i have some news!!!

We bought a new washer and dryer!!!!  

 Two weekends ago our washing machine broke :(  We had been having some problems with it leaking or not spinning and things like that.  Bliss kept fixing it the best he could and we made it work.  Well, that unfortunate Sunday, it was making awful noises and just stopped.  Bliss did everything he could, but it was dead.  Thank God we had most of the laundry done for the week!

I'm not positive, but I believe this washer was bought in 2000 by my friend Kelly.  I'm not sure when she bought it, but that's when she got her apt so it may have been used at that point.  Anyway, the dryer was bought in like 02 or 03 (I think) when Kelly's other dryer died.  Bliss' old roommate, Zach, bought both off Kelly when she moved to MN and Bliss and Zach got an appt.  When Bliss and I moved in together in 04, we bought the pair off Zach for $50.  He was dumb to sell them to us so cheap, but it worked well for me!

When the washer broke, we debated on if we should just get a new/used washer or if we should get a set.  This past weekend we went looking for a new one.  At Best Buy, we found a really nice set that was a display model so we got  it like 40% off!! So we came home and put the dryer on Craig's List and sold it in 45 min for $175!!  Not a bad profit if I do say so!

Our friend Stefan was headed up to NYC for the week and had asked us to watch his cats.  We said that wouldn't be a problem, but we were going to use his washer too :)  We made smart choices about what we would need clean and only had to do two loads between then and when our new washer was delivered thursday!

Aren't they pretty??

I'm leaving on a jet plane

I just booked my ticket to Maine to see the newest addition to the Rios' Family!  She's not here yet but better be by the time I get there! 

Its been such a long time since I've been to Maine...Jan '07 I believe. WAY too long.  I did see some of my family when they came down for the wedding, then Dad and Susan came again in March '09.  Even since then its been too long!

I'm flying up 1/23 and staying until 1/30.  I'm really excited to see everyone, eat a lobster roll, and have some fun.  I am not looking forward to the cold.  My "winter" jacket is a Georgia winter jacket.  Oh well!  I'll make it work :)

The Holidays

Since I'm behind, I'm just going to put Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve together. 
We stayed home for Thanksgiving and invited our parents to join us.  Bliss' mother came but Jeff had back surgery not too long before turkey day so Mom and Jeff weren't able to make it.  We also invited over some friends that didn't have anywhere to go....I know the feeling well :)  

We made it all....turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potatoes, squash casserole, pies and cakes....so much food.  It was all SO good!!!

For Christmas, we went down to Louisiana.  It was great to get to see everyone and we had a wonderful time!

Christmas Eve we went to see Up In The Air.  It was a really good movie but not the cheery, pick you up kind of movie you usually want to see on Christmas Eve.  Oh well!  That night we went over to Granny and Howard's and spent some time with them and Robert and his kids.  Then Christmas morning, Granny and Howard came over to Vicki's to open gifts. 

Then we went over to Bliss' Uncle and Aunt's house to join everyone for Christmas dinner.  There were at least 30 people there and SO much food!  Bliss and I had fried turkey for the first time.  Bliss doesn't even like turkey but couldn't stop talking about it.  So good.

That night we went to the casino and lost some money.  Well, Bliss and I did.  Vicki was rolling in it! 

The next day we to the horse races.  I lost some more money.  Just a tip for people who go in the future...picking based on their names doesn't work very well.  I did get one horse that came in 3rd.  It was a $3 bet and I won $1.60 :)  Friends of Vicki's bread and race horses so they had a box on the upper level that we got to use.  It was really chilly so it was nice to be inside!

After the tack, we went to see Avatar.  We wanted to see it at the IMAX in New Orleans, but they were sold out so we went back to Covington and watched it in 3D there.  It was a really good movie!

We enjoyed a nice long weekend but then had to come home and get back to work.  I hate that my tip blogs always have to end with that.

For New Years, I was sick so Bliss and I stayed home.  It was a normal evening for us...watched a movie, messed around on the computer.  Just before midnight, I called him in to the living room so we could watch the ball drop.  Then I went to bed.  A pretty boring New Years, but just what I needed!

