What craziness is

Wow it's been over a month since I wrote in here! My apologies to all.

Things have been crazy. You all know I work a low paying job so I have been picking up tons of extra hours to help get a little extra money. Dave's promotion finally went through...yay Chef Assistant!

Also, we have been house hunting. This generally has been consuming my days off. Driving around and looking at houses. Trying to decide if we really need this or that in a house. Meeting with our real estate agent and the bank. Buying a house is no cake walk friends! Especially if it is a starter home. I want it to be perfect, but I realize that is a far dream.

Between all of that, Dave and I took two trips. The first was at the end of September. We went up north to visit our families in PA. It was a surprise to my dad, who turned 50, and to my Grandmom, who was getting an award. We spent some time with Dave's mom and took a day to go see something I have been waiting years to see. That's right folks! Dave and I went to see The Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ.


I first fell in love with the Newsies in college. A good friend of mine suggested it as a "snow day" movie. Within the first few minutes, it was instant love. The music, the actors, the story...I loved it all! Finally, I would see it on stage!!

All in all, it was a great show. I studied theater in college and I was picking about a few things here and there. I excepted it to be a tad more energetic as well.

After the show we were able to meet Ben F. who played Davey. He is a good friend of one of my co-workers and he was great! We took a picture for proof that we met each other in case Emily, my friend, needed it.
The second trip was a camping trip. This trip was a blast! It was cheap and we had so much fun with some good friends. Dave and I really deserved the quiet time. I'll be writing more about that in a blog post later.

So that leaves us to today. It's my Friday! Tomorrow is our 2nd anniversary together! We are celebrating by going to Food and Wine (where we met) and staying one night at the Animal Kingdom Lodge! Again, that will be a post for another time!

It's Almost October!?!

So time has clearly gotten away from me.

I'm going to say it's because I started picking up lots more hours at work. I have been feeling better and I have had to make up for the money I didn't make while I was sick. Sometimes I really hate that my job pays so little. Most times I just forget how much I am getting paid all together! ( I think that's a good thing) Until the bills come in and I'm seeing negatives! Blech.

So I decided that I am going to work on a ETSY shop. I am going to sell my baked goods and some handmade things...like coasters and possibly coin purses. The hardest part is using a lot of product to get pictures and everything because all of that costs money. Also, everything is going to be made to order (except the coasters and such). So hopefully I can handle this.

I am also selling my famous pumpkin bread and already have a few orders! It's not going to help much, but it makes me excited to have my name associated with it! Here is a picture of my first batch of the season! Well...maybe just a loaf of my first batch!

YUMMY!

Dave and I are totally diving head first into this house buying business. I know it is a little crazy. I barely make over minimum wage and he makes about $6 more than I do. But we have to start somewhere. Renting is not helping us, and it's causing us a ton of stress! I just want a place of my own. One that I can be creative in and paint walls and have a big kitchen!!! It's time... lol We have a meeting with the mortgage people on Tuesday to get pre-approved and then we will go from there. We already have our relator set up too!

Finally, it's that time of year again! We may not get the weather of fall or the changing leaves like up north, but we do get PUMPKINS!!! Ones that are shaped like Mickey Mouse!


As much as I am longing to go to Mickey's Not So Scary, I don't think we are going to be able to this year. It makes me really sad. They only discounted tickets for CMs for September and Dave and I's schedules are not working with the dates. It's depressing because I heard they changed some things around. Maybe they will open dates in October and if they do, I'll be the first to line up!

Hope you all are getting ready for a beautiful fall! All of you lovelies up north, I am really jealous. Fall/Winter are my favorite times of year!!

Getting Things Done

There is no doubt that I have been busy. Not only that, but I haven't been feeling up to par.

There has been a lot of laying around. Being angry with doctors and my stomach. