Our New Diggs

Well, we still have a lot of cosmetic work to do (painting), but the house is coming along. Mallory's room is done, as is Niles'. My main goal now is the kitchen...I want new counter tops, darker cabinets, and cherry wood floors:) Unfortunately, Andy's main goal and mine aren't the same--he's got deck blueprints on the brain BIG TIME. One thing we both agree on: curtains. We need 'em! There are basic white mini blinds throughout, but we want roman shades for sure in the living room/kitchen. So, yeah there are a lot of projects in our future, but we have finished a few. Andy, my dad, Dave, and Poppy installed a few new ceiling fans/light fixtures in our living room, dining room, and bedroom. And I painted our downstairs bath chocolate brown (thanks, Mandy!). Overall, we like our new diggs (though the teenagers in the 'hood drive like idiots, which makes me a nervous wreck). So, what do you think? Who will win the debate over which major project to tackle first? Are you TEAM ANDY (go deck!) or TEAM JARAH (cherry rules!)?????? Leave a comment to let us know;D
CLICK HERE to check out the diggs...

MySpace Graphics &

Play date with Ava

So Mallory had a play date with Ava today:) She had so much fun! We met Mark and Ava at the McDonald's at 79th and Fall Creek. It was a cool set-up, but we made sure to absolutely douse their hands with "magic soap" (soap-free hand sanitizer) because you could literally see little finger and hand-prints all over every single smooth surface! Dirty equals fun, right? Right???? Just say 'right', okay?! Anyways, the girls really had a good time, and as always, Mark was good conversation as well. Check out the girls here...

Problem Solved!!!! (I think)

Alright! Problem Solved! After numerous cycles of super-hot water and bleach, super-hot water and Cascade, and super-hot water and...super-hot water, I am FINALLY proud to announce that our jacuzzi tub is (I really think) clean and usable! Woo-hooo! I admit, I did have to fasten a piece of nylon stocking over the water intake so that the same BS wouldn't keep circulating, but HEY--if that's the worse thing that happens, well then, alright:D I got in the thing myself before anyone else to make sure it was ok, and I was pretty satisfied--no more black and brown "stuff", and the water seemed quite clear...Don't believe me? Check out the pics here of me and the babes, as well as Mallory and Averi taking a dip in the tubby...that is, the CLEAN tubby!

Oliver Winery '08

So me and my girls went to Oliver Winery for a little 'girls' getaway'-type trip, and we had so much fun! Tani and I met Tricia, Mandy, Sandi, and Brenda---who then met Jamie H. and Chelsea at the Olive Garden just inside of Bloomington. After lunch, Jamie H., Tani, and I went to Jamie's mom's house to meet Kenny for a ride and some toothpaste ;) Once we were all together at Oliver, it was just so much fun! We could not have picked a more beautiful day. We shared our wines and cheese outside by the lake, and we even worked together to tip the dock! There's no "I" in TEAM, right? After the winery, the Jamies, Tani, Kenny, and I went to a hog roast, then to Albright's boyfriend's pad, then back to Hawkins' house. We had a ball sitting out by the bonfire, munching on snacks, and cracking up at each other (mostly at me). What a great time! Much thanks to Kenny for being the best designated driver EVER!!!!! To check out our Oliver trip, simply click here...enjoy:)

The Yucky Tubby

So we're settling in to our new home slowly, but surely...There have been a few pleasant surprises, as well as some not-so-pleasant surprises. For instance, the jacuzzi tub, while stunning and "come hither-ish" turned out to be a little bit scary, as flaky black and brown soap scum (at least I think that's what it was?) came rushing out of the jets as soon as I turned it on. YUCK! I did minor investigating and I found that that sort of thing is perfectly normal...So I did as I was told and ran not one, but two cycles of SUPER-HOT water, plus Cascade dishwashing liquid, plus bleach...and still, I had soap scum...so now what????Tricia is going to give me a chlorine tablet to run through it, but who knows? I also read that we should put a nylon stocking over the water intake, so that no yucky stuff can get sucked into the system...Any of you fools know what's up? Let me know:)

How's 'Bout Some Romance?

