Backyard Tourists

Andy ran the Seattle Rock and Roll Half Marathon last weekend, so we stayed up in Seattle for a night and hung out at Pikes Place Market--the ultimate tourist destination of Seattle. We've both been to the market before, but never together...so we were total tourists in a city we've both lived in before, it was awesome. 

There was a jacuzzi tub in the hotel room...oh yeah!

The original Starbucks...you can't see it, but there is a line about half a mile long.  Ironically there are multiple Starbucks around the corner, with no lines.  That's my "what the heck" face.  Seriously people, it tastes the same around the corner! (The pink guitar guy agrees).

Normal sightings downtown.

 Have you heard about the gum wall in Seattle? Yep, it is what it sounds like.

You're probably wondering where all the pictures of Andy running the marathon are right?  I'm so lame, I couldn't drag myself out of bed at 5am.  (I will not win the wife of the year award, I know).  But he did great and he's signing up to run the full marathon next year! 

Have you been to Seattle?  What was your favorite site?

33

Today I turn 33.  It's insane how much can happen in a single year...or two.  Two years ago to the date, I went through the toughest time ever in my life.  If someone would have told me that two years later I would be where I'm at today, happier than I've ever been, I would have laughed in their face.  Hindsight is one of those things that really strengthen my faith and humble me to the core.  There are so many times I've questioned God's path for my life and looking back I can usually (not always) see how the things I went through have made me into who I am today.  I can see  refinement and maturity; and I can, with perspective, look back and actually be thankful for some of (not all of) the hardships I've endured. 

Perspective is a beautiful thing.  I used to cringe a bit with each passing birthday; but now I look forward to another year to reflect back on and see the wisdom that comes with another year of ups and downs.  (But God, sometimes I don't want that much wisdom...I'd be quite content with a year of pure bliss and no hardship).

I'm excited to see what happens this year in life.  And I give you permission when I complain to say in your comments how much "wiser"  I'll be for going through whatever I'm complaining about!

Insanity

Ever since I had that week long bout of some stomach bug, I just cannot seem to get my stuff together and get on a regular schedule.  Work has been insanely busy, we're wheelin' and dealin' for a house which is a lot of back and forth craziness, and there have been a ton of social events that book up almost each and every week day evening.  Every night for the past week and a half I've crawled into bed dead tired with work emails sitting in my inbox that I haven't gotten to yet.

Since we are saving for a home we didn't plan any vacation this year.  But a break is urgently necessary.  So I'm taking this Friday off from work and Andy and I booked a fancy hotel on Priceline up in Bellevue--which is only about an hour away from where we currently live.  But it's far enough away to unplug and unwind and put us in a different environment where we can just relax and get away from distractions.  

Hopefully this mini getaway will be just what I need to get back on schedule!

On To The Next

We put an offer on another house yesterday...we are anxiously awaiting the response.  It's a duplex, which means more than half of our mortgage will be paid by someone else.  Holla!

It's not a fixer upper...it's a flip, so most of the cosmetic things are already done. (Which kinda bums me out...I was really looking forward to house hold projects).  But, I know I could find things to make this home more "my own."  

 I'll keep you posted!

Letting Go

We finally got the house inspected.  As you can tell by the title of this post, we had to move on.  The house was going to need at least $50,000 sunk into it--and that's before anything cosmetic.  Boo.

So...back to square one.  It's quite draining and emotional--and the fact that I so desperately want to move out of this apartment and also really want a puppy make starting over that much harder. 

Oh well...another few months sans puppy.  I think I'll survive.  

Facing Domestic Violence

Two nights ago I found myself involved with a real life case of domestic violence.  Andy and I could hear yelling from our apartment, what sounded like dishes breaking, and we could hear the contact of a fist hitting a face.  We ran downstairs and started pounding on our neighbors door.  They wouldn't answer.  When Andy threatened to call the police, the wife opened the door bleeding and with a horrible swelling lip.  She reluctantly came with me up to my apartment and waffled between tears of wanting to leave her husband and defending him.

My heart broke for her...She swore that it wasn't always like this...that after three deployments to Afghanistan he came back angrier and angrier.  It was a text book case of a woman who after 8 years of abuse was not going to leave her circumstances; what made the situation even worse was that they were supposed to leave to Texas, where her husband was stationed, the very next morning.  There was nothing I could say or do to convince her to call the police or to get help. 

In hindsight, I wish I had called the police.  In Washington state charges would have been pressed.  I've never been in a circumstance like this, and sadly, I feel like it won't be the last time I encounter domestic violence. Next time, I'll know what to do. 

Post Newlywed

Andy and I were out recently and someone asked us if we were newlyweds.  We said "Yes!" without hesitation...but I thought, at what point are you not considered newlyweds...and at what point do people stop acting or feeling like newlyweds? We've been married for 1 year and 4 months, but I hope after 10 years people will continue to ask us if we're newlyweds. 

How long have you been married?  Do you still feel like a newlywed?

Sunday Recap

After 7 days of having some mysterious stomach bug, I was finally feeling myself again this weekend.  (Thank God...7 days of saltines and gatorade was awful!). 

