the past few years - as staff, volunteer and runner - and am always so impressed with it. I'm also reminded of what a great job I have and how lucky I am to work for an organization that has such a powerful mission and dedicated employees.

And boy did I need that reminder. Lately, work has felt tough. To be honest, it's felt tough for about 6 months but I've had a bit of a bad attitude lately and I needed this. I needed to be reminded why I do the work I do and while little things may still annoy me that they are nothing compared to the amazing feeling I get truly impacting people's lives.

So thank you to the LIVESTRONG Challenge for that reminder and to my running and volunteering buddy, Devon, for making me laugh so much this weekend and trying to redirect me from walking in vomit.

Tia Mellie x2

Baby Sileo #2 was born bright and early on Saturday morning. She's adorable and healthy and, compared to tiny Lucie, she's enormous! Okay so she's 6lbs, 12 oz, 19 inches but that seems huge compared to 5lb Baby Lucie.

It all started with a phone call at midnight on Friday night/Saturday morning from Missy. I had just gone to bed and saw her number on my phone and knew it was go-time. I packed up some things for Buster and me and got over to their house around 12:30. Once Missy was pretty certain she was in labor, she and Chris headed to the hospital (around 2am). They continued to provide me text updates as I tried to get some sleep and await Lucie's morning routine.

While Lucie was eating her breakfast, her little sister was born! The name hasn't been decided on yet although they promise she'll have one before they leave the hospital.

My main job during all this was to take care of Lucie. We had such a fun day together - going to the park with Jen, Larkin and Layne, playing in the backyard with Bailey and Buster, coloring and playing with play-doh and reading 'I'm a Big Sister' that Jen gave us. I'm not sure she quite understood it but she did ask me to read it to her twice and sat in my lap while I read it, which she doesn't do that much anymore.

All in all, it was a great day with her. Despite how tired I was and how anxious I was to meet my new niece, it was so special to me that I got to spend this time with her - before there are two all the time. Lucie and I have always had a special bond (at least I think so). It's hard to know if that's b/c she's the first or because of the circumstances she was born under or if it's just simply her personality. But I look forward to creating a unique bond with her little sister, too!

So far, so good:

Half Full Tri

I know it's been a long time since I've posted. I wish I had a good excuse but life's just been busy. I've been traveling almost every week for work and when I have been home I've had a million things to do, including waiting for my new niece to be born! While I still can't imagine how I'll love her as much as I love Lucie, I know I will and I'm very excited to meet her - two weeks or less and counting!

In the meantime, this past weekend, I participated in my last triathlon (relay) this season and my second half marathon this year. I'll be honest, it was a doozie.

As you may recall, I trained pretty hard for the Austin half marathon in February. Kelsey and I ran 5 days a week and followed our training plan almost exactly. This time, I trained by myself. I missed a number of long runs, mostly ran on a treadmill b/c it was too hot outside and the furthest I ran was 9 miles and that was almost 3 weeks ago. This course was tough. While the weather was ideal (cloudy and 60s) there were more hills than I expected.

All this to say that I didn't perform quite as well as I did in February but I'm still very proud of myself - crossing the finish line at 2 and a half hours - granted the first 7 miles I felt like a rock star and the last 6 I thought I wanted to die. But it was for a good cause I'm so happy to have participated in this event.

Devon and Colleen were the other legs of our team and did a great job. Considering the cold water (and outdoor) temps, Devon was a champ - wetsuit and all. Colleen had the hilliest riding course ever but still managed to remain true to why we were there - to support the thousands of young adults diagnosed with cancer each year - and helped a cancer survivor on the side of the road who had a flat.

Not only did I enjoy the event, my parents got to see me finish a race for the first time! It was so great to see them at the finish line and know how proud they were of me.

All in all, a great day, a great team and a great performance. I'm a bit sore but will recover soon and plan to run, what may be my last half marathon, next February for the Austin (LIVESTRONG) marathon. Until Thanksgiving, though, I can take some time off from running and spend that extra time with my niece(s).

Here we are. The big winners in the category for 'All Female Relay Team Who Traveled the Farthest':

Visitors Welcome!

So when I moved into my house I decided to make my second room more of an office than a guest room. This was largely because I didn't have a second bed but also because I felt that it was more important to have a room that was functional to me most of the time rather than my (periodic) guests (no offense).

So I set up my desk and sewing machine in there and organized my books on various book shelves. Eventually the room also became Buster's to a certain extent. I'd find his toys in there and him rolling around on the rug just for fun.

I've thought about this second room a lot and fantasized about what I'd do to make this room better. I just didn't like how hodgepodge it was and realized that I wasn't using the room very often; if ever.

Then Chris and Missy got pregnant. And one of their guest rooms will turn into Baby Sileo #2's room. Insert guest room.

They were generous enough to provide me their guest bed and linens and after some help from friends transporting and rebuilding it, my guest room is coming together.

I gave my desk to Kelsey (I was happy to know it was going to a good home) and made a trip to Ikea where I got a new rug, curtains, a matching blanket and some other pieces to pull this room together.

It still needs some work but I'm really enjoying it and I'm not even the one who will use it! I like knowing, for the first time ever, I can adequately host people. I don't have to pull out the air mattress or sleep on my couch or give up my bedroom. So, come one, come all (well only a few of you) to Casa Sileo for a visit. The only thing you should be aware of is that Buster still thinks it's his room and you may have to share the bed with him.

And this is just because she's so adorable!!

Happy Birthday To Me

I'm hopeful that anyone that reads this blog also knows that today is my birthday. If not, then it may creep me out a little that a stranger is reading this. Either way, I'm officially 34. I've been rounding up for awhile so I'm used to the number. The thing that's odd is that I'm actually in my 35th year. It is weird to think that I'm in my mid-30s.

Please know that what follows is by no means a pity party - I'm actually quite happy with my life and have a lot of great things going for me. But I know that many people (including myself) may not have pictured that in my mid-30s I'd still be single and not have kids or any other societal expectation placed on a woman my age.

I remember in high school, that a friend of mine (in fact a few) guessed that I'd be the last one to get married. Turns out they were right. What was it about me, even back then, that meant I'd be likely to marry later in life?

I'll be honest, though, I've often worn this as a badge of honor - something that meant I wasn't going to settle easily (not that I think my friends have settled....). And, don't get me wrong, I'm still happy that I didn't marry any of the exes of my past. But, believe it or not, I do wish for some of those things. I don't like feeling like the odd one - who hasn't followed the traditional path of getting married or having kids. But if I'm ok with it, I sure hope those that love me are as well.

