My (MIS)Adventures in Texas

In case you're curious about Costa Rica, don't worry. I shall blog soon about the wonderful time that I had there. I am waiting on some pictures, to really fulfill it's "blogworthiness". So in the mean time, I'll tell you about the most recent happenings in my life.

I took off several weeks from my job so that I could have some "me" time. So first was the trip to Costa Rica and now I have traveled down to Midland, TX to visit my fiance and get some work done on my thesis and uh hem, the wedding. They're both going at about an equal pace so far. Slow. However, it's Monday. I'm settled in. It's time to get to business!!

The drive down here wasn't too bad. I broke up the trip by going to Duncan and staying the night with Matt's parents. It was really nice to get to visit with them- even though Matt wasn't there! Pete (the Dog, more like the sibling) missed me. It was sweet!

My dad ran off with the iPod cord that connects to my car stereo (Actually it belongs to him, so it's more like he left for work before I got the chance to ask him if I could borrow it). I decided to improvise. I'm not quite the CD buyer that I was in high school. So I looked through my CDs and found some Marroon 5, a Perfect Circle, Tim McGraw and WOW 2004 Christian Music Hits. I started off with WOW because it had the most tracks. Like 35. I praised the Lord the whoooooooooooooole way down here. When Matt would call I would answer "Shanna's House of Worship, how can I help you?"

I made it to Midland. The house looks great! Matt really has been hard at work. We have a lawn now! Woo! Here's a before and after.

So we went to this play called "Summer Mummers" that is put on every year and is centered on the community of Midland. Basically everyone watches a show put on my unpaid volunteers, drinks enormous beers out of a straw, and people throw popcorn during the show. (The straw is necessary so popcorn doesn't get into your beer). The pictures are a little blurry, but you get the idea. For future reference, don't curl you hair for this event. It creates a nest for popcorn and you'll be finding it for DAYS!

The play was a good time. It's something I could do once a year. One thing that started to make me nervous was when the crowd ROARED at the mention of this being the birthplace of George Bush. How long did I sign up to live here again? We better be moving somewhere uber green next to make up for this. It's only fair.

Okay, I will give Texas it's due and say that their roads are nicer than in Oklahoma (This can be kind of a touchy subject because my dad works as an inspector for ODOT- but I am also open minded enough to realize that most people don't take their job as seriously as my dad does, and therefore there's a lot of issues with our roads in Oklahoma- anyway, that's besides the point). Here in Midland there is a "loop" around the city and you exit when you're close to your destination and take a service road to your place. We don't do this in Oklahoma. I agree that the Texas system is faster, but it's also confusing. For example: if you decide to stay on the service road to get to your destination instead of entering and exiting the loop (especially if you're not from around here and don't know where stuff is!) you have to yield to those that are exiting from the loop. I guess I haven't perfected this. I was just driving along. I THOUGHT I yielded, and before I know there's this enormous SUV behind me, excessively honking at me. They had me so flustered that I pulled over to make sure I didn't need to exchange insurance information. Hello! Oklahoma plates! I'm sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry!!!!!!!!

Okay- one more story. It's been a while!

I have been doing a pretty good job of cooking so we don't eat out so often. It's better for us, and frankly, it's cheaper. I've bought tons of produce and have started collecting things for the composter (I think Matt secretly hates this endeavor, I think it has something to do with him kicking the pieces of the composter and me saying that I will put it together. Even though I did it wrong and have to start over). Last night we were so cute and went to the HEB (Holy cow these stores are ENORMOUS!) and we got some seasoned chicken to cook for dinner. Matt decided to help this time.

WHOOPS!

Poor guy! He tried! I was able to salvage it. We ended up having a nice grilled/baked chicken salad with home style mac n cheese.

It worked!

I am certain there is more to come! I'll be here for 3 weeks!

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Hasta La Vista, Baby

Tomorrow is the big morning that I head out of the Good 'ol USA and embark on an adventure to Costa Rica!!!!!! It still hasn't quite hit me. I've been packing and then making a list of things as they come to me. It's like the energizer packing list, it just keeps growing and growing......