We hope everyone has a safe, happy, and healthy 2010!!!!

sorry...

so I've been MIA for awhile. things have been a little busy and I've been a little lazy :)

So our trip...

We had an AMAZING time! We drove down to Mom's house Friday night. The next morning Mom and Jeff drove us to the port to get on the boat. We started eating as soon as we got on the boat :)

 

  Us just before we left Tampa

The first day was at sea and we had a good time just being lazy around the boat.

 

 

Our first port was Grand Cayman. We planned on doing some shopping then laying on the beach for the afternoon. Mother Nature had something else planned.

 

So we shopped some more, got a great lunch and headed back to the boat.  That night was formal night as well as our anniversary so we dressed up a bit :)

The next day we went to Cozumel. We rented a Jeep and drove all around the island. The side were the boat docked had nice calm waters but the other side had HUGE waves. We went swimming for a bit and enjoyed the waves. We then went to eat a little hole in the wall and had some amazing food. I don't understand why people go to the big chain restaurants in places like that. Anyway, we went swimming again after that and got beat up by some more waves. I loved it.

 

 

 

 

 

The hole in the wall where we ate....it was awesome!

The last day was a day as sea again so we messed around on board.  We played in the casino some.  Bliss entered a black jack tournament but didn't make it very far.  We played some mini golf up on the top deck.  Let me tell you, it was hard...the wind was blowing and it kept taking our balls!

The food was great. We ate all the time. We'd get up and eat breakfast. Then a few hours later, lunch. Then at 5 the sushi bar opened so we ate then. Maybe a piece of pizza or dessert around 7 then dinner at 8:30. Of course the late night buffet too. We sat with three couples for dinner. They were really nice and it was great to have other people to talk to and hang out with.

Our servers

The shows were good. There were a few comedians that we enjoyed. The did late night r rated shows too that were really funny. The other shows were good too...mostly dancing and singing.

After the cruise was over, we went back to mom and Jeff's for a few nights and visited with them and some friends. Unfortunately, we had to come back to Macon and back to work.

We had an amazing time.  It was great to get away from everything and just have some time to ourselves!  I really hope that in the future we can continue to go on trips...just the two of us :)

its almost time....

got these photos here, here, and here

Be thinking about us as we sail the seas and lounge on the beaches :) We're leaving when Bliss gets out of work and wont be back till we're ready....or have to go back to work :)

babies babies everywhere!!

In the past month some friends and I have thrown baby showers for two of my best friends. We had a great time at both showers. I wanted to show you all the super cute cupcakes we made for both of them.







That list pic is of the 2 mom's to be. Ashley, on the left, is due December 4th and is going to have a little boy named Everett Lee. Jen is having a girl, Morgan Marie, and is due November 20th. I'm so excited for both of them!!!

Besides them, my supervisor is having a baby mid December, my sister is due mid January, my friend An is due with twin at the end of January and last but not least, a friend Rebecca is having her second baby at the end of March. Good lord!! I can't wait to meet them all!!

I don't live near my sister or An, but the other are right near by and I can't wait to love on their little ones!!!

She's still kicking my ass

This past weekend, well 2 weekends ago now, Mom and Jeff came to visit. I was great to see them! I got my butt kicked.

Mom likes to have projects when she comes to visit. I suggested she brought up her pressure washer and we redo the iron work on my porch. She didn't think that would be enough so I offered that if we have more time, we can work on the flower bed the runs the length of my front yard. The ended up getting here later then planned so not long after they arrived, Jeff and Bliss went to a Braves game on Saturday night. Jeff wore his Ray's shirt very proudly :) Mom and I started on the front porch then went to eat and ran to walmart. Sunday not only did we finish presure washing the porch but we cleaned out my flower bed. We cleaned out 10ish trash bags, 1 trash can and 3 truck fulls of dead bushes and crap. My poor yard. I know that this was a necassary step, but its not pretty right now. AND it kicked my ass.

That night I made Indian Dosas for this month's Daring Kitchen challenge. I wasn't sure if Bliss would like it so I wanted to make it for more then just us. You know what? We all loved it. It was great!

The next day we grabbed some lunch then Mom and Jeff left. Its too bad that I don't get to see them more, but its probably best Mom didn't stay any longer to work me. I think my body would have revolted against me.