I've had a lot of great things happen in my life in the past year or so - I've become an aunt, a homeowner, a dog owner (again), promoted at work and all in all continue to have a great life. So, despite the soliloquy above, I promise I am happy. To all my friends who may be concerned or want me to 'hurry up and have kids', just know that I'm very happy. I feel so lucky to have such great friends, family and a job that challenges me every day.

So I welcome my 35th year wholeheartedly. How can I not after the lovely, spontaneous poem my friends wrote for me at dinner tonight:

For translation:

Mellie, we love you

This is a day good for flan

Love her like Anthro

Wow, the way she looks tonight

Good night sweet Mellie

I Heart Organizing

If being organized was an addiction, I would totally have it. Wait, I guess it is? It's just that it's not a bad addiction? Or is it? I'll admit, sometimes I get paralyzed from moving forward until I've organized things. Sometimes I can't even think straight unless I have a to-do list. So maybe I am addicted? Oh well, I'm ok with that.

This weekend's project was about organizing my utility/laundry room. Exciting, huh?

Since I moved in, it's just been used as storage, hodgepodge and other such things. I have some leftover shelves from my closet build out so I went back to the Container Store and cut them to size and asked Ken to come over and hang them (I still don't own a drill).

This project also forced me to get rid of some things. Even though I'm organized, I tend to hold onto things too long - for good and bad reasons. One thing that I've had for more than half my life is a bookshelf that my brother built for me. I was on vacation with a girlfriend for my 16th birthday and came home to a newly constructed bookshelf that was built to fit my stereo I'd also gotten for my birthday.

It's held so much sentimental value and has been one of the few items that has moved with me the most - to Boston, back to DC and finally to Austin (and multiple moves here). But it's time to let it go. Not because I don't love it anymore but because it simply doesn't fit - both physically and emotionally into my life anymore. It represents my past and I'll always love and appreciate the fact that my brother made it for me. But my future is clearly in Elfa shelves. I'm such a grown up!

Needless to say this bookshelf was in my utility room. Ken helped me move it to my curb (not only b/c people will take anything in my neighborhood but also b/c tomorrow is bulk pick-up day). After he successfully hung the shelves, I got to organize them and the rest of the small (but important) space in there.

So while it may not look exciting to you I'm thrilled. Now I can put my recycling in there and get my suitcases without injuring myself.

Thanks, Ken!

Triathlon Season

That's right, it's triathlon season. Why this season occurs during the hottest months is Texas is beyond me but I suppose we're not the only participants. For the past few years, I've been participating in triathlons, as the relay running leg, with different friends. Devon is always the swimming leg and I'm always the running leg (no pun intended) but we have various friends who (when not participating in a full triathlon by themselves) are our biking leg. This summer, we're off to a bit of a slower start but I'm gearing up for a busy fall of events.

I haven't run much since the half marathon in February. I tend to take time off from running after training so much and as it got hotter out, my desire to run dramatically decreased. So I've been swimming and taking pilates and still feel in pretty good shape. But, the time was coming. Training time.

For some crazy reason, I decided to do two more half marathons this year. Does participating in 3 half marathons in one year mean I've run a marathon and a half? Probably not.

The Ulman Cancer Fund (founded and named after LIVESTRONG's CEO, Doug Ulman, who is a 3 time cancer survivor) is hosting the Half Full Tri on October 3 in Columbia, MD. Devon, Haley and I are competing as a relay team and the running leg this time is a half marathon. This is the furthest relay event we'll have all competed in together and I'm excited! But, I'm also nervous. I started running last week and had a really hard time.

First, because it's so hot out that even if I run first thing in the morning it's usually already 80 degrees and, second, b/c I've been battling horrible allergies for weeks. I haven't been sleeping well, I'm congested, coughing and this past weekend my ears started to hurt. Knowing I'm getting on an airplane in a few days I finally sucked it up and went to the doctor yesterday.

Turns out, I have an ear infection. So I'm now on tons of meds and already sleeping a little better. And it was worth it. Today I went for a 3 mile run and felt great. While it was slow and I'm already a little sore, I did it and I felt really good the whole time. It gave me hope that I can get through these events.

So for those friends who live close to Columbia, MD, come on out and cheer us on in October! I can't promise I'll be as well trained or 'fast' as I was in February but I'll be there. Until then, I'll be looking for ways to train in Texas somehow avoiding the heat.

Warranties

How does everyone out there feel about warranties? I mean you can get a 'warranty' or 'guarantee' for just about anything out there. For most of my life, I've been too cheap (or poor) to invest the extra money in warranties and just opted to take my chances. But now things are different. I'm not just investing in a camera or DVD player. I'm now responsible for a home and all of the expensive appliances (that will inevitably break) in them.

Since my home was a newly built home, the appliances are all new and, therefore, under a manufacturer's warranty for various time frames. Additionally, I have a home warranty that came with my closing. I'd never even heard of a 'home warranty' before. As far as I'm concerned is not named very well. I mean my 'home' isn't under warranty. If I decide I don't like it or it's not living up to my expectations, no one is going to fix that but all of my appliances and major pieces of equipment are covered under this warranty.

It's paid for through the end of this year and so far I've used it twice - first for my hot water heater several months ago and then this week when my AC stopped working. I looked up the cost to renew it next year and it's really not that much money and I can pay monthly. So I'm thinking this is a pretty good deal. All I do is pay a $75 service fee each time they have to come out to my home, which seems like nothing compared to the hundreds (I imagine) I'd spend if I paid for actual labor and parts.

But this week I felt like the warranty worked against me so I don't know what to do. Here's the scoop.

My AC has been working great. But I noticed an odd noise out of it a few weeks ago. The outside unit is right outside of my bedroom window and I would hear the blower going on and off quickly as I lay in bed going to sleep but the AC was still on in the house and keeping me cool. I didn't know if these sounds were unusual so I did what most of us do when we don't want to believe something is wrong - I ignored it.

Then one night, after babysitting Lucie, I came home to an 80 degree house. Thank goodness Buster was with me but clearly my AC was no longer working. It was too late to call anyone so we went to bed. It progressively got hotter over night and poor Buster and I (he was panting and I was tossing and turning) didn't get much sleep as it got up to 86 and the sun hadn't even come out yet.

I made an early phone call to my home warranty company and they came out to fix it by lunchtime. Of course there was a bigger need than the quick fix they were able to provide but I had AC, again, and was happy (and cool). The additional work required the repairman to call the warranty company to see if they would approve it. Shockingly, they said 'no', under the pretense that the issue was due to installation and, therefore, not their problem.

First of all, how do they possibly know this? Were they here when it was installed? Second of all, who cares? I've been living here for 9 months and the problem is now! But they didn't care and it would cost me hundreds of dollars to fix.