Kind of funny story about the McFeeters. We're a cute, special little bunch. Originally I was going to carry on because I think it's completely stupid that you have to pay to check your bag these days and I like to keep my bag with me if I can. I've been carrying on for about a year now and it has turned out to be a pretty successful system thus far. Well I got on continental.com and discovered that if you travel to Central America, you can check a bag for free. Well lets be honest with ourselves, I was never ever going to pack 15 days worth of clothes into a carry on, but it was a worth try! So I get out my big bag and I put all of my stuff in it, nice and neat. Then I pick it up. If it's over 50lbs, it's not gonna be free. So I go the living room and consult Joe. He lifts weights all the time so he can probably guess pretty well at the weight. So he picks it up, lifts it over his head, thinks about it and says, "I think it's about 35lbs". We're a "country" family so I tell him to compare the weight to a feed sack (50 lbs) and he says he thinks it's less. So then dad comes in and I ask him to guess. Once again, he picks it up, lifts it over his head, thinks about it, and he decides it's about 60 lbs. Before all of this has happened I've already tried to weigh this thing on the bathroom scale, even turning it upside down due to the wheels, getting unreliable results. Dad looks at me and says, "Shanna, why don't you just hold it, get on the scale, and subtract your weight?" Oh.... you're so smart dad! SO- verdict is, the bag is 40lbs and I'm good to go!

For someone who doesn't like to fly, I sure am doing it a lot lately. The bad news is that I have to go to the Houston airport and I HATE the Houston airport. The good news is that I generally meet some pretty cool people on airplanes. It's really rare that I travel with someone that I know.

Today is filled with wrapping up work stuff, having lunch with my fiance (so weird saying that!), hanging out w/Matt at work, then going to eat with my mom, then going to see Eclipse with my mom, Aimee, and Brandie. Then some last minute packing, a few hours sleep, then a trip to the greatest place on Earth. Costa Rica is better than Disney World.

Like I said, I'll try to update while I'm gone, but no promises. I'm certain that I'll have some great stories to tell when I get back though. Till then- Hasta La Vista, Baby

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Engagements & Summer Greatness!

I knew early on in the year that this summer was likely to be the greatest I have ever had, and thus far, it's proving to be completely true. God has blessed me far beyond what I deserve, and I continue to be grateful. I am tickled with glee about how great my life has been, which is nothing short of blessings from God. There's nothing I could do to earn this happiness.

So far this summer I have had the opportunity to spend time relaxing and enjoying the great outdoors. My composting experiment is going pretty well, I've made a couple trips down the Illinois river, and due to some (apparently much needed) physical therapy, my knee is healing up pretty well. My orthopedic surgeon actually referred to me as "knock kneed" which I have never heard of as a term of endearment. At least that came with a prescription for physical therapy, which amazingly works (I'm a skeptic about most medical treatments, and tend to believe things will heal on their own given enough time).

Last weekend I went to Midland, TX to visit my boyfriend for the weekend and help decorate/organize the new home that he bought. We had such a great time together buying furniture, towels, rugs, and other misc things for the house. We ate great food, and most importantly spent some quality time together. Matt really is my best friend and no amount of time on the phone can compare to just sitting next to him and talking. Well on Saturday night he asked me to be his wife. I was really apprehensive about putting the news so early on Facebook and posting pictures of the event. I'm also not going to tell you the story on here because I think there's something to be said for actually having a conversation with a person about the most important decision in your life. In all fairness, I did start my blog because I wanted to provide updates about my life to people with out having to call everyone about every little thing, but I'm going to save this story. It's not grand and crazy, but it's completely perfect for us. I wouldn't have had it any other way. The picture is a hint. You're welcome!! Ha ha.

Well you guys know that I'm a "planner" and I'm trying very hard not to plan anything for this wedding until I get back from Costa Rica because I can't really make any firm decisions with out Matt (although I don't think he would mind too much, ha ha). I have snuck in a little "planning" time, mostly to surf the web and look at ideas that I like. We also need to set a date, which I think Matt and I did last night, so it wont be too long before it's official.