Alright, so I read this fabulous article online titled Romantic Ideas for Everyday. So, I'm sitting there, trying to decide, based on the title, whether or not I should read it. I decide no. But then, oh, wait! It was published by TheKnot.com. Without them , I might be sporting a bling that I hate. Yes, I admit it: TheKnot.com is responsible for me getting the EXACT engagement ring that I so craved... Here's the story: way back in 2000, mama was craving that ring. But, as we all know, men don't always read our minds. I was concerned that if Andy DID propose, he would have no idea what kind of ring I would like to have. Because, let's face it girls, it DOES matter; you're wearing that sh*t forever, right? So, anyways, TheKnot.com advertised in some way or another that you could go onto I think, adiamondisforever.com, and you could design your dream ring. So I did. I then proceeded to place pictures of said dream ring in places he couldn't miss. And, lo and behold, my then fiance gave me the most beautiful ring EVER--one that to this day, I ADORE, and one that reminds me every single day how lucky I am to have found him!!!! And one that glows like crazy under the bowling alley black light at my weekly 'Girls Night Out'...Wait. Where in the heck was I going with this? Oh yeah, the article won me over because they cited TheKnot.com. Anyways, the article itself was about ways that one could be romantic with their spouse. If you have a moment, read them yourself, then read my review and post a comment as to whether you agree or disagree...click here to check out the Romantic Ideas for Everyday...
SO, here's my response:
NAY(or in other words--I'm Not Buying It)
4.)Buy heart-shaped cookie cutter and use it to make his/her toast. Are you freakin' kidding me? I use the pampered chef sandwich-cutter-thingamajig to make Mally's PB&J sandwiches, and let me tell you, every single time I throw that HUGE piece of crust (and then some) away, I Cringe! If I'm going to take part in destroying the environment by wasting huge amounts of wheat bread crust, it's not going to be on a grown man. And anyways, he can make his own damn toast.
9.) Dinner in bed (and don't worry about the crumbs in bed). Yeah, right! Have you ever tried to get crumbs out of the bed? Not fun! And then what? We're supposed to try to be romantic after that? Yeah, nothing like trying to get some lovin after being batter-dipped...
11.) Tell your significant other a secret--it'll bring you closer. EEEENNNNNNNGGGGTTT! Ummmmmm, NOOOOOO! Do not ever, I repeat EVER tell a secret. Not only will it not bring you closer, it will RUIN any chance you have at a normal, decent relationship! DO NOT DO IT! AND DO NOT ASK HIM OR HER TO DO IT! Because you DO NOT want to hear their secrets, either. Nothing good can come of this ever in life, and I'm saddened that the editor of this article didn't stop this ridiculousness from being published...but then, that's just me...
13.) Write "I Love You" on a steamy mirror. Okay. Sort of. Except if you have a four year old. And a husband who acts like a four year old. Because if you're like me, when the bathroom gets steamy, you see the little kindergarten-esque smiley face your daughter left there to tell you how much she loves you, and then you see the butt-cheek print your husband left to crack you up. Not really romantic...
15.) Have a picnic. It doesn't have to be outdoors; it can be in the living room. What the #*^! If I have to clean up one more damn mess that I didn't make, I'm going to lose my mind!
17.) Teach each other something the other knows nothing about. Nope. See#11

***Okay, so the previous ideas sucked in my opinion. Here are a few, however, that I found a bit refreshing, and that I highly recommend...
YEAH--(in other words, I LIKE IT!)
1.) Stuff a little note in your sweetie's pocket. Super-cute and fun. How could anyone NOT like finding a love note in their pocket? It's like finding a five dollar bill in your pocket...
3.) Burn a CD with tunes from your dating days, your first dance, etc.. Holy cow, jackpot! Back in the day, (think 1998/99 era), mama was the mix tape Queen! I spent HOURS and HOURS recording low-quality sounds that represented my feelings when all we had for recording was cassette. I actually remember making Andy a couple of tapes...
10.) Go to bed early--no books, no magazines, no remote control. Seriously? I'd give anything for it to work out that easily. But, no dice. Remember the kids? Yeah, the babes take the cake. THEY SAY when it's bedtime...
12.) Create your own cocktail together. Then make up a name for it by combining your two names. Okay, I'm LOVING the creating part, but naming it could create some obstacles. Let's see...Jarah Cunningham + Andy Hagerty = JHag's Cunnerty, a Hagerham,or (insert your own gross interpretation here).

Finally, I feel the need to address #16. Absence is an aphrodisiac. Spend a weekend without one another. I have to say, in my opinion, this is GENIUS. I can't tell you how many times Andy or I have had to go somewhere, and you don't think it's gonna affect you, but lo and behold, it does. You get 10 hours into it, and you'd like to die. I think # 16 is so right on. Anytime I am ever without my Chachi (Andy), I come home a new, refreshed soul. One with undying appreciation and respect, admiration and love...(at least until the new wears off).hahahaha

SO WHAT's UP? You agree or disagree? Or do you have any other good or bad romance ideas? Share them! Click below to leave a comment...

The Lake

Yeahhhhhh!!! Our annual Lake Michigan trip was a blast, as expected:) This year, we went BIG in many ways, the biggest being our attendance! We had 24 peeps actually stay at the hotel, as well as Erica and her kin as visitors, with an unbelievable 28 participants in FUN...Day 1 was the most perfect, beautiful day for the beach--sunny, mild, and fabulous. Day 2 pretty much sucked for the first 3 hours--cloudy, windy, and cold...but eventually warmed up. I was peeved, as I saved my new HOT bathing suit for day 2 (oh well). I found that Day 2 was also cursed because I had borrowed one of my mom's digital cameras because mine doesn't have a great amount of memory...well, what do you know? Mom's camera died sometime around late afternoon of day 1. So I have zero pictures of days 2 or 3. And I looked best on #2...bummer. Anyhow--we had so much fun! It was very laid back, do-what-you-want, we don't all have to do the same thing kind of vibe. Some peeps stayed close to the hotel and swam or hung out in the area off of the lobby playing poker, some went to the boat (Tani & Scoot won $1,000), and some went shopping at the outlet mall (again, Tani & Scoot won $1000). The kids had a ball, which was the biggest success of all. To see pics from our trip, click here.

Tani's 29th Birthday

Ok--so for anyone who is THAT naive, YES, Tani is turning 29!!!!!! For everyone else, she's 31 just like the rest of us old farts! In other words--she's a liar! But, even liars know how to throw a party!!!! Tani's birthday party this last weekend was off the hook awesome! Thart and Scoot know how to entertain--they always provide plenty of food and drink, and to sleep in their guest room is to sleep in heaven! When I was pregnant with Niles, I actually looked forward to one road trip: the trip to Tani and Scoot's. Because it meant a free trip to sleep on the matress of magic!!!!! No joke, you wake up with complete serenity in the spinal area...no joke. But anyways, here are the pics of our fab weekend...so much fun! There was some kid there named Ewan...and a bunch of other lovely folks who enjoyed one another's company;) We need to do this more often. And hey, Jamie--I'd give my EYE TEETH to see you again soon:)
Love my girls!
Click here to see the pics from our slumber party