Vacations, Birthdays and More!

The past few weeks have been very eventful and exciting for Paul and me. Summer is usually the laid back months for me with work and dance so its the time to catch up on rest, try to take a vacation and start gearing up for all to come. I was hoping to do the Ledges and Bones SummerLAB (our 2 week summer intensive in LA) this summer but with my boss and other co-workers taking vacations in July, I had to change my plans so I could be at work while others were out.

Paul has never been to NYC and his best friend lives in Philly so we had been talking about taking a vacation to both locations this summer, but the realization hit in may that I was homesick and I wanted to go to Chicago. Paul was totally understanding of that and was on board to a summer vaca in the midwest.

Before leaving for Chicago Paul's little sister graduated from College and we were lucky enough to help celebrate with her! We got a zip car for the day and headed up to Sonoma. It rained which was sad but we got to see most of the graduation (which was outside in the rain) and then the whole family went out for a very lovely dinner at a wine bar.

I arrived in Chicago a week before Paul. It was nice just to relax and have some time with my mom. Then my brother arrived midway through my trip and then Paul got there. We packed it full of tours, visits with friends and family, site seeing and eating! We were able to go to a Giants vs Cubs game at Wrigley Field which was awesome! Paul and my brother met for the first time in person which was so nice to have that finally happen and we were able to see some of my Chicago besties and my Grandparents. There are of course a handful of other friends I am sad we didn't get to see but next time!

Wrigley Field

Paul and I did a boat tour of Chicago it was so beautiful!

On the boat tour

Site Seeing

Paul's first Chicago Style Pizza experience!'

My brother and me :)

Marky and me

Visiting the grandparents

my brother, paul and me in Iowa (and yes my brother is wearing a long sleeve shirt...weirdo!)

"is this heaven? No its Iowa!" Haha CORN!!

Mom and me

In Chicago at Taste Of Chicago

Hot, Sweaty, tired, and full from Taste, ready to shower and drink lots of water!

When we got back to San Francisco Paul's aunt gave us great tickets to the Giants game so we got to go 2 Giants game within a weeks time!

At Giants Vs Mets Game in SF

Free, awesome tickets to see the Giants Play!

Last weekend we drove up to wine country to spend the afternoon with Paul' sister Erica. We have talked about it for awhile now and we finally were able to make it happen. We went to a beautiful winery in Napa and had a sampler as well as a bottle of wine- so good. We drove to St. Helena to have an amazing dinner and then back to Sonoma to Erica's hang out bar. It was full but fun day.

At dinner in Sonoma

Paul's sister Erica (left) and her friend

And then the past week we celebrated Paul's 26 birthday! He had quit the day. We went out for breakfast in the morning and then he had to day off and went and played pool with some friends when I went to work. We both got home, got dressed up and went out to a nice dinner with his family in the city. It was a great day. Mom and I joined together in a gift for him to get a brand new pool breaking stick. He has his own stick but not a breaker so we ordered that for him along with a new bag to hold both of his sticks.

The Birthday Boy

Mother and Son

Lots of things going on and all good. We are now seriously planning and figuring out how to update our place and make it beautiful! Now if I could just win a million dollars I would be happy :)

Long Over Due...Home Fantasy improvements!

Okay, long long long overdue post...

So when I moved in with Paul, the plan was to stay there until the end of the summer, save some money and then find a little bigger of a place for us. We kept most of my things stored in the garage so that we in fact didn't get too comfortable and would remind us that we will be moving again. But, to both of our surprise, we haven't felt too cramped in his little place and have actually really enjoyed it. Now for those of you know me well, and know how I use to live (especially my last apartment in Chicago), you know I love space and I love pretty things! This apartment is far from the typical me so its shocking how much I love living there!

Right before I left on vacation we started having some major issues with our neighbors. Now this isn't new. For the past 3 years that Paul has lived there, they have created issues, but this time its sky rocketed. There is no point to go through all the detail but it was looking like we were going to have to move just to get away from all the crap. Instead though, the house owners (Paul's step brothers grandparents) decided that it was just too much to deal with so they hired a younger man to be the "building manager." this has been good and bad. Things are getting done and there is actual communication (yay) but there are a lot more house rules (good and bad...) Paul and I met with the guy last week to discuss everything, things that needed to be fixed, updated, issues that we are having/have had, and the future. While somethings are frustrating: we can't keep our bikes in the backyard soon because its a "community backyard for everyone in the household," other things like updated paint, sliding glass doors with screens will be put in! They also raised our rent another $50 since I am living there with my pet as well...

Its hard to complain though since we live in the heart of the mission. We are 5 min bike rides to work, we have a HUGE backyard (which they want to make work for everyone in the house...right now just paul, his brother and I use it...but we know the other members of the house wont use it...) we get to have our dog and cat, and what we pay total is less than what one of us would pay to move in the same neighborhood for a place not much bigger than our current place...

So while we keep going back and forth, it looks like maybe we will stick out the bad to stay in a low rent, perfect location house. Knowing we are going to stay though, I have a redecorating fix. I want to make it look as perfect as I can. I want to make the most of the little space we have and really make it our home. I don't see us staying there for a lifetime, but karma is a bitch and I have a good feeling that if we play our cards right, we will have access to a bigger apartment in the house in the future (with a kitchen! yay!)

Here is our current place...this was taken a few days after I moved in and before I bought a 27" computer...so that has been added to the coffee table!

With that back story, here is a list of my dream buys for our place. This is a big old fantasy right now, but maybe one step at a time?

There is no order of what to buy ...I just want to be rich and do it all! :)

1. New hardwood floors (ignore the room in the picture...just look at the floor!) Right now we have red (old) carpet and with 2 pets its just time to get rid of the carpet and upgrade to hard wood (laminate) floors. Our room isn't too big so it actually will be reasonably priced...still semi expensive and some man labor! ($500-$900 is my guess)

3. A new 46" flat screen tv. Currently I have a really really nice 22" Flat screen but Paul has a huge old school box tv (probably 46" but so old that it sits on the floor at sticks out big time). This is just a luxury, we don't need it...but I like it :) (Walmart $489)

4. Decorating boxes for the shelves. I think they are cute! Thats all! (Ikea $5 for 2)

5. A new mini fridge/ freezer combo... We don't need much fridge space, we buy dinner every night at a local cheap market so everything we eat is cheap and right there. BUT we don't have a freezer and umm...I want ice cream at home! So its time to get a freezer/ fridge combo!! ($230)

6. Now this is actually ideal...Right now Paul's "Kitchen" set up is on an old desk. But I think an Island would be PERFECT. It could store some of our dishes/ pots/ food (would have to figure that out). But would be so great! I think this would be a great way to build a nicer little kitchen/ cooking area for Paul. (Target $250)

7. A better dual burner. I found this burner on amazon and many caterers recommend it. I know its pretty ghetto cooking on hot plates, but thats reality and it doesn't seem to stop Paul from making really amazing meals...so why not give him a better burner!! (Amazon $80)
In addition to this, I would love to get a Queen bed (vs our full) and also a new closet organizer/ curtain for the closet. I have a nice dresser that is in storage that I will paint (its natural wood color right now) and that will replace the old dressers we have currently in there. We can make better use of our closet which will be helpful since eliminating the cabinet that is in there right will take 2 draws away from Paul...and thats not good!

There you have it, my very expensive wish list :) $2,000+ I would have my ideal home! haha!