Thankfully, I know someone in the AC business and I called and talked to him. He assured me that it wasn't necessary to fix this issue (honestly it's too complicated to explain but it involves a valve that's stuck). Apparently this valve isn't necessary and he told me not to pay anyone to fix it and he would come take a look in a few weeks when things calmed down (AC companies are very busy in Austin in the summer).

So while I'm frustrated with my warrant company I'm happy to have connections that can help me make these big decisions.

So, my next (hopefully) big decision is if I want to keep the home warranty in 2011. As I've gotten older I'm much more in the mentally of 'being prepared' rather than 'taking chances' that I was before. But being prepared still costs money. Thoughts?

In the meantime, I feel like my AC is working better than ever. And with our 100+ degree temperatures I'm very grateful for that.

What I've Been Up To

My mom visited about a week ago. She tries to come to Austin every few months to see my niece, which works out well for me. We gave Chris and Missy some time off and babysat my niece, took her shopping and watched her play. I'm pretty sure she's cooler than me.....

Then I left for a five day trip to San Francisco. I was going there for work but added on a day to my trip to see one of my closest friends, Jenn, her husband and two kids. Jenn and I have known each other since we were kids and her husband, Tom, also went to high school with us. Being with them is like being with family - in all the good ways. It's easy and you feel right at home. It reminds me how lucky I am to have such great friends across the world and from all different parts of my life.

She has two adorable boys - Jack and Ben - and we made the most of being outside. The temps were in the 50s but I was thrilled! It's over 100 in Texas now so anything below 80 feels good to me.

Sadly, it took me a long time to get back to Austin. I had some lengthy flight delays and arrived home at 2am today. I'm so grateful today was a Sunday so I'd have one day to recover and get ready for a full work week. My next trip takes me to NYC. So I can't complain too much - work does take me to cool places. But nothing beats coming home (note: this awning doesn't actually exist above my home but we saw it in San Francisco and couldn't resist taking a picture).

Motherly Duties

Since Sunday I've been staying at my brother's house, taking care of Lucie. Both Chris and Missy had work trips out of town and asked me to help out. How could I say no?

We had tons of fun and I really enjoyed the quality time, especially in the morning, I had with her. I know I'm biased but she is truly the sweetest thing alive. How she makes monkey noises, waves goodbye to me when she's in her crib and ready to go to sleep, how much she loves Buster and the special kisses she gives to her Tia Mellie (that's me!).

And while I have no idea if I'll ever be a mom, it all feels very comfortable to me to be around her - to feed her, change her diapers, snuggle with her while she drinks her juice before bed. I'm so lucky to live near her and get to be such an active part of her life. I know that I'll love Baby Sileo #2 just as much but that's hard to imagine right now.

Last night, Devon, Jen and her two girls, Larkin and Layne, came over for a play date after work. Larkin and Lucie are 6 months apart and we threw on their bathing suits, lathered them up with sunscreen and bug spray and placed them in the 4 inch deep baby wading pool. They basically ignored each other but it was fun to have them together and have time with my friends. All while drinking a beer.

We were wondering if all moms relax with cocktails once the kids are safe in bed or playing with other kids? Did my mom do that? Was she enjoying a beer while I enjoyed my juice? I mean I totally understand why. Being a mom is exhausting and I have so much respect for my friends that do it full time.

So from one maternal home to another, I'm back at my house with Buster. This time, instead of changing diapers, I'm killing a fly. Buster (and I) hate flies. They are so annoying and he, literally, hides under the bed. So I feel that it's my duty as his dog-mom to make this problem go away. And, as it did with Lucie, it feels great to know that I can take care of those I love.

For My Fans

Thanks to my fan (yes, just one - Amber), I'm going to blog about something a little different - fashion.

Many of you may know how much I love clothes - looking at them, buying them, watching them be made. Some of you may even know that I was the President of DECA (Distributive Educational Clubs of America - honestly I still don't know what that means) when I was in high school. To me, it meant that all the Fashion and Marketing classes I took in high school fit into this and in order to do some of the things I wanted to do in school I had to be in this club. And, per usual, I'm not very good at sitting back and watching someone else lead. So I became President and immediately introduced the idea of fashion shows at school. We did several - around different seasons and events. Yes, I even competed in 'buyer' events across the state of Virginia. It was so much fun and what led me to declare my first major at school as Fashion Merchandising with a Marketing minor.

This major lastly exactly one semester. I took economics and realized that I didn't really want to understand all the rationale behind clothes making, I just wanted to own and wear the clothes. So I went into social work. Which, ironically, never really affords me the type of money I want to buy all the clothes I want.

So therein lies my history for loving fashion. I continue to still love clothing, watching Project Runway and What Not To Wear, reading InStyle (the only magazine I subscribe to) and shopping. I'm also very organized, so how my clothes look in my closet and in my drawers is very important to me - some may say it's anal - but I just think they're jealous.

First, you must know I have two very small closets. Both are packed with my clothes. The first thing I did before I moved into my house, was construct the closet organizing. That should tell you something. I didn't have cable, a washer and dryer or an alarm system but I had closets (you may refer back to one of my first blog postings for this).

I organized my clothes by style and color. So within each style, there are multiple colors. For example, the short sleeved shirts are arranged by color as well as the long sleeve shirts. The dresses, however, are mostly just organized by style (would I wear this to work or not?)

I also have been working on transitioning all of my hangers to nice, wooden hangers. It's amazing how much nicer this makes your closet look. Sure, it takes up a bit more room but that allows your clothes to breathe and not get too wrinkled. You can get great wooden hangers from Ikea and make your closet look like your very own boutique.

I know that I'm not always the most avant garde dresser or perfect accessorizer and I know that I still have a lot to learn but I do have some general rules I follow that I'll pass on:

1. Don't match too much. It's okay for things to 'go together' but you don't need to dress like small children do.
2. You can mix and match patters and textures - in fact, I love how this looks.
3. It's ok to wear black with blue or brown or a combo of the above.
4. Know your body type and dress to accentuate that.
5. Limit wearing crew neck shirts. A v-neck or scoop neck shirt is always going to look better.
6. Find what works for you. Yes, being comfortable is important but is that just taking the easy way out? Dressing up doesn't have to be uncomfortable (yes, that's for you Kelsey!)

So those are my words of wisdom. Most of them have been stolen directly from other fashion icons - like Stacey London and Tim Gunn. And, believe me (and Devon who has cleaned my closet with me many times), I make mistakes For awhile I had a problem with owning too many graphic t-shirts. Why a woman in her 30s needs shirts with pandas, owls and birds on it is beyond me but I'm strangely attracted to that.

