Burrr, baby, It’s Freezing Outside

Last night I got back from my trip to Minneapolis.  Our workday basically began at 11 PM and ended at 8 AM.  Also, we were working in a warehouse area that wasn’t heated.  I have never experience cold like that before.  The locals said you get use to it but I’m thinking if you have to build indoor skywalks to connect a city then it’s just too cold to live there.  So I was happily looking forward to returning to my warmer southern city.   Unfortunately, I left this…

And returned to this…

Gah, a girl can’t catch a break.  I did manage to drag the 3 men I was traveling with to the Mall of America.  Score 1 – Lindsey!

Life size Woody Lego statue

Another lego statue with some creepy guy staring at me. Yeah I'm a tourist...get over it.

Dave, the puppies, and a wedding present were all waiting on me when I got home!  All good things to come home to.  We opened the wedding present and it was Dave’s much coveted rice cooker.  He was sooo happy.  Actually, it’s already plugged in and been put to good use.  Thanks Scott & Anita (Dave’s parents)!!!

The last thing I had waiting on me were several wedding RSVPs!  Thank you to all you fast responders.  I love it!  So exciting!

Wedding RSVPs

Keep sending in your RSVPs!  I can’t wait to celebrate our marriage with everyone!  Only 57 more days!

December Recap

So the last month has been crazy busy!!!  We had a Christmas party at the house and it almost killed us.  If you know me, then you know that everything had to be perfect…or as perfect as possible.  It was a crazy rush to get everything done.  Not to mention that the weekend before the party, I decided to redo the guest bathroom.  Hehe…bad idea.  But it turned out great!

BEFORE

Painted a lovely shade (yuck) of high gloss gray on the ceiling and walls.

Please ignore my very fashionable attire.

AFTER

I don’t have many pictures from the Christmas party.  Actually, I never got out a camera.  The only picture I remembered to snap was of Dave and myself in our pretty Christmas sweaters.

I feel that I need to make it clear that this is not a new style that Dave & I are trying to pull off.  It was a tacky Christmas sweater party.  I posted this picture on Facebook and apparently one of my aunts thought Dave was trying to seriously pull off the sweater vest.  Rest assured that I would not let this happen.

I’m going to end this post by saying, please think about me in the next week when you are warm in your bed drifting off to sleep.  I will be in Minneapolis most likely just beginning my day/night as you begin to have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head.

Engagement…err, 6 months Post Engagement Pictures

Dave and I got our engagement pictures taken in October and just got the CD back from the session.  We feel like we got some really great pictures.  We had them taken by Melisa in Little Rock since we originally met in the Rock.  We waited until October because shortly after we got engaged summer rolled around.  Taking outdoor pictures in the summer heat in Arkansas sounded like…well, a disaster.  Below are some of our favorite pictures from the session.  We actually look photogenic which we totally aren’t, but our photographer made it so much fun!

Hope you enjoyed a few of our engagement pictures!  Let us know which ones are your favs!

Deck the Halls

Like many people this time of year, Dave and I are trying to get in the Christmas spirit.  Here are a few things we do to try to fill ourselves with holiday cheer.

Angel Tree

This is something that we started doing 3 years ago when we started working at J.B. Hunt.  The Salvation Army brings an Angel Tree to our company lobby so all we have to do is walk about 100 feet, pick an angel, pick up presents, and remember to bring them to work.  This year Dave picked a 10 year old boy that wanted everything sports and I picked a 3 year old girl that wanted everything princess.  Fitting right?

Honestly, I have to say that the presents I pick out for these children might be the presents that I enjoy giving the most.  Seriously, try it next year if you haven’t.  Best feeling ever.  I still remember when my mom did it when my brother and I were children.

Lights

Now that I live in a subdivision, putting up Christmas lights is a must.  In other words, we MUST out do our neighbors.  BAHAHA how’s that for Christmas cheer?

I’ll have to post a picture of the house later…it’s been too dang cold here lately to go out after dark!

Decorations

My mom bought me my very own WONDERFUL nativity scene last year.  There’s something about putting up a nativity scene that makes you sit back and remember what everything is all about.  It also brings back fond memories of playing with my mom’s nativity scene when I was a child.  If I sat in the chair and was very still, then I could hold baby Jesus…well, the porcelain version anyway.  Apparently, I’m not the only person with a childhood obsession of nativity scenes.  I’m linking to my friend’s, Lauren, blog.  She has a very sweet story about her nativity scene.

