Shop Update

Some fun new things in the shop.. Go check it out. simplygenevieve.etsy.com

Bear had his speech at 9:45 yesterday. At 11:00 am I got a text from Bear that said "it went AWESOME". 

Givaway- You could win yourself a beautiful necklace created by charmed.. Go to

http://meganpapworth.typepad.com/photography/ and enter a comment. I did... I sure hope I win.. Even if I don't, this will be my next purchase.

P.S - I think this would be a precious baby gift. I would create one with the mommy and daddy's initials and the babies name.. How adorable would that be..

its raining

Tonight I am trying to relax and enjoy the quiet stillness of our home. If anyone knows me, they know that I have a really heard time relaxing. I sit on the couch to enjoy some TV and my mind starts to drift elsewhere. I start thinking about what I could be doing and what I should be doing. Even when there is really nothing on my to-do list … don’t worry, I create things that need to be accomplished. Tonight, I have things to do. Like laundry, and putting pictures from my computer to a disk, up-dating my etsy site, and doing the dished in the sink. However, tonight I need to clear my mind of the to-do list and relax. It is raining outside. I have started my dinner and have already put on pj’s (it is 6:43 p.m.). I feel like the rain, although I would not be going outside anyways, gives me a good excuse to sit and watch TV. I ran to the grocery store today after work and running into the store got me soaked. My nice strait hair went poof and the curls started to appear. I bought turkey hot dogs. That is what I chose for dinner tonight. My lonely dinner because tonight Bear is attending to the demanding tasks of grad school. Tomorrow he has a HUGE speech to give in front of all the people that matter in his department. Everyone wish him LUCK! even though he will not need it. He is well prepared. He has been busy. No, busy does not even describe what he has been. Maybe frantic, sleep deprived, and forgetting what I look like might be more accurate. The poor guy got home last night at 1 am and got up this morning at 8 am to head to class, and as I mentioned before…. he is gone for the evening. I have realized in the past couple weeks that I might be a little bit of a needy wife. I really love having the attention that Bear gives me and right now I am missing it.  But I can’t be needy.  He is doing something he needs to do for his future, for our future. I love him for working so hard. 

Its been an hour since I opened my computer and started typing this. My relaxing evening is drifting away.. good night to all who reads this (if any). I am hitting up the couch and cuddling with the puppy. 

living room sneak peak

decorating crazy person

the past of couple days I have been starting to re-decorating our living room. Bear has told me over and over again that he does not like the 'feel' of our living room. So I am changing it up a bit. We are selling our coffee table which is nick named sarcophagus (by Bear) because of it's massive size and look. Selling a couple lamps and replacing them all with a more modern, clean lined look. I will be reupholstering our chairs to match the color scheme and changing the layout of our furniture. I love decorating. I have a passion for the projects that come with changing a rooms look and I love the challenge that a room has to offer. So with that, wish me luck in this challenge of creating our room to have a more 'good feeling'!! 

Stay toned for the colors and some pictures of the new items that will be calling our living room home.. 

A Reflection from Bear

A reflection paper that Bear wrote for one of his classes. For all you people that know about anthropology, the reflection is on Marcel Mauss' book 'The Gift'. 

I thought it was cute or should I say intelligent!! Enjoy.... 

Last Sunday my wife (Katrina) and I exchanged Valentine’s Day cards. Every year, come February 1^st, I begin writing myself little notes and setting alarm reminders on my phone to go off across the days between then and the 14^th so that I wouldn’t forget to make the necessary preparations for the big day. In recent years Valentine’s Day has begun to be less a cause of heightened anticipation and more of a momentary memorandum from the cosmos reminding us of our – hopefully – undying love for each other. Nevertheless, the week or so before this Sunday I began my preparations.