Andy was a guest preacher at a little church in Packwood, WA on Sunday.  We got up at 5am to make the 2 1/2 hour drive.  It was actually a great little trip because we drove through the areas we took our DIY engagement photos.  Road trips are a great excuse to eat stuff I normally wouldn't.  We stopped for breakfast at a tiny little diner with fake flowers and all.  It was exactly what you would picture a diner in a small town to look like.

I forgot to take the picture until after I had eaten half of my breakfast!

On our way back we took a different route--through the mountains.  It was crazy to see so much snow on the ground in June!

And then of course we stopped at a burger joint for lunch because we saw a sign for coconut cream pie milkshakes!  Um...yes please!

I've clearly made up for my 7 days of saltines...I've been eating like horse.

Time To Reminisce--A Guest Post

I loved the blog post my husband wrote yesterday, so I asked him to guest post on Discovery Street today! Because it's my husband's, I had the luxury to just cut and paste. :)  Hope you enjoy!

One of Ruthy and my favorite things to do on our “date night” is to go to a Borders bookstore, pick a random relationship book off the shelf and then read a chapter out loud with one another and discuss it. We have probably done this a dozen times over the course of our marriage and have found the practice to be quite helpful to our relationship. (Coincidentally, us never actually purchasing a book from Borders has proven to be quite disastrous for them since they are now out of Business). One of the books we read was by Dr. John Gottman. Dr. Gottman said that one of the keys to a successful marriage is taking time to reminisce. Gottman says that couples who take the time to look through old photo albums together, recollect stories and share remembrances have a much greater success rate in maintaining a healthy marriage.

Recently Ruthy and I looked through a few photo albums of our 7 month honeymoon and had a great time remembering old stories and laughing at some of our more "inconvenient" memories. Below are a few of the highlights we remembered.

 Navigating through 1000's of jellyfish while diving 

 Taking the scariest taxi cab ride ever in Vietnam

Starting off our SE Asia trip in the middle of a Civil War in Thailand.

My Latest Food Addiction

There is a self serve frozen yogurt place that opened up across the street from my apartment a few months ago.  Let's just say that an embarrassing portion of my paycheck is now allotted to super creamy, delicious Fro Yo.  And the image above does not adequately depict what my cup looks like.  Lets just say I have an affinity for chocolate chip cookie dough, reece's pieces, crumbled heath bar and the like.  And because it's self serve, I can add all three toppings and then some, because I pay by the weight of the yogurt--not the size.  

I try to rationalize my behavior by patting myself on the back and saying, "at least it's not a bowl of Ben and Jerry's!"  

Oh...just reason #127 I need to get out of this apartment I'm in. 

Note to self...do not move within walking distance to any food service establishment that has chocolate. 

Are you a frozen yogurt fan?  What's your favorite flavor?

Jumping Through Hoops

It's a blessing and a curse to be buying a home in this economy.  On one hand, there are a ton of great deals out there; on the other hand, you have to have the patience of a saint and jump through hoops to actually buy one of these deals.  Remember the home I was so excited about buying?  It's been a month since we've put in our offer and it hasn't even been inspected yet! 

Long story short...because the home has been foreclosed for so long, the power company had to inspect the power lines before the house could be inspected by a regular inspector.  Turns out the power inspection failed--and it's highly unlikely the bank is going to spend $3000 to rewire the house and pay a landscaper to cut down trees just so it can be inspected.  And we surely are not going to shell out the money.  (Our poor inspector...we've had to reschedule him 4 times already!).  We are still playing the waiting game...it's hard to let go of something we were so excited about...it's not over yet, but it's not looking good.

Do you know anyone who got a deal on a foreclosed home?

Something Is Going Around

I got it...the stomach bug.  It's been going around and of course, when Tacoma WA is forecasted to have it's most beautiful day yet, I get it.  On a warm and glorious day I wake up sweating and cramping and wanting to die.  And because my body hates me, it decides it's a good day to start my period also.  I know...TMI. I'm on day 3 of saltines and ginger ale...the only upside to this is I'll probably lose a few pounds--I better!

Hope you all had a healthy weekend!

Thank You Ebay!

I have a problem of not tossing my jeans until there is absolutely no possible way I can wear them again.  One of my favorite pairs of jeans has finally gotten close enough to that stage where I'm afraid they might split if I wear them in public again.  I have had these jeans for over 4 years and have probably worn them 2-3 times a week.  They've lasted a good while and Nordstroms no longer carries them...so I perused through ebay and low and behold there they were...in my size and less than half the price I paid for them 4 years ago.  They were gently used but I didn't care...these were my favorite jeans!  I swooped em up and they showed up in the mail a few days later and you can bet I've already worn them out on more than one occasion!

A tiny whole had formed right in bum area...you can't tell from the picture but the materiel is so worn out it's paper thin.  

New Vs. Old.

I still don't have the heart to throw the old one's out.  I'll probably wear them around the house until they turn to threads!

How long have you had your favorite pair of jeans?