This year I worked a little harder on all of our Christmas decorations especially our mantle.  Do you like our stockings?  Don’t tell me if you don’t because I made them.  I have been trying my hand at sewing and thought that making our stockings would be a good project.

No, Dave does not have a stocking yet.  He obviously hasn’t been good this year!

Sophie's Stocking

Tree

Of course, one of the most important parts of Christmas decorations – the tree.  I have been having a really hard time at work and last week all I wanted to do was to decorate a tree.  Dave came in with his old tree that he use to sport in his bachelor days.  The box read, “$29.99  6′ lighted tree + wreath.”  You can imagine the quality.  Let’s just say that Lauren and I took a picture “in front” of the Christmas tree last year and, well, it wasn’t so much us by the tree as us and then a tree topper coming out of our heads.

Cue some tears and me saying something like, don’t even bring THAT into the house.  A few days later, this, my dear, is the decorated tree that we can happily pose in front of this year.

New & Improved Christmas Tree

A few of my favorite ornaments…

The ornament my mom got us in Disney World right after Dave proposed.

Naught & Nice Papillon Ornaments that Dave got me last year

Wonderful hand painted ornament that someone's child made for mine and Lauren's last ornament exchange. Not really sure how we got stuck with the ugliest ornaments there, but it makes me laugh every time I put it on the tree.

So that pretty much wraps up our Christmas preparations around here!  My best friend and maid of honor in our wedding, Lauren, is throwing us a Christmas themed wedding shower this weekend.  I’m so excited for all the fun Christmas stuff we are going to get!

Until next time!

Lindsey

Remember how fortunate we are during this wonderful season and that not everyone is as fortunate as us.  Also remember that a gift doesn’t have to involve money.  It can be something as simple as your time or kind words to someone.

Chile Pepper Run

First, my apologies to my badly abused blog.  I will try to do better.  I was sick for about 2 weeks and not only didn’t feel well enough to write but I had NOTHING to write about since I hadn’t gotten off the couch.  I should have plenty of things to write about in the upcoming weeks so be sure to come back.

My uncle and I ran the Chile Pepper 10k run a couple of months ago.  Here are some of our pictures.  We finished in 1 hour and 2 minutes.  Not too bad considering that I had been training around a 10:45 – 11 minute mile.  I’m not so much into speed as I am in getting things done.

We are in the back right corner in the dark blue and white shirts.

Finally finished and getting our time chips cut off

All smiles to be finished! 6.2 miles

This was a fabulous run and very well organized.  If you are ever bored on a Saturday morning and feel like running 6 miles in the freezing cold, then you should check out this run.  Seriously, a great run with tons of runners and great food after the run!

Hello Cali!

Vaca Recap

Family

Three weeks ago, Dave and I decided at the very last minute to go to his friend Marlon’s wedding in Huntington Beach, CA.  About a week before we left, my Uncle reminded me that our Aunt Pauline lives in the area.  She is actually my great aunt and is 92 years old.  She is one of the most fabulous people I have ever met and I have never gotten to visit her in her hometown.  We met up with her on Friday night and had dinner at the Red Car in Torrance.  Delicious and such a good visit!

Wedding

The best man of the wedding graciously coordinated everyone’s beach house reservations!  The house was literally on the beach and everything was so beautiful!  I wish I had taken pictures at the reception but I was having too much fun.  The reception venue overlooked the water with floor to ceiling windows.  Absolutely gorgeous!  Plus I got to meet Dave’s college friends – Tim, Travis, and Marlon.  Can’t wait to hang out with them again at our wedding!

The boardwalk outside of our beach house

Shopping

Yes, I realize that you don’t travel to shop but it’s something that I love to do!  Obviously, I don’t spend the whole time shopping but I’ve got to hit the highlights that we don’t have in Arkansas.  Get this for coincidence…on Wednesday before we left, I received an email from Joe Jeans about their 10 year sample sale…on November 5 – 7…in Commerce, CA!!!  I had no idea what I was getting us into since the location was not on their list of store locations and the email said “up to 90% off.”  Dave and I loaded up the car Saturday morning and drove an hour to get to Commerce.  The area was slightly sketchy and lined with abandoned warehouses.  We pulled in at 9:00 AM and there were probably 150 people in line.  We walked up to the abandoned warehouse that they rented out for the occasion and this is what we were met with…

Piles and piles and piles of jeans, shirts, jackets, and more jeans

That’s right, you are reading that ballon correctly.  $5 for shirts.  $20 for jeans.  These jeans typically go for about $180.  Let’s just say these babies are the newest members of the Walker/Simpson family.