 

Stop & Shop has two aisles dedicated to greeting cards. Starting mid-January, one section is done-up all in red and solely devoted to V-day, displaying endless varieties of little 5x7 folded cardstock. One has the choice of comedic, sentimental, romantic, or sexy themes, each proclaiming their own aphorisms of wisdom, affection, and endearment. They really are fascinating, and at times, beautiful little things – works of mass consumerist art and poetry stamped out in the millions each year. The frivolity of the whole deal may get some down upon closer inspection – “why do I need to celebrate my love just one day of the year?” or “V-day is just a holiday created by the card companies.” But to the recipient of such a work of bite-sized adoration the whimsical winged cupid or the highly stylized script emblazoned across a background of an idealic romantic scene becomes the fetishized embodiment of their true-heart’s love.

 

Someplace in our house, safely tucked away, there is a box containing little notes and tidbits of my and Katrina’s relationship. One such tidbit, I am sure, is a Valentine’s Day card I once gave to her when we had just been dating. We keep that card – although neither I nor Katrina has seen it in recent years – because in some ways it is our relationship. I gave that card to her at a specific time and said something in it that was apparently meaningful, and so the thing, the 5x7 folded over card stock, became the sanctified embodiment of my commitment and affection. And knowing that it is there in a strange way pays tribute to our lives together. Strangely enough, it also serves as an informal contract between the two of us. It stays where it is as a material realization of my oath to her, forever testifying and defining the form and contents of our relationship. I can guess that one day we’ll pull it out and read it together. And when we do we’ll be taken back to that time in our lives in which it was written, and in a very real way will be reading the history of our relationship. Hopefully, at that time I’ll get a hug and score a few points for how romantic I am/was. Lucky for me, when Katrina reads that card and the words I wrote some-odd years ago the warm gushy feelings will still pour through it. How that happens is truly magical.

 

Magic is truly in the making. Sometimes I put a fair amount of time into intricately crafting the words and syntax I handwrite on the inner folds of my V-day cards. At other times I let Hallmark do the talking. After all, there’s a Hallmark Goldcrown store not two hundred yards from my house, and their commercials really get to me. And what’s more, during a time of such economic hardship isn’t it only patriotic to pay financial tribute to the one institution in the U.S. whose sole purpose is to spread good cheer? Sometimes it’s also quite convenient that the price tag of $4.95 is so readily identifiable on the back of the card, ever proclaiming the investment I made and the financial burden I endured in picking out only the best for my sweetheart. But alas, it is those cards in which the ratio of pen to paper outweighs the predictable prose of a contracted card-writer that seem to have the greatest effect. It seems a piece of me is enveloped into each signed and sealed envelope. The card and my words carry with them an essence of me that I am all too eager to share, but in giving, never give away. In reading the card – and as I said, especially the hand-written ones – she actually experiences my affection, so much that hand-delivered or mailed from thousands of miles away the two ounce piece of parchment draws her into our relationship, solidifies it, and reassures her that it’s still there.

 

Sadly, I made the grave mistake one year of taking Valentine’s Day perhaps a little less seriously than I should have. I mean, I sent flowers and the whole bit, but my timing was off. Apparently making all your moves on the eve of V-day isn’t the same as on the day of; and when there was a relative decrescendo in festivities on the 14^th, disappointment ensued – I should have known. Somehow, the timing of my affectations didn’t match her expectations. So come the day-of, when I was handed my card and box of chocolates and had nothing to give in return…well, awkward is an appropriate word to use, but doesn’t seem to quite cut it. There comes a moment in that one day when all your chips are down and it’s make it or break it. Sadly enough, I broke it; and the process of beginning to recompense for that blunder had to wait another 365 days.

 

There is an aura to Valentine’s Day. Love it or hate it, it really does emotionally and cognitively consume many of us each year. To find our one true love takes on grandiose proportions. Singles and yet-to-be-wed couples often get caught up in finding those who they’re meant to be with, mostly so that they too can be a “match made in heaven”. A sense of destiny seems to be awaiting the truly love-sick just around the corner, if only they could magically unmask their would-be suitor, or if God would simply unveil his or her true identity. Love is at times a wonderfully spiritual experience. David (a la David and Goliath) has even found his way into the center folds of a Hallmark via his often eroticized exhortations to God in the book of Psalms – the Old and New Testament had a lot to say about love. I even hear Saint Valentine’s Day bears the namesake of an early Christian martyr.