Now if only I could figure out how to buy more clothes without spending more money. It may be time for another clothing swap - anyone interested?

Ideas Please!

So tonight I got an email from my mom asking where my blog was and telling me she missed reading it. I was both touched and saddened. I've been so busy with work lately - literally working 12 hour days - that blogging seems like the last thing I've had time to do. But that's the part that makes me sad. Because while I love my job, I don't want it to be my life. In full disclosure, work has been overwhelming lately. I'm feeling more stressed out and inadequate than I ever have but I know I'll get through it. I'm grateful to have such great learning opportunities.

But enough about work (as if I don't think about it enough already....)

I wanted to prove to you all that I have done things besides work in the past few weeks. Here are some pictures of my Austin friends and me in Alabama at Haley's wedding. It was such a great event. I truly can't believe after attending (and being a bridesmaid in) the number of weddings I have that I haven't grown tired of them. I love weddings and will be well versed in them once my own rolls around.

So if you all have anything you're dying to hear from me about - updates, thoughts, musings, suggestions, etc. - do tell! Because my creative juices are running low right now.

Colored pictures looked great when we first got to the wedding reception:

And then we started to sweat a bit so Black and White photos worked better:

If she does say so herself, she 'sure is a pretty bride':

Checking In

To all my friends, family and loyal blog-followers, I'm sorry that I've been neglectful of regularly posting blog updates.

My travel has slowed down a bit and I'm in town for a full month! July is going to be great and while summer is my least favorite time in Austin, I'm going to embrace it - Barton Springs, swimming, beer drinking and early morning walks will get me through the heat.

This weekend I was in Alabama for my friend Haley's wedding. The wedding was amazing and she looked beautiful. I had tons of fun with my friends and there are some amazing stories and pictures to share but I don't think my interpretation of the adventures will do the weekend justice. Plus, they won't be very funny to anyone who may not have been there, or who has never been to Alabama. Needless to say, Alabama was much prettier than I thought but did live up to my food expectations - I don't think I had one vegetable (unless you count fried sweet potatoes) since getting there on Friday.

I did get some more insight into my neighbor's frisky middle finger activity. Apparently, he hits the bottle a little bit too much sometimes. Sadly, this makes me feel better for me - that I didn't do something to upset him. It makes me sad for him, but what can you do? I mean even I drink to get through this heat.....

I got back in town tonight and picked up Buster and Murphy (Haley's dog who I'm watching for some of her honeymoon). They are beyond tired after spending four days at the boarders and have spent most of the afternoon sleeping - it's quite amazing. But they are such best friends and follow each other around so much, that I had to share this picture of them looking out my front window, together. They are working hard to keep me safe from all the random noises they hear outside.

In conclusion, the only exciting thing that's happened around my house was last week I had to hire a tree trimmer to cut down some large limbs that had cracked off my tree and fallen into a neighbor's yard. They were pretty big branches and it's unclear what caused them to fall but luckily they didn't hurt anyone or anything except my check book. Geez, cutting down branches is pricey! So the life of a homeowner continues to be interesting. And hopefully I'll have more to share with you soon.

Ah, East Austin....

Tonight I got home from work and let Buster out, fed him, played for a bit and then hit the road again to go to the grocery store.

As I'm pulling out of my driveway and safely looking back to the right toward the street behind me, I see my neighbor two doors up kneeling in his front driveway.

I craned my neck a bit to see what he was doing. Apparently he wasn't happy with that.

Suddenly he stands up and gives me the finger. Emphatically. Over and over again.

I decided not to get out of my car and ask why, but as I drove away, I could see him flipping me off in my rear view mirror.

Why? I have no idea. None. Zip. Zilch. Zero.

I have never talked to him. Never interacted with him. And, that I know of, never offended him.

But I also never drive up that part of the street so who knows what's going on with him.

Once I got over the shock I was cracking up in my car. Welcome to the diversity of east Austin.

Still no major housing updates although I met with my colleague's husband this past weekend to get a quote for my patio build out. As the summer gets hotter and hotter, I'm mostly avoiding being outside, but I am pleasantly surprised with how much shade my yard and house get and how green my grass still is. This is virtually unheard of in Austin. It makes for higher lawn maintenance bills but it looks darn good. I even have some flowers blooming that were planted last year before I moved in. So, despite my lack of attention to my yard (or knowledge for that matter) it's looking pretty.

I'm happy that I'll be able to enjoy it for a few weeks. Sadly, I had to cancel my upcoming trip to DC. I was planning to see friends and family but work has been so hectic lately and I've been traveling so much that I made the decision to cancel my trip. I am bummed not to see people I love but it was the right decision for now.

On that note, check out Parade magazine this weekend. There's an article on Lance, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and an ad directing people to call the program I manage (LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare) - hence (one of) the reasons I'm not leaving town now.

My (first) Summer Vacation

Last night I got back from a trip to San Diego with Chris, Missy and Lucie. They rented a house in Del Mar and were gracious enough to ask me to join them. I couldn't pass up spending time with my adorable niece or taking advantage of the one week that I actually wasn't traveling for work during the month of June. So I took the entire week off of work and enjoyed 4 days in Austin getting caught up on life - oil change, inspection, Buster's vet check up, etc.

And then I took off to (not so) sunny San Diego. Apparently 'June Gloom' is legit. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all! The temps were perfect and it was so nice not to sweat except when running. The house they rented was beautiful and had an amazing view of the beach. We were a 1/2 mile walk from town and I took advantage of walking everywhere. I was also pleased to find that the sun rose at 5am! This is a dream come true for me. Many of you know I think that Austin is too far west in the Central Time Zone. I hate that the sun never rises very early, even on the longest day of the year. So the early sunrise made for an early wake up for all of us.

I enjoyed sitting on the patio drinking coffee each morning, playing Scrabble (and winning our 'Scrabble off") with Chris, watching Lucie point to birds and airplanes as they flew by, taking long walks, pushing Lucie on the swings in the park, eating fresh seafood, drinking great local wines and running on the beach.

All in all it was a pretty ideal vacation. As always, I'm happy to come home and was glad to have one more day off in Austin before heading back to work (and California again) this week.

Suffice it to say I've done nothing new around the house. But I am meeting with a colleague's husband later this week to start plans for my dream patio (crushed granite, fence lined native plants, new deck steps) so maybe that will be next.

But for now I'll continue to smile when looking at pictures of Lucie petting goats, playing on the beach and the most adorable panda bear cub who was literally hanging over a tree limb when we were at the San Diego zoo.

Long Time, No Post

Well I don't have much to report on my house. It's still great and I love coming home to it but I haven't done anything in weeks. I'm afraid this may be the first month I don't get a housing project done but since there were some months were I got more than one done, we're just going to call it even.

