Touring with Big

When I found out what Big did for a living I was very excited because he makes a living doing the very thing that inspired me to switch my major! He works in experiential marketing. I don't work in that field but I still have a desire to, and I know that I don't want to keep doing my current vocation forever. I always thought I would get a sensible college degree so I would have something to fall back on, and in this particular field the adage "it's not what you know but who you know" is more law than myth.

I always wanted a family business. I love working with family and the time spent working in the same office as josh and mia was the happiest of my working experiences since my current position. I love the connection that it creates when you work on something relevant to each other, it gives you so much more to talk about...at least to me.

I've gone out on a couple of marketing tours with Big and we are talking more and more of how we can be the ones to write the checks and plan the tours...he's been the frontrunner of these talks, which is wonderful because I'm used to being the idea-haver. It is refreshing to know I am coupled with someone who is as ambitious as I am.

I was worried that being on the road and working with Big would bring up issues, fighting, discomfort, etc...and I figure it would have best to just get all of that out of the way. Oddly enough things have been nothing but smooth. I have to check myself a good bit because I'm not used to not being in the management role in situations like this...so I have to remember that lol. But I am learning a lot and I'm really good at it so far.

It is nice to know that I am building experience and learning so much while still working and doing what I love. It is also nice to know that so far Big and I haven't torn off each others' heads lol. I like working and living and I'm learning that as long as you like work and life you're doing pretty good!

Easter Tradition Revisited

Yesterday was Easter and it was the first time in a while that I dyed Easter eggs. Big thought it would be nice to dye eggs this year and celebrate a proper holiday together. I thought it was a great idea because I love holidays so much, plus he and I are rarely together for holidays because of his travels. I thought it was cute that he wanted to do this.

Our Easter was very domestic and quiet. Not at all exciting or worth note, millions of people celebrate Easter in a very similar way...however I lived such a nontraditional life for such a long time that sometimes going along with tradition seems a bit "kinky" to me. See there? See how I can't even post about something as innocent an innocuous as Easter without using the word kinky.

So yeah, back to our day. It was so cute! The only thing that would have made it perfect would be to add my friends and family from back home. I miss them so much!

When we got up Big made coffee and took me to the grocery store to buy eggs - that's love right there, you'd have to do some hefty convincing to get me to drive to the grocery on easter sunday to buy eggs! Eggs in hand we returned to the apartment where I made bacon cinnamon rolls for brunch and big made a nummy bloody mary for us and then prepped his marinade for the t-bone steaks to come later for Easter dinner. He's old school Italian where it's tradition for the men to do the cooking, it reminds me of Gran Gran, my grandfather, who would also cook the big family meals and I loved it.

The rest of the day is spent playing wii, dying eggs, and watching excellent movies like Beverly Hills Cop and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and lots of conversation and cuddles until it was time for Big to make Easter dinner. The night before, Big and I were at the Lil Wayne show where we were working it back stage with the tour manager for Nicki Minaj who's meet and greet party was nuts. There were both kids and adults crying and she was sweet and hugged each one and posed for photos, there was a pink confection table and it was just adorable...but it was nice to kick back at home the day after all that and enjoy a holiday.

Here's the eggs yall. Because you have to look at them. Each one. It is mandatory. And thusly is deemed so.

Big holding an egg!

See those pink bunny pot holders? Big picked those out.

I made this one with swirlies and rainbow stripes

Big's egg, he's so sentimental!

I made this multicolored one with paper flowers and hose

springtime yellow!

My attempt at sentiment, think I'll stick with the swirlies

We made one each with fishnets, Big added a flower to his green one

We both worked on this one, it's orange and pink and swirly and speckled and it's my favorite one.

Adorable Life

For the past two weekends Big and I have walked to the grocery store to do our shopping. He voiced the idea first and I really go for stuff like that so I jumped on it. That might not be such a big deal for some, but for me it has been a romantic scenario in my mind for a while. I don't like random walks for no reason, I prefer a utilitarian effort...so Big suggesting we take a walk to the grocery store fulfilled my unspoken desire.

It was such a nice experience to take a walk and enjoy the wonderful California weather with Big. We got to talk and just muse for a while; truly enjoy each others company. In a way it also helps us to manage our spending because we can't buy a lot since we are carrying everything home. I like to call that the makings of Domestic Bliss.

Yesterday I spent about 14 hours in front of the computer working on a major agenda and lesson plan. I'm really proud that I was so productive. I've already written and rewritten and revised and revamped my drafts and I'm still not finished, but to be sure it will be amazing once I am.

While I was working Big took a lazy Sunday on the couch by me. It was nice knowing that he was there. Lately we've been getting slowly into healthy cooking and I will probably be posting some recipes on this here blog I'm sure.

Also...I just had to add, Big is so sweet. One of my favorite things is for my coffee to be served to me and I've never told this to Big, nor have I asked him to serve my coffee...but he will do that every now and then just because he thinks about it and brings it to me without me having to ask. Today he made a fresh pot of hafcaf and brought a steamy new cup and took my stale cold cup from me and it was just so sweet of him. I think that kind of thing is romantic. I mean it's nice to help me or do nice things for me when I ask, but it's altogether different when it is unprovoked and done exactly to standard (especially when that standard isn't even known beforehand). And then tonight he served me a beer while I sit here at the computer typing this blog entry. What an adorable life.