 

At our house we celebrate Valentine’s Day, despite my, uh-hmm, earlier mishap. I don’t really find the cute/romantic cards all that cute or romantic; I’m not really into buying expensive cards to prove the level of my financial liquidity, nor am I prone to support the U.S. economy through such discretionary spending; if our house burnt down with the little keepsake box with it I wouldn’t bat an eye at its loss as long as my wife, dog and I made it out ok; and I don’t really know if Katrina and I are a match made in heaven. But there is one thing I do know, February 14^th comes around once a year, and like it or not I must recognize it and play along. Katrina’s not all too fond of V-day either. But it’s not so much aboutwhat I give her or what we do on that day. Rather, it’s that we did it. She expects it, and to some degree, so do I. Despite our misgivings about the “holiday,” it somehow pulls us together and forces us to make the best of it – and although we might grumble, we usually end up really enjoying the day. If there’s one thing, then, that Valentine’s Day does, it brings us together, every year, in a certain way, at a certain time, to do a certain thing. And whether or not our observance is sufficient to ensure a long and happy marriage I have no idea, but what I do know is that in some ways it is a necessary one.

 

Loving the Olympics

Go team USA

P.S lovin Lindsay's hat..

Moving on

I have been wanting to write about my thought for a while now, but I have not made the time to sit down and type my thoughts out. I think it is because I have so many thoughts that I hardly know how to put them comprehensibly. I always get my computer out and start typing and end up typing a sentence and stop because I get so overwhelmed in my own thoughts. But today, I just need to keep reminding myself that it’s okay if my feelings get jumbled together, words are miss-spelled, and the grammar is not perfect. This is ultimately for me, so it is okay! I sit here in my living room drinking hot chocolate, looking at the snowfall from our front window and cheering on the USA (watching the Olympics). I am snuggling up in a heavy blanket, which is warming up my spirit. I am in need of some spirit warming. Lately I have been feeling emotional. Although, I am very content in my life, happy in my marriage. I love Bear with all my heart. He inspires me daily, is my better half, and shows me so much love and appreciation. He has been studying so much that our time spent with each other is getting very limited. I got use to us having so much free time with each other. Every evening we would have dinner together and enjoy the night. But recently that time does not exist. It makes me sad! I am really missing our talks, the long nights watching our favorite TV shows, and cuddling in each other’s arms until we fall asleep.  I took for granted all the time that we had together and now sit here reminiscing. I am excited for when schoolwork and studying calms down and life gets back to ‘normal’. I am anxious for the normal life to begin. I guess normal is not the right word to use.. When I say normal, I mean the future I see for us. Where will we be in the next couple years, do we see babies in the future? Yes, we absolutely do, but when?  I wish I could just sit back and relax. Enjoy life one day at a time, instead of wanting to know what is constantly in store for us.  I have been emotional and my feelings were badly hurt, I never hold things in and usually get over things rather quickly, but this one thing is really hanging on tight to something inside of me. Something that feels sad and hurts. Feels miss-treated and disrespected. I don’t like drama, it adds un-needed stress to my life. So today, I will try to let go of the resentment and move on.  This is what I will be working on for the next little while. And learning to focus my energy in the people that love me.. These are the thoughts for the day. 

Oh Valentine's Day!!

(I know the words are back-words, but you get the point)

Happy Valentine's Day

Yesterday...

This is what it looked like outside of our house yesterday. The snow storm started the night before and continued all day with the worst of it hitting mid morning. 

We stayed warm in our house with hot chocolate (for me), tea (for the hubby) and a good book for most of the day. We did however, venture out to play in the beautiful snow for a little while in the afternoon. Shento was going stir crazy being locked up all day, I can't say that the hubby and I were not going a little crazy ourselves... Plus who would pass up the chance to go play in some fresh fallen snow. Not us!!!  After we played in the snow we came back inside to get warm (shento included. See below). 