I have been focused on trying to keep my grass green. And when I say 'I', I mean the guy that I'm paying to take care of my yard. So far, so good. It's still green and getting mowed regularly so I think of that as a success. Until I get my water bill and decide that it isn't worth it.

Tonight was a big night for me, though. I got in the pool for the first time since last Fall. It was both exhausting and exciting! I was happy to see that I didn't forget how to swim and still love it but certainly got tired much sooner than I used to. So I've definitely got to build up my endurance again while I focus on not running for the next few months.

So that's about it for me. I'm honored that so many people have told me that they miss my blog. I wish I had something more creative or exciting to report on. Perhaps after my vacation next week to San Diego with Lucie (and Chris and Missy of course, too). At the very least I'll have some adorable pictures to share.

Where in the world is Mellie?

Here I am!

Where is that you may ask?

Well, right now I'm sitting in a hotel room in Phoenix, Arizona.

Doing what you may ask?

Attending a social work conference and presenting on the work I do at LAF.

Where else has Mellie been and where is she going next? Well, this should be fun.....

So, last weekend I was in Vegas for Haley's bachelorette party. Look, here we are. All dolled up and ready for another (very late) night on the town. I had such a great time but spent more money than I ever want to speak of and got less sleep than I normally do in one night. But I wouldn't change that for the world.

I was home for a mere 30 hours and am now, as previously stated, back to the desert. My poor sleep and skin can't take the time changes and dry air. I look forward to getting back to Austin tomorrow. My mom is in town for the weekend and then, next Wednesday, I leave again.

Suffice it to say in the next two months I'll be in Tampa, NYC, San Diego, L.A., D.C, Alabama and San Francisco. All great places to go but I'm tired just thinking about it.

So I've had no time to do anything around my house, much less clean it or sleep in my own bed. I'm not complaining, though, just letting you know why I have been a remiss blogger lately.

Letter To An Old Friend

Dear Acne,

Here you are. Again. Why? I thought we broke things off for good last time? We never saw eye to eye. You never understand my feelings and were insensitive and only put your needs first. Your timing was always the worst. Yet, you've come back. Again.

How is it that you know me so well to push my buttons? To arrive just before a vacation? Or when I'm about to go on a first date (no, mom, I'm not going on a first date this week). But I've had it. It's time we went our separate ways. For good.

I know plenty of young teens who would tolerate you. Who would think it was just part of growing up. But I know better. And I don't have to take your abuse anymore. So while I know we've known each other for a long time and maybe you think this is heartless and cruel, it's time for both of us to move on. Forever.

xoxo
Mellie

Getting Things Done

It's true what they say. You are never finished with home projects. I'm lucky that most of mine are by choice. Despite the occasional washing machine issue, most of my 'projects' are by choice; for decoration.

But there are some days when I feel like my list is only getting longer. I love a to-do list but it's also disappointing when I look and see that nothing got checked off. Lately, life has felt particularly busy and I get nothing else done but work and sleep. So maybe I need to manage my expectations a bit and modified my list during these busy times.

So here's what I propose when I'm feeling busy and not getting the 'extra' stuff done:

1. Go to work - check
2. Keep Buster alive - check
3. Shower - check
4. Laundry - check

Sound good?

Coffee, Water, Computer, Remote Table

I'm sure I can assume why coffee tables are called coffee tables but, to be honest, they are so much more to me than that.

I haven't had one for a few months. Well, I actually just moved the one I was using (a borrowed white-clothed ottoman from Devon) into my bedroom. But it's been such a big decision to buy one.

What did I want it to look like? Wood? Glass?

What shape did I want it to be? Round? Square? Oval?

After many stores, online views and discussions with friends, I bought one yesterday at West Elm.

So I'm thrilled to have my coffee table, which will not only hold my coffee on Saturday mornings, my wine on Monday nights with Jess, my computer on many a night when I'm catching up on work, my remote controls, my magazines and last, but not least, my feet.

Welcome to the family:

And, just to keep you up to date, Haley and Matt's shower was a huge success at my house! Thanks to mother nature making one of the most beautiful days and nights in Austin, we were able to really make the most of my backyard. I'll post pictures soon but suffice it to say it was so much fun to host at my home and I look forward to another party sometime soon. I mean, really, anytime someone wants to come by, I've got plenty of beer and wine for awhile.....

And, last but certainly not least.....this past weekend I participated in my first Girls on the Run event. My first board meeting is next Monday but they asked all of the new board members (there are 3 of us) to participate in this event to see what it was all about. Kelsey agreed to go with me and despite only 4 hours of sleep, we hit the road bright and early at 6am to drive to Leander (40 minutes away).

It was a beautiful morning and a great event. Kelsey and I were both 'running buddies', which means that we were assigned to run with one of the 8-10 year old girls who had just completed the Girls on the Run training program at their school. I ran with Marie, who was both sweet and sassy. At one point she grabbed her friend, who was walking and said 'this isn't Girls on the Walk'. I was cracking up.

Meanwhile, we ran, walked, meandered, looked at trees, picked up rocks and 50 minutes later finished our 3 mile run. But, about half way through, Marie grabbed my hand and didn't say a word. She didn't need to. It was all worth it at that moment.

Backyard Bench

This weekend I went to Ikea (again) and bought some outdoor furniture. I decided to go with something that reminded me of my childhood - a picnic bench - instead of the more common wrought iron furniture. Plus, the two pieces I bought are part of a set that I can continue to add to so as I go back to Ikea I can add more and more.

What appealed to me about this table was that it can expand to hold a lot of people and eventually has the capability of an umbrella going in the middle of it.

I wasn't in love with any of their seat cushions so I'll keep looking for those. In the meantime, I have one long table, one smallish bench and two chairs (not pictured) that are on my deck.

This was surprisingly easy to build. I mean I certainly couldn't have done it without Kelsey but I also thought it would take hours. I'm quickly learning the things that I didn't expect to take long (cabinet pulls and knobs) take much longer and the things that I anticipate taking hours of my time are done in less than an hour. Is that some sort of Murphy's Law of home ownership?

While this won't seat the 30+ people that will be here next weekend for Haley and Matt's shower, it's a start. At least it makes the backyard start to feel more manageable. The gravel project has been delayed b/c of the busyness this time of year but I think the table and bench will look even better with gravel underneath. One day.....

Quick Post

Just a quick check in to let you all know I'm alive. I know it hasn't been that long since I posted but it feels like forever. It's been one heck of a week at work - mostly good. In fact, mostly great. I was promoted this week, unexpectedly. I'll mostly be doing the same job I've been doing for the past year and a half (and loving) but taking on some additional responsibilities and managing more staff.

