Design in a limited space

I'm sorry that I don't update.

Its just that I don't see the point of updating if I do not have pictures...

And I am horrible at taking pictures of everything cuz I am LAZZYYY.

SO here are some fun things to look at:

http://www.homeinteriorszone.com/interior-decoration/furniture/19-amazing-furniture-to-make-the-most-out-of-tiny-apartment-space/

I am always amazed at what people come up with when they are forced to live in limited situations. I feel that, especially in Suburbia, with the space that we are allowed to have we get lazy with innovative designs to improve the quality of life.

Our house was built in the 1950's, so everything is made small to scale. Because of this, whenever we try to buy furniture we feel like everything is always so cramped. This creates so much frusteration on my part, because I want my house to be functional and hospitable, but at the same time not feel cramped in our small space.

Japanese people particularly, are used to living in around 500 sq ft spaces. Not only singles in that limited space but sometimes families thrive out of it! I am always fascinated by their urban lifestyle- how they are able to not only provide functionality to everything that they do- but do it in a way that does not decrease any amount of quality asthetics.

http://www.tuvie.com/search/Space+saving+furniture+japan

Another month gone by

Wow, sometimes I'm not even sure why I even have a blog.

Days just go by so quickly and sometimes I panic because I feel like I will turn around and not realize how I got there.

The last month and half has been a big blur of memorial services, outtings, barbeques, work and family meetings.

For those of you who don't know, my parents are going through some financial difficulties so there has been many e-mails and late night meetings with my siblings. One thing Matt and I have really started to understand, in a very sanctifying manner, is that our bodies are just not what it used to be.

In college, there were many nights where you play until 11pm, and then "real work" begins at midnight with writing papers and studying for exams well into the morning. Then you sleep for 3 or 4 hours, go to class, and the same process takes place again. I loved those days, relished those days where time were spent and dare I say it, "wasted" on meaningless endeavors that eventually became found memories. Now we realize if we had the same schedule, the next day we wake up and our bodies react as if it has been hit by a bus. For example: Matt and I had a wonderful marathon of "Heroes" due to an unexpected registeration for instant Netflix. It's wonderful. With a click of a button you get access to thousands of different shows. The marathon consisted of 13 glorious consecutive episodes which proceeded until 4am on Sunday morning. Then because you make the most genius decisions during an energy depraved state, we decided to go to church by 9am the same morning. Now mind you, we live 30 minutes away from church, and it takes us 30 minutes to get ready. Conclusion: we had about 4 hours of sleep, proceeded to walk a zombie- like state of consciousness into our church service and attempted to have a normal sunday filled with purposeful activities. Monday morning- it was PHYSICALLY painful to wake up. It literally felt like I was forcing my mind and body to wake up from a drug induced state of sleep.

Now being a little older you think that we would be wiser with our time, but alas laziness and self-pleasure through leisurely activities takes priority over actions that will actually have direct benefit to our lives. I have been convicted however, through the recent weeks, that time is a precious thing and I need to realize that I have a holy God to answer to when I die.
What will I say during judgment time in how I stewarded all the gifts, including time, that He has blessed me with?
I think I've attended around 20 to 25 memorial services since I started my job in 2006. Many of them have been deaths involving long term sickeness, and lives that were long and filled with many accomplishments. But there were also many young deaths, unexpected deaths, deaths where there were more grief about the lack of the life lived than the life they left.
A guilty conscious stabs at me during those services, because it is ultimately pride in how I spend my time, which again I need to remind myself is a gift.

I LOVE my job

Yes, that is me on a segway.. in our office. Need i say more?

Diet.. yet again?

So as most of you know, my husband is a yo-yo dieter. Seriously he does it more than I do.
He gets extremely serious about dieting while training for BJJ, but then he gets injured, and when he doesn't exercise he isn't motivated to eat well.

Also this amazing cupcake place opened right infront of his work. It has come to a point where the owners know him by name, open the doors for him when they aren't suppose to be opened, and upon meeting me said "Ohh so you're Mrs. Matt."

http://www.ohwhatacake.com/ (Seriously, the best cupcakes..EVER)

Nothing like a little competition to get him going- his coworkers pooled together to see who could lose the most weight by the end of July.
Normally I would just roll my eyes, and say oh baby you don't need to change your eating habits. You exercise so much the weight just comes off you.

That was until I found out who were participating.
For reasons I don't want to express on a website- lets just say that its getting me competitive as well. (All in good fun)
So now I am getting serious about my cooking for him and it will be a interesting summer. Of course this bites that in June we are going to an all inclusive resort so...we might have a set back.

*sigh.. why do we love food so much?

Craving the Sun and Water

I always told Matt- if I believed in reincarnation I would always pray that I could come back as a mermaid.

I LOVE the water, in either the pool or the ocean. As long as the waves aren't too strong to the point that I can't swim.

But I especially love the sea life. "Little Mermaid" is probably my favorite Disney movie next to "Beauty and the Beast" (And Ariel is a redhead- go figure!)

The whole ocean just fascinates me.

So there has been some last minute vacation changes this year but God is kind because I think we are going to get PADI scuba certified this year!

But as I sit here.. infront of my computer at home that I would sometimes like to call the "cave"... I am imagining this:

*sigh.... Can't wait...

Hobbies

Well its been a while since I blogged. Again I can't get off this idea that there is no interest in my blog unless I have pictures up. I guess that is one of the reasons why Facebook must be so popular- you can just drop one liners and that is completely acceptable.

Work is work- a wonderful place for me. And I know that at least 90% of adults working out there cannot say that about their workplace including my own husband.
Its been a little challenging recently because my husband has been working long, and sometimes odd hours. There was a time where literally I felt like I didn't see my husband all last week.

Although it has been a trial, I am however thankful that at least my husband gets compensated for his hard work.

With a little extra time to myself recently, I've picked up a new hobby: coupon deal shopping.
You are going to laugh but www.moneysavingmom.com and www.dealseekingmom.com has become two of my new favorite sites. I think I check up on these websites more than I do facebook now. Through these blogs I have been able to save around 60% of my normal toiletries and grocery shopping. Its pretty amazing actually- and I don't know why i didn't do this before.

I figured since my husband works so hard I really need to find new ways in order to be more frugal especially during these times, and surprisingly this process of seeking deals along with coupons has been fun. I think its the process of seeing your purchase of $40 something reduce to a mere $15 infront of your eyes is what makes it fun for me.
This way I get to use the saved money towards something that I really want- like fun activites and such.

I've also been painting and reading- and I've forgotten how much I missed those two activities. Somewhere between high school and after college I have forgotten about these two hobbies but now I relish at the idea of getting my chores done so I could concentrate on these more.
I do miss college, but I do like the idea of having more time to pursue my own interest and study. Next thing I really want to pick up is sewing. I've been meaning to since high school but with the cost of classes along with time restraint has been a challenge. Hopefully the next time I blog- it will be about that specific skill.

I just realized my schedule this year

Nyc in March for one day with caregroup girls

Nyc in April for extended weekend for a "farewell" to one of my closest friends- she will most likely be moving back to Japan in June.

Nyc in May for the weekend with hubby for a wedding. This is so weird, another couple who lead my small group in college together is getting married to each other. YAY Mizy and James! We are soo happy for you!

June- Roadtrip to the South and then cruise

Sept- possibly a trip to capecod and Boston to see family and also Justin's wedding. Another possible trip to Austin to see some friends.

Oct- Kel and Jess wedding. (finally)


Before I know it its going to be 2010.
And then I'm going to pop out kids. THen I'll be forty.
Then I'll be 90.
Then I'll die.

*sigh.... I think I need coffee..or rice.