Snowmania has hit again

New Jersey is closed including my work and Bears school (yeah). The snow continues to fall and is slowly turning into ice as it hits the ground. The wind is picking up which is causing little ice flakes to hit our windows making a soft noise. All of New Jersey was at the market last night. Here in the east coast if it is announced that we are going to have a big storm everyone freaks out a little, then heads to the grocery store to stock up on milk and eggs. I have always laughed at this weird habit. However, I might need to take some hints. We have no milk, eggs, or bread in the house and now the grocery stores are closed :( We will have to live off of our vanilla soy milk and hot chocolate.... 

. 

Friday Date Night 

 

Date night consisted of exploring the downtown area of Highland Park (a small area about 5 minutes from our house), a photo-shoot, and dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in downtown New Brunswick, Stuff Yer Face. 

Shento's date night consisted of him and his new bone.  

 

Snowy Winter Saturday 

The hubby forgot that there was snow on the ground.. Hence, the no shoes. 

At least the birds got fed. 

We had a wonderful snow filled weekend. 

IF.

if.

by Katrina 

if i were a month, i'd be June

if i were a day of the week, i'd be Saturday.

if i were a time of day, i'd be dusk.

if i were a sea animal, i'd be a dolphin.

if i were a direction, i'd be west.

if i were a gemstone, i'd be an yellow sapphire.

if i were a tree, i'd be an apricot tree.

if i were a tool, i'd be a hot glue gun.

if i were a flower, i'd be a gerber daisy.

if i were a kind of weather, i'd be an overcast spring day.

if i were a musical instrument, i'd be a guitar.

if i were a color, i'd be green.

if i were a fruit, i'd be a kiwi.

if i were an element, i'd be a water

if i were a food, i'd be pizza.

if i were a place, i'd be home.

if i were a material, i'd be a floral print.

if i were a scent, i'd be the scent after it rains.

if i were an object, i'd be a comfy old sweatshirt.

if i were a song, i'd be don’t worry be happy.

 

 

if.

by hubby bear

if i were a month, i'd be November

if i were a day of the week, i'd be Thursday.

if i were a time of day, i'd be Afternoon.

if i were a sea animal, i'd be a Turtle.

if i were a direction, i'd be south.

if i were a gemstone, i'd be an amethyst.

if i were a tree, i'd be an olive tree.

if i were a tool, i'd be a tape measure.

if i were a flower, i'd be a gardenia.

if i were a kind of weather, i'd be cool and breezy.

if i were a musical instrument, i'd be a guitar.

if i were a color, i'd be magenta haze.

if i were a fruit, i'd be a grapefruit.

if i were an element, i'd be a earth

if i were a food, i'd be a chicken nugget.

if i were a place, i'd be home.

if i were a material, i'd be a gor tex.

if i were a scent, i'd be the scent of smoke from the fire.

if i were an object, i'd be a tennis racquet.

if i were a song, i'd be moondance.

Have a great week. 

Up-date from our weekend will come tomorrow. Stay tuned 

Bread in a Can AKA Brown Bread

The hubby told a story a while ago about brown bread. (Brown bread for all of you who do not know is bread that comes in a can). He reminisced about the memories that he had as a young child eating brown bread at his Grandmas house, all warm with a little butter on top. 

This past week we had some friends over for dinner and he again talked about his brown bread memories. We all laughed because non of us had ever heard of such a thing. The hubby was determined to prove to us that brown bread did exist, so he and our friend drove to the grocery store to find bread in a can. 

They came back with this... we all had a good laugh

Needless to say, the hubby was very excited. He was very cute with his brown bread!!

The Love through our blog

Hi love! I was just looking at our blog, and it is so great. I love that you do that, and I'm sorry that I haven't contributed more. Looking at it just makes me appreciate having you in my life, and the life that we are making together. I really couldn't ask for anything more. Thanks for being so awesome. I love you.

Bear


(what a nice email the hubby wrote me this morning. It made me smile)

Today I am missing my homeland....

.......UTAH

The night is quiet

because the hubby is at class.

I updated the etsy shop with lots of fun new things. Please go visit at simplygenevieve.etsy.com........ I will be posting more about the shop at a later day..






Goodnight, I might go start my new book.. or just continue sitting here wasting time watching really bad monday night TV. Oh well!!