Coincidentally, this week has also had me working some long days - sometimes up to 15 hours. But it will pass and I'll be back to my 'normal' 10 hour work days, again, soon.

I'm heading back to Ikea this weekend to, hopefully, purchase some outdoor furniture and will provide pictures soon. Next weekend I'm hosting Haley's bridal shower (couple's shower with burgers and beer) at my house. Fingers crossed that it's sunny b/c I'm hoping most people will be outside, where there's more room.

Until then, I've got nothing new to report. I've mostly been at home to sleep. Buster has even been neglected this week (by me; not by Kelsey, who has been like his mom). So, as the clock is about to turn to 9 and tomorrow I'm once again waking up at 5:45, I don't think I can stay awake a minute longer. So, yes, while I'm alive. I'm exhausted.

Quarterly Check-In

I can't believe how quickly this year is flying by and that it's mid-April. I thought it was about time to check in on the 2010 resolutions and see what my progress is:

So what about 2010? Here's what I came up with:
1. Complete 1 housing project/month - I've done a great job with this one. Between gutters and curtains and new furniture and art work and planting a tree, this one seems easy to get motivated for.
2. Get pet insurance for Buster (once I have it I probably won't need it but better safe then sorry) - I've done some initial research and talked to the vet techs I volunteer with at the Animal Trustees of Austin and some friends who have it for their dogs but I'm still torn. I hear mixed messages and mixed reviews. So I'm going to keep researching and will decide by the end of the year.
3. Actively pursue long-term, healthy relationships with men (I clarify the gender b/c I'm pretty successful in my female friendships) - Again, I'm researching and trying. It's been a few months since I went on a date but I have been trying to create more opportunities. I even went to a professional lacrosse game this weekend in hopes of meeting someone and I have practiced flirting with men. All in all this continues to be a work in progress.

And life continues to be good for 2010. I was just asked to serve on a board of non-profit, work is very busy but great, I've got some upcoming personal travel planned and I'm still out of credit card debt. I hope Q2 continues to be as good as Q1 was.

Day 'Off'

I took today off work but I still found myself very busy. I woke up bright and early to a call from Best Buy at 7:45 telling me they'd be by to look at my washing machine between 8:30 and 10:30. Luckily, they were here at 8:45 so I didn't have to sit around too long. Turns out that a air/water alternate valve has been missing from my washer this entire time I've had it. So they added that and showed me how to clean my filter.

First of all, I'm so grateful it was under warranty. Second of all, who knew a washing machine had a filer? And that you had to clean it? Every 3 months!!! How do people learn these things? So, after he left, I followed his instructions and cleaned mine. After dealing with the murky water, I found that it wasn't very dirty but I feel empowered to take better care of my washer now. Between learning how to re-power my tankless hot water heater and this, I feel pretty proud of myself.

Speaking of pride. My curtains are hung. Today, I took a few trips to The Home Depot and Bed, Bath and Beyond. Mostly b/c I wanted to find just the right curtain clips. I was both overwhelmed and shocked with the variety and choices. First I couldn't remember if I had a brushed or regular nickel curtain rod and then I had no idea what the width size of the curtain rod was. So I took a few choices home and one worked. So, back to the stores I went to return and exchange. Once the curtains were hung, I had to make some slight alterations in length. But thank goodness I could take length off. Adding length would have been hard and my curtains would have looked like capri pants. The light is shinging behind the curtains so they were hard to capture on film, especially without Devon to help me adjust for the light but you'll get the idea.

So I realize they still need to be ironed but I'm really happy with them. And they were hung just in time. Summer is quickly approaching Austin and my french doors are the recipients of tons of afternoon sun. So my curtains will provide both privacy and sun protection.

In addition to the above, I also went to Target, the bank, ordered some things online I needed and went to pilates and spent time with both Jen and Jess today. All in all, a great day 'off'.

The second best thing about having a three day weekend is having a four day week.

Sew Happy!

Finally! I've sewn my curtains. The funny thing is that I took tomorrow off work b/c I felt like I never had time during the weekends to get this project done. But clearly I was just procrastinating. I guess all I had to do was plan a day off and the night before (today) I'd get motivated. The logic in that is lost on me so I'm certain it won't make sense to any of you.

But I think I worked myself up so much that this project would be so hard and I'd screw it up that I was afraid to start it. While the curtains are by no means perfectly straight, they look good and I'm really happy with the pattern. The ones for the french doors are just hanging over the rod right now b/c I need to buy curtain clips tomorrow but I've hung the one in the kitchen window for a sneak peak. In case you can't tell, it's little birdies in green and white, on green leaves and black branches - to match my black cabinets and green knobs.

And, the best part of all is that I had fun doing this. It took about 3 hours of measuring, pinning, ironing, sewing, re-measuring, unpinning, trouble shooting a sewing machine error, re-threading the bobbin and needle but I loved it all. I was reminded today why I love sewing. It has such a soothing effect when you're doing it and you can be lulled by the sewing machine noise. And you walk away with a tangible product.

So what will I do tomorrow now? Besides waiting for Best Buy to come check out my leaking washing machine. I told myself I wouldn't (couldn't) run errands but since places were closed today I think my timing got flip-flopped. Today ended up being sewing day and tomorrow is errand and rest day.

As an end note, please enjoy Buster watching the horse in my next door neighbors yard. He came for a visit and all the grandchildren took turns riding him in circles.

Anniversaries

While I'd like to see myself as a free spirit, that's not really true as often as I'd wish it was. I love knowing what to expect and planning and traditions and anniversaries. They bring me comfort. On my way home tonight I remembered that it was one year ago today that I took Buster home for a trial run from the rescue group where I'd found him. He was already being placed for adoption but that didn't work out and one Friday afternoon I got a call asking if I wanted to come the next day to pick him up and 'see how it goes'. So I did.

I remember being both nervous and excited. I was already planning to meet Devon for a run at town lake so I called her, with a slight alteration in our plan and Buster (then Bruno) and I joined her. He and I have had a whirlwind year together for sure. But I think we're in a good place now and I truly can't imagine my life without him. I think Max would be proud of me and grateful that another dog gets the luxuries his life had.

In the theme of anniversaries, I also realized that it was 6 months ago this week when I first started talking to my mom about buying a house. As my first blog post recapped, it was a mere 6 weeks later that I closed on this house and I still feel like this has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. But oh how times have changed. The things that I think about and know (and spend money on) now vs. 6 months ago are quite different. To name a few:

1. Staring at people's houses when walking Buster, deciding what I want to do next on my house.
2. Watching House Hunters
3. Knowing the average costs for blinds, appliances and tankless hot water heaters
4. Tuning in when real estate topics are discussed on the news
5. Quoting interest rates and APRs
6. Convincing my renting friends that buying a home is a 'great investment'
7. Watering my yard and getting annoyed when I see some dog poop in my front yard that is certainly not Buster's
8. Wondering what my next blog post will be about (the fact that I blog still feels surreal)

And I'm sure there are many other things my friends and family would say that I do and say that I never did before. But that's ok. I like Homeowner Mellie. Next she'll deal with my leaking washing machine.

