Saturday Steals- My Birthday!

This post is brought to you in part by Saturday Steals over at AOOL.

My birthday was on Tuesday. The night before Taylor was all stressed out because he didn't get me anything and felt terrible about it. I am not like normal women. I don't get all mopey on birthdays or Valentines' Days or Christmases or any holidays because a lack of presents. I just find it pathetic women expect so much...but do nothing for their husbands. They complain of their husbands not being romantic...but when was the last time they surprised their husbands with a video game (my equivalent to roses) or dinner and a movie? The majority haven't done squat because all they have been doing is expecting it from no one but themselves.

Moving on...I told him I didn't care about any presents. He still felt bad but all I care about right now is keeping him healthy. He's just added getting his masters in Education...on top of the Ph.D. in chemistry. Yes, I am starting to think he's insane but for the time being I am trying to be the most supportive I can be. He makes the bucks right? He's gunna be daddy one day when I'm stay at home mommy. Sigh...so back to my birthday.

I woke up and before dropping off Taylor at work, we stopped at Zingerman's to pick up 6 free bagels. Zingerman's is totally Ann Arbor and totally overrated. Not that they aren't good and all...you would think they invented bacon or something the way people talk about them. Anyway, I got my bagels!

For Free!

After coming back home I promptly toasted my sesame bagel and ate happily. I paired it with some blueberries and raspberry lemonade. Yummy!

I had an interview and it went really well! I was invited back on Monday to meet the general manager. I've got to beat out two other people. Let the games begin!

After that I went to lunch with Taylor at Weber's. Normally we do dinner but the lunch menu is a lot cheaper. Let me tell you- Delicious! I had fettuccine alfredo and Taylor had pesto tortellini. The best part was we had a little left over and the next day I mixed the two together. Wow, even better.

For Free!

After lunch I had class and then volleyball so we had to go for a later dinner. Luckily Grizzly Peak Brewery was open until 11. I love that place. They have the best salad and I got the shitake chicken.

Delicious!
(Frazzled hair, red face, and sports bra compliments of volleyball!)

What's cool about them is they give you free dessert, a pint glass with their logo, and a gift certificate for $10 on your next visit!

For Free!

It was a great evening! I was so happy to spend most of the day with Taylor. We were happy and full of wonderful food, it was time to go home.

We walked in the entryway and as I walked up the stairs to get to our door it looked like this:

Cute!

I thought that Taylor had thrown me a surprise party at first but then I realized it was well past 11:30...too late to start a party. So I opened the door. To find this:

What an awesome surprise!

My friend Sarah (with the help of Taylor) snuck into our apartment and decorated. How nice! Not only that, she got me flowers and a cupcake!

:)

I was overcome with happiness. It was just such an awesome day!

Then I opened Taylor's gift.

To give you a little background we had played a dance game back home on the xbox connect and LOVED IT!

He got me a dance game for the Wii and a KINDLE! YAY! It was totally unexpected and I can't wait to use it!

What an awesome birthday!

Saturday Steals tally- Free breakfast, lunch, dessert, plus pint glass with a gift certificate, a Wii video game, AND a Kindle!

Stay tuned for next weeks Saturday Steals complete with more birthday fun!!!

I'm older, apparently wiser too.

I am blessed. More than I deserve, more than I can think of being.

I am a follower of Christ which in itself is the greatest blessing of them all. He knows me more than I know myself. He cares more about me than anyone. He has known me my whole life and will get to spend the rest of time with me. He loves me so much He died for me. Hallelujah! We forget what that really means because we will never know. We can never know.

I am married to my greatest dream of a husband. I was gifted with the fact of knowing him before I finished braces, before I got my license, before I got my high school diploma. He's the kind of guy I want my other friends to marry. I forget how stinkin smart he is at times, and then my brain goes to mush when he's explaining conjugate addition. MOOOOSH brain. He's asked me to marry him multiple times, and every time I said yes. A million times YES!

My family means everything to me. Living so far away is hard at times, we have to talk on the phone or fb but for the most part it's ok for right now. Both sets of parents have been able to come out and visit. I'm hoping my nieces can make it out here some day but we'll see.

I have amazing friends. I learn more everyday about being a good person because of them. They do more for me than I expect.

Yesterday was my birthday and because of these things in my life I have to reflect. I have more than I could ever dream in my life. I am so happy, and I am so blessed.

A sad tale will always have a happy ending.

This is the TRUE story of the little secretary named *Lalina.

Lalina is a very happy person.
She likes:
People
Cats
Church
Quesadillas
Vacations
Cherry Jello
Reading Blogs
and
Love.

She is a very simple girl. Not to look at, but her life is simple. She is easy to get along with, friendly, and knows just what to say when awkward silence comes to conversations.

She is married to a wonderful man, just celebrated a birthday, and got a new job!

Things are looking up for Lalina.

Since she loves people, this was a perfect job for her. She's a secretary working for a popular company in her town. She talks on the phone a lot, works with customers a lot, and seeing a lot of people come in and out of the office.

Workers in her office know how great she is and how much she loves her job.

Things are looking up for Lalina.

Lalina covers shifts for the other secretaries. She knows how hard it is to find a replacement, what better way to help? She takes extra time to keep things organized and clean. People seem curious as to why she is such a nice person.

She receives many smiles, and have-a-good-days.
She is comfortable and happy.
Knowing she has a job leaves her grateful in bedtime prayers.

Things are looking up for Lalina.

As Summertime came, she missed her family vacation.
She didn't want to that is for sure.
But *Margaret knows best.