As I strive to be mindful each day of my blessings I try to look to these small things, things that I have taken for granted in the past, as reminders and living proof.

Going Out and Coming In

You know, sometimes I think I look forward more to coming home after a long night out and about.
Don't get me wrong, it's fun to get dolled out and hit the town with your man to meet good friends and have good times! But to be honest I really enjoy the after-after party that happens when I finally get to come home and go through the ritual of stripping from the night's trappings.
Nothing feels better than slipping off your heels to release your tired sore feet or stepping out of those constricting hose or unzipping that tight dress. I had an add-on to my late night ritual; when I lived in NC the family (roomies included!) would go get some awesome junk food at cook-out which was open 24/7. These days I'm not doing the late night face stuffing bit but I still enjoy coming home.
I got to wear a knockout dress to a club the other night with big to see some friends. The dress code was very strict, and even though I was on the VIP guest list we still had to comply with the dress code so I went all out.
Once we got to the club we were escorted in and went to the VIP section where we enjoyed free bottle service in our area and a great view of the dance floor. My friend was going to be performing, but her show got canceled so instead we just sat and hang out a bit.
Later they all wanted to go to an after party. And I always go out with them after we get together. But I was just really looking forward to coming home and getting in my pjs and getting some sleep. And I'm ok with that! Once we were home big and I cuddled and cuddled until we fell asleep, it was very wonderful and much needed, definitely the high light of the night. 

Creation

The other day Big and I had a glorious day together. He made one of his patented picnics and we drove to the beach. He had an errand to run on the way so we decided to make a beach trip out of it.
It was so lovely being out in the open air and the sand with him. It was also nice to get out of the house. Though I must say the new dwelling is coming along nicely. He and I have arranged and rearranged the meager furnishings we have until they were placed perfectly, it was nice that he gave input into the decorating. I also made a bunch of things and crafted many pieces for the new house.
I made a flower arrangement out of pink gerber daisies that looks like a little flower cupcake, and I decorated some tulip shaped votive holders and turned them into a pretty matching bath caddy set to hold tooth brushes and toothpaste. Little things like that. I like nesting. I will be the first to admit it. It makes me happy to create things for the house that I live in, it just makes things feel much more comfy to me.
I have been toying with the idea of creating a blog to document the things that I create. It really is such a wonderful outlet for me, and for the most part I create things just one time to give as gifts so I rarely keep them around and consequently I forget about them. It would be nice to have a collection of videos to remind me what I made and how I made it, in case I ever forget.

Reading at Night

I always had this silly little thing I wanted to do with my mate...I loved the idea of us both cuddling on the couch and taking turns reading a book to each other. I told Josh of this thing I wanted to do, I described how we could make it a reality and how much it meant to me. All he gave me was the permission to go to bed alone to read because it was hard to concentrate while the tv was on...he'd rather watch tv downstairs without me while I read alone.
Fine. I figured that was just the way it was supposed to be and I let go of my silly idea.
However Josh did gift me with my favorite book in the whole world. I love him for that even to this day. I was bragging to Big how thoughtful Josh was in finding that book for me and how much it means to me.I loved that though Josh wasn't willing to read with me he would support my reading in such a meaningful and thoughtful way.
Big is not a reader, at all. However the other day he mentioned how nice it would be if he and I took some time out at night to read back and forth to each other out of the same book. It was like he reawakened this desire of mine, just like that. Could it possibly be something I could have in my reality?
At first he thought he could make one night a week reading night. I was fine with that. So we took turns reading a chapter together. The next day, with a big grin on his face, he told me how much he enjoyed it and how he thought we should try to read like that each night. I was overjoyed! I still can't believe it.
I love how this is my idea, but it's his idea and not something I have to force or bitch about in order to get.
For the past couple nights he and I have read to each other and it has been wonderful. We are three chapters in and I've gone to sleep to the sound of his voice. I've always wanted to be told a story at night, since I was little, and it hasn't happened - I was always the one to read or tell stories to others. I don't think he truly understands just how much this means to me...especially since it came from him and wasn't something I had to force. I feel so grateful.

Life is a Picnic

yesterday was a very quiet and very chill monday.
I woke up yesterday and took myself to the dr and got on a holter until tomorrow. Big was feeling really sick and was up all night puking so he wasn't able to drive me. It wasn't until later in the afternoon that he finally felt good enough to get up and about.
Once he was up he and I relaxed and watched some netflix at the cottage. Then he had a great idea. We made a mini picnic of finger food sandwiches and snacky food and then we drove down to the beach. We parked and ate by the light of the stars and the Santa Monica pier's ferris wheel all lit up like a holiday.
I love that he thinks of things like that. I used to love making and packing a picnic and putting it in my bike basket and riding until I found a nice green spot. Well I had to pull teeth to get Josh to go on a picnic and then it wasn't really much of a picnic, at least not to my standards. It's not a big deal. At all. But when Big spoke of doing the picnic and the way he wanted it done I felt a smile in my heart...