In further news.... on Saturday I will be flying to Costa Rica for 15 days. The first 10 days will be for school purposes and the last 5 I am going to spend with 4 other girls traveling around and enjoying the beauty that is Costa Rica. I'm really really excited and I think this will be extremely fun. If Kathryn makes me get up at 5 a.m. to go check out birds we may have words though. Ha ha, I just say that because I know she reads this.... but really... =)

I'll try to blog while I am there so everyone at home will know how I am doing what I am up to. But in all honesty, it wont bother me a bit if I don't see a phone, computer, or TV the entire time I'm there. Well... maybe a phone. As a new "fiance" I kind of feel a duty to pick up a phone a couple times to confirm that I'm alive.

And it gets better!! After my trip to Costa Rica, I'm going to go down to Midland for 3 weeks to visit Matt. I'm so excited about this! He'll be at work all day and I'm going to do exactly what I want to. I'm going to sleep in, go running, go to the farmer's market, shop for the house, work on the house/yard, cook all the time, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh it's going to be complete and utter bliss. That is basically exactly what I need before I get back to work and school and hammer out the last parts of my master's degree. I'm sooo blessed that my job is going to let me take off work for 6 weeks so I can rejuvenate for another big year. I'm probably going to be broke as a joke but I'm willing to deal with that.

The summer will conclude with Matt and I driving back to OK to go to a weekend float trip with my entire family. He will get to meet a lot of people (distant relatives) and we'll all have a really great time. I'm. So. Excited!!!!!

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Things That Are Worth The Money

Yesterday I went to get my eyebrows done and I started thinking about the fact that I pay for a service that I can do myself. Then I started thinking about the time that I invest in a service that took this little woman about 30 seconds. I decided going to get one's eyebrows done is something that is worth the money. Especially because I can have them professionally done only few times a year and just maintain on my own. Then I started thinking about other things that I think are totally worth the money.

To determine "worth the money" I look at two things. 1) Value and 2) I think about how much money I make (although I find my spare time more valuable than the actually dollar amount that I make) and compare how much of my time I would have to invest to do something myself. For example, for Laura's birthday I made her a cool frame (well, I thought it was cool). The materials only cost about $10-$12. BUT I'm not the craftiest person, so if you take that $10-$12 and add my time that's like a $75 frame (okay, maybe not that bad, ha ha). See what I mean? So, If I would have just bought her a generic $30 frame made by a professional, in my eyes, I would have saved money. She's worth it though, and it's one of a kind =)

So here's a few things that I have determined as "Worth The Money"

1) Eyebrow Waxing (we already talked about this)
2) At least twice a year pedicure. It just makes your feet look soooooooooo much cleaner and prettier to have a professional do it. In my experience, I really do like going to the salon in Wal-mart. They're the cheapest, and thus far haven't let me down in the quality department.
3) M.A.C./Lancome eye shadows- This stuff is kind of expensive, I nearly had heart failure the first time I saw the price, but it's absolutely worth it. It lasts forever and the pigments are so much better than traditional make up that you don't have to put as much on. Just buy 3 or 4 of your most common shades and you'll be in business for a long time.
4) Good Shoes- I used to be a frequent purchaser of the 2/$5 Old Navy Flip Flops. Those things tear up your feet and don't last long at all! I think it's worth the investment to get something that's durable and supports your foot. My favorite "flip flop" brand right now is TEVA.
5) Organic Food- Now this is kind of a touchy subject and I'm not saying go crazy, but buying a few organic foods, maybe things that you eat most commonly, can really be worth the money. If you spend more money on something, then it forces you (unless you're stupidly rich and you have no need for my lists) to think about the true value of your purchase. This is more of an issue of quality, rather than just buying something that is more expensive just because it's "organic". We, as a society, really need to start thinking more about where our food comes from, and how much nutritional value there really is in the things that we put in our body. You can do this with normal food, but Organic food stores, such as Whole Foods makes it easier to make decisions that are more healthy. This doesn't necessarily mean less fat, but I believe it's better for you. But for the most part, I only really buy tea, quinoa, nuts and some other misc things there.

This is just a short list on my day to day purchases that I think are totally worth it. Sometimes it's just worth it to splurge because it makes you happy (obviously only when you have money to do so). Maybe I'll update this as I think of more. Have a good day!

