ABCs of me

I am totally stealing this from Keri. But it looked fun, and I have to start working soon, so here it is! :) 

A. Age: 25

B. Bed size: Queen

C. Chore you dislike: Ugh, definitely de-cluttering. Although I like things very simple and I have a strong distaste for clutter. Interesting...

D. Dogs: Just Sargee, at my mom's house. 

 (this is a VERY old picture, from March of 2009, but he was so cute, I couldn't resist posting!) 

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee.

F. Favorite color: Blue, most any shade. 

G. Gold or silver: Silver

H. Height: 5 foot, 1 inch. Yep, I'm a foot and and 2 inches shorter than my husband!

I. Instruments you play(ed): Started on piano when I was very little, had to stop taking lessons for awhile in Elementary School, picked up on Alto Sax in beginning band (6th grade), and quickly grew bored of that during spring break of 6th grade. So my dad gave me a flute and the beginning books for it, and said, "I am NOT paying for private lessons. You want to play; you teach yourself!" Neither of us ever thought I'd switch from sax to flute completely in 8th grade, but I did, and I was first chair flute!! I dropped band in 10th grade, but picked up piano lessons again for another 5 years or so, and started teaching myself clarinet. During that time, I also learned guitar, because the youth band I was directing needed a guitarist - thus, I got my Fender Acoustic. After I graduated from UW in 2009, I wanted to be challenged, so I started violin lessons. I still play everything, except the sax and clarinet, although I own all of the instruments I play, save for the alto sax, which I think I gave to my brother. 

J. Job title: Domestic Engineer. :) 

K. Kids: Someday soon.... :) 

L. Live: Marysville, Washington

M. Mom’s name: Nancy Lynn

N. Nicknames: Kimbe, Mimi (I believe every child under the age of 3 has ALWAYS called me this), and Robert only ever calls me sweetheart. 

O. Overnight hospital stays: I don't remember it, but when I was 8, I had a Tonic-clonic (or grand mal) seizure, and I had to stay in the hospital. :( 

P. Pet peeves: When I don't have an opportunity to clean up before/ after company. 

Q. Quote from a movie: "With all due respect, Mr. Vice President, we need a solution, not dramatics!" (or something like that)

R. Righty or lefty: Righty

S. Siblings: Michael, Tristan, Ashley

T. Time you wake up: Either super early, or around 8:30-9am

U. Underwear: Um...yes. Always. 

V. Vegetables you don't like: Cauliflower. Blech. Also beets and asparagus. 

W. What makes you run late: Waiting for other people to be ready to go. 

X. X-rays you’ve had: Arm, leg, ankle, back....too many to count. 

Y. Yummy food you make: My banana spice bread. :) Also, my 4-cheese bread (which is now for sale here). 

Z. Zoo animal favorites: I always like the exotic birds, they are just so beautiful!

Saving money and good $cents

Today, I went to Albertson's & Safeway. I feel that my Safeway trip was most successful, so I'm posting a picture here of everything I bought, for a grand total of $15.78!!!

2 boxes of Nature Valley Peanut Butter granola bars, 2 containers of Lysol Cling toilet bowl cleaner, 2 jars of Ragu sauces, 1 box of Cheerios, 2 boxes of Toaster Strudel, 1 box of Splitz yogurt.

It's amazing what you can do on a budget! I was still able to get my hubby's favorites, AND save 50% ($15.74) on my bill!

Before I left for the store, I put Kate Gosselin's Mommy Applesauce recipe in the crockpot. I came home, decided that it smelled so good, I was going to make a loaf of zucchini-carrot bread, too! This house smells AMAZING!

Updates and such

Well, a brief update is in order, I believe.

Life's been going so fast lately, I feel like I can't keep up! Plus, I've been having these freaky dreams that really set me in a funk first thing in the morning.

The house has been a disaster for the last week or so. Especially our room. It seems like as soon as I start cleaning or picking up, something happens and I have to stop or leave. GRR!

Working from home has proven to be fun, exhausting, rewarding and frustrating for me. Robert and I decided it's best for me to stay home, but if you're reading this blog, I am certain that you know I won't just sit here and knit or watch TV. I'm teaching piano lessons to 5 students now, and am considering opening up space for 3 more students. Between the two of us, we're still nannying for the Kings and their 4 kids (1 is away in the Marines). Our days/ hours are jumbled right now, and sometimes we just go up there because we want to spend time with them :) But all in all, it's working out great for everyone.

Also, Robert has been back in Everett for some time, since the Anacortes location hasn't quite started serving lunch yet, so he hasn't had to go up there to do training for them. I love it, because he's home more. He is a little torn, because it's more money and he feels really productive.

We've received confirmation of our plane tickets and condo reservations for Oahu in May! I'm so glad this has all come together for us. We really need a break.

I am very excited to be starting all 3 of our new small group studies this next week! Ladies' Bible Study on Thursday nights is starting a study on Esther - one of my two favorite books of the Bible - by Elizabeth George, HOV is starting a new study on the life of David, and our young marrieds class at church is starting something new, but we don't know what it will be just yet!

Well, that's all I've got for now. :) Enjoy this pic of us one year ago yesterday at Gion Don's in Maui.