My newest babies

So that’s pretty much wraps up the vaca recap!  Stay tuned for an overdue post race recap!

Till next time…

Lindsey

She Sold the Kitchen Sink

I have a tendency to “purge” every 6 months.  There comes a time when I decide that I am tired of having material items that I don’t use around me so I decide to get rid of them.  This includes a lot of Craigslisting, taking items to GoodWill, and simply throwing other items away.  Anyone else guilty of the purge?

I am going through an all extreme purge event.  Thus far I have sold 3 Tano purses and 1 Hobo wallet.  I’m still working  on a bookcase, coffee table, and a desk that I had during college.  Oh I guess I forgot to mention that I also sold the couch and chair!  That’s, right we have zero furniture.  I was thinking that we should start living a little simpler so this is what the house looks like now.

 

 

This is what we have had to resort to

 

 

Who said lawn chairs can't be classy? Put a throw pillow on it = instant class

 

Are you kidding me?!  Simpler life?  No thank you.  Not for us.  I just am not great with timelines.  We are getting new couches and I accidentally sold the old couch and chair before the new ones came in.  Whoopsy!  It still won’t stop me from purging in the future!  One might say that I haven’t learned my lesson….oh well!

Has anyone else done something similar or is just me?

Till next time…

Lindsey

Run, baby, Run

Something else that you may not have known about Dave and myself is that we are….dare we say it, runners.  I’m not sure at which point you call yourself a runner.  Maybe after you have spent 6 weeks in a boot from a “running injury?”  If that’s the case, then Dave is currently becoming a runner.  Yep, that’s right.  Dave is in a walking boot.  The diagnosis – Achilles tendonitis and bursitis.  And by those standards, I become a runner a loooooong time ago.

Anyway, runner or not, we are currently running.  We are preparing for a 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles) in Dallas on December 5.  It’s a little scary to think about running for over 2 hours straight (if you are running as slow as I am), but one step at a time…literally.

Pre-race picture

Something that people did tell me about was the soreness.  I didn’t believe them until I ran my last 2 runs – 5.5 miles and 3.5 miles.  Seriously, the soreness is something else and it didn’t hit me until I went over 4 miles.  I feel like a 90 year old woman getting out of bed in the morning instead of a young, thriving “runner.”  Despite the soreness, I keep going out for another run.  There is something about it…the feeling of accomplishment, getting outside for an hour and doing something physical, or the infamous runner’s high.  Maybe all of the above.

Next weekend, I am going to run my second race ever – the Chile Pepper Cross Country 10k.  My Uncle Jerry is going to run it with me!  I’m really excited that he is going to run it as well!  Stay tuned for a recap…maybe I’ll also tell you about my disastrous first race experiene.

Till next time…

Lindsey

Fear Not!

It has recently been brough to my attention that when you Google directions from the VPS airport to the condo that returns a 1 hour and 20 minute drive time.  After about 5 minutes of sheer panic between Dave and myself, we located the issue.  Google is crazy.  More importantly, for some reason Google Maps take you past the condo by about 30 minutes and then back again.  It should only be about a 20 – 30 minute drive from the airport to the condo.   

Map From Airport to Condo 

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Till next time…

Lindsey

Get to Know Us

So a wise soul told me today that I should start blogging.  I responded with, well I have the wedding blog, which honestly hasn’t been much of a blog.  I am just not one of those girls that can talk about my wedding all day long so I will use this as our “Catch All Blog.”

 Let’s start by getting to know myself and my future husband.  Dave and myself do not have kids so if we show you a picture or two of our dogs…or fifteen, in Dave’s case…then please bear with us because they are our kids.  Cue photos… 

This is Jackson whom we all love but, bless his heart, he’s just not smart.

And then there is Sophie, the wise one. Doesn't this picture just say it all?

There is one more thing that we show off as if it is our child….our woodworking projects.  Yup, you heard it here first.  We are woodworking.  If you know me at all, then you should know that I tend to think really big.  My philosophy is more of, why can’t I do that…seems easy enough.  So about 4 months ago, I came across this website http://ana-white.com and convinced Dave that we needed to start making stuff!  A table saw, 5’ tall tool chest, and many trips to HD later, we are official craftsmen!  Or that’s what our tool chest says anyway. 

After building the bench, I decided that we were good enough to move on to the advanced projects such as a file cabinet.  Refer to the paragraph above…why can’t I make a file cabinet.  It’s just a bookcase with a couple of drawers.

Yes, the file cabinet still has wood filler on it.  I might also have a problem with finishing projects.  We can talk about that later. 

 Till another time….

Lindsey