Busy Days

In general, I feel pretty busy lately. But I always prefer being busy to bored. As long as I don't feel burnt out. In order to avoid that, I told myself I'd take off one day/month from work. I didn't do this in January but it had been so soon since our holiday vacation that it didn't feel necessary. February I took off the day after the half marathon but I did go into work for an hour for a meeting. March I took off a day that my mom was in town and enjoyed some shopping. And next Monday I'm taking my April day. And doing nothing. Or at least very little. Except sewing my stupid curtain. Yes, you heard me. I will sew my curtains on Monday!

Until then, I'm tired. Today was another busy day. I've been getting to work earlier and earlier for the past few months. I'm usually there between 7:30 and 7:45 and today was no exception. Then, at 10, our entire staff did a community service project where we cleaned up parts of the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. Devon and I opted to get some exercise, too, and canoed the lake while picking up trash. Then it was our annual all staff/volunteers/interns picnic. Buster joined us for this and really enjoyed meeting other dogs, chasing Frisbees and eating scraps of food on the ground.

And, believe it or not, the day didn't end there for me. I hosted our monthly book club at my house tonight. I was super excited because it was my first role as 'host' in my house. And there were 10 of us! It felt a bit crowded (how will I possibly fit 30+ for a shower at the end of the month?) but not too bad and I think it was a success. Buster seemed a bit overwhelmed and is now worn out. And I can relate. I think we'll both sleep well after this long (but fun and successful) day.

Rain, Rain, Come Again

Gutters have arrived! It may be the most money I've ever spent on something so boring and anti-climatic but I will smile every time it rains knowing I've invested in gutters, my foundation and the longevity of my home.

I also went to our lovely Department of Public Safety today and got a new driver's license. The oddest thing about Texas is that while they take your picture on site, they provide you with a temporary sheet of paper that serves as your license until your new one is mailed to you in four weeks. Four weeks!!?? I remember thinking this was odd when I moved here. In Virginia, they did it all on site and you walked out with your freshly laminated, sealed license.

Ah, Texas......

Rebuilding

Since my loss last weekend (purse, camera, wallet, credit cards, ID, etc.) I've been slowly rebuilding. I dug an old purse out of my closet and one of the many cosmetic bags I've gotten for free during 'bonus time' at Macy's and loaded that up with the usual suspects - band aids, lip gloss, aspirin, etc. Due to my unexpected cost to replace my window, I told myself that while I wasn't allowed to buy a new purse (yet), I was allowed to buy a new wallet. I mean I didn't have a back-up wallet so I really needed one.

My new wallet arrived on Friday afternoon along with several replacement credit cards. Today, my insurance card and ATM card arrived.

But the best rebuilding of all is thanks to Devon. Last year one of her friends accidentally dropped her camera and the lens broke. The camera still works but it looks pretty beat up. She treated herself to a new camera and this weekend was kind enough to offer me her old camera until I get a new one. I was so excited to be reunited with a Canon again. And while I may not have any pictures to post tonight, rest assured that new(ish) Canon will be used a lot.

So while my purse still feels a little bit light and empty, I'm thrilled to have a camera be part of my life again. Next up is my driver's license. Wish me luck braving the DPS in the morning.

Musings

Being out of credit card debt has created a whole new freedom for me. But it's also creating new responsibilities. I really, really, really don't want to get in debt again. My financial situation is more secure than it has been before and I've actually got money in savings to pull from if emergencies happen.

I've been thinking about this a lot for the past few days, though, and trying to come up with a realistic budget that both pays all my bills and still allows me to have fun and buy new things periodically. Obviously I can't do it all at once, but it will be great to know that the extra several hundred dollars I was putting toward Citibank can now be used for something immediate.

Credit card debt is a tricky thing, though. For the most part, it was probably due to things I wanted but couldn't afford (I know that seems obvious but stick with me....). Things like clothes, plane tickets, etc.

But I'm certain a lot of it was also due to things I needed to do - like fix my car, unexpected dental work or, in my case the biggest chunk of my debt, Max's vet bills.

I've said this several times, but I have no regrets spending the thousands of dollars that I did to keep Max alive for a few extra days. But right before that happened last year, I was less than a thousand dollars away from paying off my credit card debt. Then it shot right back up. I didn't have money in savings to pay off some or all of the vet bills and wasn't making the same salary I am now.

So while I am really looking forward to living a better financial life, I also promise to keep perspective on what life can throw you. Emergencies and unexpected costs due occur but I'm better prepared for them now.

And while I know it seems strange to say this but paying off my credit card last month, which was largely the vet bills from last year, was amazing it also felt bittersweet. I think it was my last tangible connection to Max. Since his death, I've gotten a new dog, I've moved, I've gotten new furniture and a new car. There is little around me now that was part of his life. I know the debt wasn't my last memory of him but it is odd to know that something so great (paying it off) can have one small tug at my heartstrings.

Grow, Little Tree, Grow

This morning has been a productive morning in the Sileo household. Besides my usual Saturday morning activities, Chris and Lucie came over for a visit. While I fed her some banana and cheerios and she chased after Buster, Chris hung my curtain rod in my kitchen above my french doors.

I've been talking about this curtain rod for months now. I bought the fabric for the curtains at Ikea in January and now I have no excuse not to sew. I'm hoping the empty curtain rod staring at me will motivate me. So far that hasn't worked. But it's only been 2 hours.

Despite hitting a wire and having to remember where my circuit breaker was to reset a fuse, it went quite smoothly. But that's easy for me to say when all I did was play with Lucie.

Then Kelsey came over for what's turning into our usual Saturday morning walks with Buster and we finally planted my tree!

The city of Austin is piloting a program in certain parts of town (note: transitional) by donating one tree to each household. It's our responsibility to plant and grow it. Mine arrived several weeks ago and despite the fact that I should have planted it right away, I think it's doing quite well. It's certainly been getting watered with all the rain we've had.

Thanks to Kelsey's surprisingly good use of a shovel, the tree is planted, mulched and watered! We also (finally!) broke down a large box that's been sitting in my back yard since, oh, December. For such an independent person, I sure do need people to motivate me to get the littlest things done.