Margaret is the boss.
She isn't mean.
She certainly is NOT nice.
She just is.

Lalina tries very very hard to win Margaret's friendship.
To no avail.
Margaret wants nothing to do with Lalina, and makes it very obvious.

Things are getting difficult for Lalina.

As the Summertime sun started to get colder, Lalina heard the piercing words.
"They don't know what happened. He's not waking up."
Lalina was numb planning for the funeral.
She knew she must be brave for her husband and his family.

"I need to leave," said Lalina.
What should have happened was Margaret saying, "Of course Lalina, take as much time as you need to be with your family. This must be such a difficult thing for you."
What she heard was, "So can you come back on Saturday so you can work the weekend shift?"

Things we getting worse for Lalina.

She tried her best to be a good worker for her boss. She stayed extra hours, more than required just so they would have someone reliable there. She thought many a nights about doing more, doing more, doing more than she could give to be a great employee.

"I know this will get better, it has to."

Poor Lalina.

About two months later, things seemed to be better. There were no arguments, everything was running pretty smoothly. Margaret even cracked a smile or two, when she didn't think Lalina was looking.
Lalina still heard how people adored her. How they were so happy she worked there.
What would we do without Lalina?

Things were looking up again for Lalina.

The weather started to get colder, the snow began to fall.
Lalina could hear Christmas music in her head as she thought of all her family far away.
This will be the best one yet!

The office would be closed a week, during this week in December, "said Margaret as she pointed to a calendar.
Lalina's ear perked as she heard the wonderful news.
She knew she had a week of comp time to take, oh how great to have two weeks off!

Things we looking up for Lalina.

"Oh dad, I'm so excited to come home too!"
The flights were booked.
They were going home.

Lalina got to the office the next day to tell Margaret the news.
"You can't do that. Call the airline to change it," was all Margaret said.
What?

Things were confusing for Lalina.

She called her husband crying.
"Honey, they told me when they were closed! And now they say they aren't. Why would they do such a thing? What are we going to do?"
Lalina sat in tears thinking about Margaret's words.

But her husband was a wise man.
He saw through the details, and he saw through the emotion.
He saw that his wife was a great employee with a horrible boss.

Things were looking up for Lalina.

Lalina went over the situation in her head.
Again and again.
She was right, no doubt about that.

Margaret was wrong, she knew it to be true.
There was no telling what would happen the next day.
She didn't want to face her boss, but family means everything to her.

Things were looking up for Lalina.

She sat in the office chair.
She gave her heart and soul.
She told her boss, and her boss's boss about their mistake.

They tried to convince Lalina it was her fault!
"No," said Lalina, "this situation is your fault, and I will tell you why."
And she spoke stronger and braver than she ever had in her life.

The conversation was over.
Both parties had made up their minds.
Lalina and Margaret's boss cried.

She hugged them both and said thank you.
And was escorted out.
She didn't even get to say goodbye.

Lalina walked to her car.
She wasn't crying anymore.
She was happy.

Things are looking up for Lalina.

She picked up her husband and told him the whole story.
Most husbands would be upset about their wives getting fired, but not Lalina's husband.
He couldn't have been more proud.

"Lalina, you were strong. You were brave. You said everything you had to say because you were in the right.
You did everything I could have asked for.
And you don't need them anyway."

Things are looking up for Lalina.

Lalina heard about the outrage.
She heard of so many good people missing her. She heard of so many angry over the situation.
But she didn't care.
She was free.

Never again would Lalina feel bad about going home to see family.
Never again would Lalina have to put up with an unemotional villain of a boss.
Never again would Lalina have to compromise herself for her family.

Things look great for Lalina.

*Names have been changed because I'm a nice person. But boooy did I want to keep them the same.

I guess I can say...I stole from myself?

This week marks another Saturday to Steal. Idea from my favorite blog.

I was supposed to babysit tonight. I am really really bummed it didn't happen. I love babysitting. Kids are just fun. They say the darndest things: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFXti_KRcLw

Start it at :46

Taylor had a guys night planned so it was going to be perfect; he goes there, I go there.

Since it didn't happen, I'm all by my lonesome tonight. It's not too bad. I've got the cats curled up with me, I watched Amelie (straaaange movie) and my computer with millions of blogs to keep me company.

In the middle of the movie my stomach started to grrroooowwwllll. Crap. I hate being hungry. Like more than you think you know. My friends joke (lovingly I'm sure!) about how I become a crazed psycho if I'm hungry, or past hungry and NEED to eat. It seems to happen more than I'd like...oh well. Anyway, I was hungry.

I considered my options.

1. Everything having to do with meat was frozen in the freezer because I always forget to take stuff out until I'm hungry.
2. We already ate our leftovers for lunch so I couldn't microwave anything.
3. The closest fast food is McDonald's. Eh...not this month please.

I had to rack my brain for what we had in our cabinet. Given the fact of my recent firing (unfair firing if you ask me. But don't ask me because I'm still pissed. I might bite your head off. No, I just want to bite HER head off....what was I saying? OH!) I've been trying to save money as much as I can. Food ain't cheap around here. You would think it would be because of the college town...but no..

After finding some ingredients, and finding this recipe...

Mmm, it was tasty!

I added fresh spinach. I had to add SOMETHING healthy...butter, Parmesan, AND white pasta: delicious but nowhere near nutritionally sound.

Now I know I already bought the ingredients from the store. But given the fact that I saved money by not buying something like I normally would have....THAT is a steal!