I might exercise, just so I can wear these shoes.

J and I enjoy thrift and discount shopping. The cheaper, the better. At one particular store that he likes to go into (that I usually complain about going into), I recently found a good deal on some running shoes.

Pretty cute, no? They retail for $130 and I got them for about $44. I think they are actually more for trail running and I am just walking/jogging on a treadmill, but I tried them out last night and they were pretty comfy.

J and I both realized long ago that we need to be working out regularly, but it's so hard to get motivated. I have been pretty fortunate for most of my life, in that I have stayed pretty thin without having to try too awfully hard. I mean, I'm not a huge junk food eater and I do watch what I eat, but I don't say no to cake or ice cream or Burger King.  So, this week, we have actually started exercising. I'm hoping we can keep it up. I know it's a great habit to have, but getting into the habit is kind of tough, especially when you'd rather just veg out on the couch or take a nap. I have aspirations of being very athletic, but I'm mostly lazy and tired, so we'll see!

Going home.

J and I went to visit my parents this weekend. Many moons ago, after J and I got married, I had a hard time being away from my parents. They didn't even live very far away. We saw them on a regular basis. But it was hard for me to start a new life that didn't include them in the same way it used to. But, eventually, I learned to love having my own family and doing things my own way.

Then my parents moved away. My mother got a job as a travel nurse and they spent a while living in various places (Arizona, California, North Carolina) that were far away from us. I missed seeing them, but it was nice to have the space and I think it was good for J and I.

Now they are a relatively short drive away (4 to 5 hours), although I wish they were closer. Even though the house they are living in now isn't where I grew up (in fact, they are only renting it) and I don't have a lot of memories of things that have happened there, it's still, in a way, home. I think wherever my parents are will always be home, in a sense.

Although my relationship with my parents is different now, because I'm now an adult and married and on my own, it's still so very important to me. I still like to have their approval. I still want them to think a lot of me and to be proud of who I've become. I still want my mom's cooking more than I want anyone else's.

We didn't do much while we were at their house. Sat around and talked, played on our computers, played some cards, ate some delicious food, did some shopping...but it's always nice just to be together. To be home.

Weekend with J.

This past weekend, my hubby and I went away to Gatlinburg, just the two of us. No dogs, even! I think it'd been about a year since we'd been away by ourselves. We'd taken trips since then, but it was either with other people or to visit other people. It was really good for us to get away, hang out, not have so many of the distractions we have at home. We hiked for several hours on Saturday and my legs are still paying for that. Ouch. But it was lovely outside, perfect hiking weather. We ate some good food, laughed and talked. I wish it could be like that all the time. It's way too easy to let all the every day things get in the way of a good romance. That is definitely something we need to work on. We both get too hung up on the little annoyances of life and forget how blessed we are to have each other. Go give someone a hug and tell them how much you love them. It'll make you both feel better!

Here are a couple pictures from our weekend.

More about me.

In addition to what I put in "About Me", here are some things you should know:
My husband is my best friend. We are very different in some ways (for example, he's outgoing, I'm shy; he's messy, I like everything neat and clean). But it works. We've been married for six years.
Our two miniature Dachshunds are our kids. They are spoiled and take up a lot of my attention when I'm home. I always look forward to seeing them when I get home from work.
I adore my parents.
I am a preacher's kid.
I have one younger brother. He is married and has three kids.
I don't smoke or drink.
I'm very quiet around people whom I don't know very well or who make me uncomfortable.
I'm prepared to be one of the oldest people in my class when I start law school next year. I'll be 32.
I'm nervous about going back to school. And I'm not excited about how much of my time it's going to take up.
I plan to start a solo law practice eventually.
I love living in the South. If I could live in any state, it would be South Carolina.
I currently work at a medical facility, as an office assistant. It's boring. I spend a lot of time on the Internet. I can't wait until I start school so I can quit.

This is a good start. You know me better already!

And because it's nice to know what the people you're reading about look like (at least it is for me), here are some pictures of me, J and our boys, Jake and Brody.

Blogging my time away.

Hooray for my first blog post!

Blogging seems like a good way to waste time. As if I needed something to take up more of my precious free time. I started a blog before, but it didn't get very far. It's tough to blog when you don't have anything interesting going on. Interesting to other people, that is. However, I have some big changes coming in my future and I thought keeping up with them via a blog would be fun for me...and maybe entertaining for someone else. (We'll have to see about that.) For one thing, I'm starting law school in August of 2011. (Maybe that part won't be very interesting for a while.) For another, there is the issue of starting a family.  In addition, there is the constant stress of my husband being unable to find work. Fun! I realize I'm not doing much to make this blog sound like it's worth coming back to, but bear with me. I'm also going to use it as a place to keep decorating/house ideas, even though it's probably going to be a while before I get to utilize any of them. And I'll post other random things that I like: clothes, books, products, etc. So come back and visit when you get the chance!