So while I'm temporarily sans camera, I did take a picture of the newly planted tree with my blackberry. I've named her Rosie and I've promised to take good care of her.

Next up, gutters and a new, crushed granite patio. Stay tuned.....

Feeling Like A Homeowner

So, it's official. I feel like a homeowner now. Between dealing with my hot water heater last week and the number of estimates I'm getting for improvements right now, it's true, I am a homeowner. But it feels good.

Although it's easy to 'feel good' about it when I currently have the means to deal with home ownership. Thanks to my hefty tax return, I'm investing in some areas of my home that, hopefully, in the future, will end up saving me money in the long run (not buying a couch of course but that's just fun!).

Monday morning around my house was hectic. I felt a little like that scene in Mr. Mom when Michael Keaton is running around, trying to deal with laundry overflowing, screaming children and delivery people. My situation wasn't nearly as hectic but it sure did require a lot of time management and Buster control. Luckily, my dad was there to help me and Kelsey jumped in at the last minute to take me to the airport because my car window hadn't been repaired yet. Apparently Subaru windows are trickier than normal ones b/c they don't have frames the same way other cars do and they have extra, internal screws. Who knew?

Now it just needs to be tinted to match the rest of the windows.

The rest of the morning was spent getting estimates for gutter installations and some pest control around the house. Once I get back from my trip, I'll review the estimates and make my decisions but I'm pretty certain I'm going to move forward with both of them. Then there's still a little left to begin some yard renovations. Not as much as I originally thought. The expenses to get my car window replaced, a new wallet and my impromptu decision to get a mattress box spring, decreased the funds available but those are all decisions that I'm happy with.

Sadly, until I get a new camera, this blog will remain picture free. You'll have to use your imagination. If I was any good at drawing, I would do that and scan pictures. But I can barely draw stick figures.

Ups and Downs

There has been so much going on lately I need a vacation. As I mentioned in my most recent blog posting, I was already exhausted from last week's activities and then today happened.

Kelsey and I went to town lake with Buster. We found yet another excuse not to run - the cold and wind - and decided to go on a 3 mile walk. We drove to our usual east side spot near our offices and hit the trail.

It sure was windy but it felt good to be outside. Until we got back to my car. Back to the scene of the crime.

Kelsey noticed it first and then I shouted some obscenities (apparently, many obscenities). My car had been broken into. The back passenger side window had been smashed in and my purse was stolen. So annoying.

Yes, in retrospect, I guess I shouldn't have left my purse in the car but it was locked, my windows are tinted and it was 10am on a sunny day in parking lot with other cars and people milling about. How no one noticed this happening is beyond me.

While losing my purse and all its contents (wallet, camera, checkbook) sucks, I'm grateful for so many things. Kelsey and I make a good crime thwarting team. Within minutes we had talked to the police and had a plan in place. We drove to her house to get her computer and then to mine where we tag teamed making calls and looking things up on the Internet.

If this wasn't for such a sad reason, I would have enjoyed myself. Making plans, lists and then checking them off as they get done is one of my favorite things. But not this time.

At 8pm tonight I think I've done all I can for now. I have a new blackberry, have cancelled all my credit cards, changed all my passwords and set up a time tomorrow morning to get my car window replaced. There are plenty more things I need to do (new driver's license for one) but they'll have to wait until I'm back from Atlanta.

So off I go tomorrow with an empty replacement purse. All I have are a few checks, my passport and a pen. But it could be worse. So much worse. I'm glad no one was hurt, that Kelsey's purse wasn't also stolen, that my house keys were with me and that I'm an organized person and had all the information I needed to remedy this situation.

I can't thank Kelsey enough for all of her help today. She may not have had a choice as I considered her a victim of this crime, too, and I know she had some 'purse survivor's guilt' but she was amazing and I couldn't have gotten through this without her (or anyone else who called and expressed offers to help).

But it's exhausting dealing with crime. I'm just hopeful for days ahead that just feel normal. I'm ok with normal and welcome it. Come on in and join me for awhile. Take a seat on Cafe Noir and put up your feet.

New Resting Place, New Views....

I got my new couch today! Thanks to my dad who waited for the delivery men while I was at work. I'm sitting on it now as I type this and while it certainly feels different than my previous one, I love it and have no doubt that we'll spend lots of quality time together.

But I will miss my yellow couch. It was my first big furniture purchase as an adult and I have good memories on that couch....some that can be shared and some that just remain special to me. I hope whomever picked it up off the side of the road (yes, I put it on the curb and it was gone within 3 hours) enjoys it as much as I do.

But, Cafe Noir (the color of my new couch) and I are going to be fast friends and build many new memories together.

Also, the final installment of my bedroom art updates arrived today. Since Jess and I brainstormed the other night where I would put things, I went ahead and hung everything tonight. It's hard to capture in one picture but I think it looks really good. The colors all go so well together and it's soothing and whimsical, which is just what I was going for.

Of course now that I have a new couch and new art work, I have that many more things I want to do around the house to 'match' their newness. But one step at a time. Gutter and pest control quotes are on Monday. Doesn't that sound riveting?

Also, as an update for those of you waiting on the edge of your seat, wondering how my hot water heater has been working.....it seems to be fixed. After calling Ken for advice, the contractor who built my home to see where he got it (turns out, he didn't buy it and the first contractor, who was then fired from the job did, from Ebay of all places), I called my home warranty company. Seventy-five dollars later it seems to be fixed. Sadly, what he did seemed equivalent to rebooting a computer. But I know nothing about tankless hot water heaters (who am I kidding? I know nothing about 'tankful' hot water heaters) and anything related to gas made me nervous. So I basically paid someone $75 to unplug and replug it in. Ah well, now I know how to do it myself. See one, do one, teach one.....

But boy has it been a busy week. Between a crazy week of work, a nail in one of my car tires, my hot water heater on the fritz, my dad in town, not getting much sleep and SXSW in town, I'm exhausted. Good night for now!

And The Winners Are.....

1. A new couch. I bought it last weekend and they're delivering it on Friday (pictures soon).
2. Gutters (pending the quote amount on Monday)
3. Pest control (pending the quote amount on Monday)
4. Zero scaping part of the yard (thanks to the help and suggestions from Helen Knost)
5. Three more months of doggie daycare for Buster

I've also now gotten 4 out of the 5 pieces of art I ordered off Etsy for my bedroom. Once those are hung and the couch has arrived, I'll have more pictures to share.

In the meantime, my dad arrived in town. He's moving to Austin as soon as he sells his condo in VA (he has a contract on it now but the woman broke her femur this past weekend and may back out). Fingers crossed that it all works out and he can move to Austin soon and be close to his grandchildren (Lucie, Buster and the newest Baby Sileo in October).