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My Serenity, The Hippie

On Saturday I was determined to take Serenity (My best friend, Danielle's daughter) out and about with me and just spend a day with her. I was extremely tired from the night before (Danielle and I went "boot scootin" and had so much fun!) but got myself together, dressed serenity, and took off. This is her first trip to the Farmer's Market, which I am happy to say kept her completely entertained. She just looked around at everyone, I'm sure wondering where on Earth she was. I was really happy that she was in such a good mood. Especially since it was kind of hot. There was a little canopy thing I could attach to the stroller to block the sun. I was about 100% certain that no matter how I kept trying to put it on, I was doing it wrong and I didn't want to be the idiot with the upside down stroller attachment. We just didn't stay long.

Then I took her to Whole Foods which she absolutely loved. I think she already knows what "She's so pretty!" means because she was doing everything she could to get attention. She smiled at everyone. Put her hand out to them. It was the cutest thing! She also played the "How many times can I throw my toy on the floor and Aunt Shanna will keep picking it up with out getting mad at me" game. She obviously won.

She just sat there and protected my (I mean, our) recycle bag. We just had too much fun! I personally, am a little apprehensive about having children. I'll just be honest. However, if I could have a guarantee that my children would be just as sweet and mild tempered as miss Serenity, then I might be willing to reconsider. Being "mommy" for a few hours was really fun. Even though, I knew the whole time that she's my niece (blood related doesn't matter!) But, everyone talked to me like I was her mom. It's amazing what people will say to you when you have a baby with you. I don't know if I could handle that all the time. However, people were a little more friendly, which if that were always the case, I might pack a baby around all the time. Well... maybe not. Babies/car seats/diaper bags and what not are a work out!

All in all I had a great day. I think her mom enjoyed getting a couple hours of extra sleep. I know that I loved getting to spend time with her! I hope she always sees me as "Aunt Shanna" and knows that I will spoil her to death. Maybe she'll babysit my kids one day....

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Gentlemen

Despite the "times" we're living in today. Women's rights. Independence. Education. Power. I still really like a gentleman. Whether feminists like it or not, there are still a few "gender roles" that I can appreciate. I hope one day I raise my future son (if I am blessed to have one) to be a gentleman. I admire any guy who opens doors, considers a girls safety in all conditions, speaks politetly. A true gentleman doesn't just do this for his girlfriend (and not just on the first date!). He does it for all girls, mothers, grandmothers, even friends. I wish there were more guys who truly act like gentlemen. However, I really don't think it's all of their fault. I'm sure most guys have had an experience where a woman criticized a man for being a gentleman because they saw it as inequality. I even struggle with this sometimes. Something recent in my mind was last week when we went floating I was carrying the ice chest, Danielle's boyfriend, Chris just took it from my hands. At first I wanted to say "No I've got it" as to not burden him, but I am glad that I realized that he was just being polite and wouldn't walk beside a woman carrying something heavy while nothing was in his hands.
Women need to learn to say "thank you" when a guy acts like a gentleman. I'm all about being independent, but some women take this too far. I really don't think in most cases a guy is trying to say "you're not capable of doing this," I think they're really just saying "Let me do this for you". I love that women are really enjoying more equal rights, but there's something very romantic and Godly about a man who looks out for a women, no matter their relationship. If anything, it's a great way for a guy to make a good first impression. A gentleman is A-Okay in my book. So guys: Pick it up! Girls: Say thank you!

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Saving lives, 3 people at a time...

I've always thought donating blood was a really good cause that I try to participate in at least once a year (however, they're not very friendly to people who leave the country so sometimes that's difficult). I'm leaving for Costa Rica in a few weeks, so I decided I better donate one more time before I go.
I brought my book but I was too anxious to read it. Good try though.

It makes me crazy when people say they can't donate blood. You big weenie! No one thinks giving blood is therapeutic (except maybe for their soul) but it's the right thing to do. Unless you vomit. Then you really do have an issue. For me, giving blood is right up there with voting . It's just something you're supposed to do every year or two. I take that back. I LOVE to vote. Last year I wore red, white, and blue on election day.
Furthermore I've decided to skip the work out and indulge in a Pepsi as my reward for donating (see, there's more ups than just saving lives!).

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