Romance in a Unromantic World

I love my husband. I try to show him everyday why I fell in love with him.....but some days you just run out of ideas or motivation. What a find this book was. My love affair with Amazon continues constantly but this was such an exciting moment :) I was randomly looking up date idea books and I found this one! I read the reviews and couldn't resist. I have NEVER read a more helpful book! I read one page every night and although I may not use the exact examples in the book, it does get my romantic mind churning. It makes my heart swell with love and you just get so excited to try an idea out, whether his or one you have concocted based on a phrase! I hope anyone out there wanting to be even one ounce more romantic checks this book out!

Animals have feelings too....

There are a few things in life that get me truly fired up! Animal abuse is one of them! Most of you know that I am an animal welfare activist. Now don't get me confused with an animal RIGHTS activist. I don't believe that animals should be treated better than people or anything like that, but why pray tell do people think that, because we are the dominant mammal on the planet, we can hurt animals for fun and entertainment? Do animals have a voice to tell you that why they did something? Do they understand the consequences of their actions? No! They are not stupid either, but we as people have a responsibility to treat every living creature with proper respect. I am not a vegetarian by any means and I believe that God gave us animals to sustain us in life. BUT I do not believe that an animal has to grow up in inhumane conditions and be killed in the most gruesome way possible either. I do not wear leather because I do not agree with the way they kill the cows, I do not eat at KFC because I HATE the way they raise their chickens and kill them in a horrible manner, I DO NOT under any circumstances go to the circus! Why? Because I feel a moral obligation to show my disapproval! Yes I am just one person, no it probably wont make a difference...but to me I can KNOW that I did not condone behavior by indulging in the byproducts of abuse! *end rant*



On a more positive note, I have lost 6lbs since going to the gym and already feel healthier! I am really enjoying swimming almost daily and can feel a difference in my clothes!!!!!

I have also decided to take the plunge and go to grooming school! Very nervous and very excited all at the same time!!!!

My New Hobby

One of my goals this year was to lose weight. So far...EPIC FAIL. Over the past few weeks I have been weighing my options. I have looked into nutritionists, Jenny Craig, and supplements. None of them seemed right. On Monday a friend and I were talking about working out before work and starting to discuss a gym membership. I stopped by after work and checked it out.....it was love at first sight! This gym is amazing! It has two pools, a hot tub, two saunas both dry and steam, all the cardio machines you can think of, unlimited fitness classes and this gym is 24 hours! SOOOOOO I get to workout before work and chill after work!

With this membership you get a fit assessment. Needless to say.....I have a ways to go. BUT, I get two free personal training sessions! My first one is on Friday at 6 am! I am super excited! Since joining the gym and spending almost every day there doing some activity of some sort, I have lost 6 lbs!!!!! YAY ME!!!!

6 years ago...

6 years ago I married my best friend. The man I married is an amazing person. he takes care of me and loves me with every ounce of strength he has. He also stripped copper for two months to save money to take me on a romantic weekend getaway to D.C!!!! So here are some of our pictures...in no particular order because no matter how hard I try, I can't get them in the right order on this thing =P

This is Union Station. One of the biggest train stations at the time it was built. If you put the Washington Monument on its side, it would fit in just the lobby!

Hahah This is the International Spy Museum. Quite a let down on our part though. Not worth the money :(


On our bus tour!



I LOVED the Capitol Building! Everywhere you turned was something beautiful!



Our hotel was very modern!!!



This was at the end of our day two. As you can see....I am burnt to a crisp! I ended up with 2nd degree burns on my shoulder but it was soooooo worth it!


We took a night tour of the Mall and it was amazing! Sadly my camera didn't take the greatest pictures!




The rotunda at the Capitol! (I warned you there was no order!)Hahah his new favorite shirt!
Overall, we had a great time! There are so many more pictures to come!

It's a BOY

I am pleased to announce the arrival of Neville Snitch Zuleta. A robo dwarf hamster that has stolen our hearts! NEVER did I EVER imagine that I would tolerate, let alone WANT, a hamster. I am a dog/cat person and have always thought that caged pets were kinda a waste! Boy was I wrong!!

I LOVE this pic, because it looks like they are studying the blueprints to break in!
This is our new little man! He is just toooooooo cuuuute!!! Being a robo hamster, he isn't the most social of hamsters but he was just too adorable to pass up! He literally is no bigger than a ping pong ball and frequents the resemblance when he sleeps!

Neville has already provided our kitties with hours of entertainment. I have to say I giggle quite frequently at his antics myself. Putting him in his little ball and he is set to go! Parker is already a doting big brother helping him out of situations when his ball gets stuck on "debris" around the house! Rocky is more the "Meh, I have dealt with new siblings before" type attitude but he can't resist peeking at our new comer!

The ONLY complaint I have so far is his lack of housekeeping! He thinks it is funny to take a mouthfull of food up to the wheel tower and spit it out and then RUN in his wheel causing the said food to spin everywhere! Sunflower seeds in a plastic wheel at 3 am sounds a lot like shoes in the dryer LOL!!!!

More updates to follow as our little guy grows on us!!!!!

*One of the downsides of working at a pet store is seeing all these cute animals and saying no*

I know..I know...

I know I say this often...but I really wish it was Christmas. Here in Maryland, the allergy season has been extremely brutal! With a severe winter, comes a unbearable summer. We have had an abnormal amount of rain this spring and that means more "thriving plants". Which in turn means un-happy mandys statewide!!!

That being said, my husband found me this tiny orchid plant. I have a history of, shall we say, assisting plants in a quick and untimely death. I know that a "standard" orchid plant would stand no chance under my caring so he though this "mini" would do quite nicely. It helps that orchids are hypoallergenic!!!

Aren't husbands like mine so wonderful?!?!?!?!?

It's that time of year again...

It is seriously no secret that I honestly hate this time of year. I hibernate and miss out on all the joy that this season brings because of the multiple health hazards that it creates. This is not a post about such hatred. This is going to be a post about the positive things happening in our life right now!!!!

This year, Juli and I decided we would accomplish more this year than our previous years together! So, like any goal, a well laid out plan was needed. I LOVE LISTS!!! We have a master schedule, menu, and goal list. I set a timer each day and try to get as much done in that time frame and you would be pleasantly surprised to find what you can accomplish! I have come to realize what are important things in my life and what are time fillers! Waste not the time you have, for someday you will have none! Juli and I have found so much more time together to just DO things we want to do!

Another major deal in our life right now is our financial situation. What a lesson this has been. We have had several burdens lifted from our shoulders and are well on our way to financial stability!

Work is work:P There is not a day that goes by that is not interesting! Today was Great Dane poo but that is not a story I wish to relive!

Diet wise I have lost 8 lbs in the past two weeks so I am well on my way back to my skinny self!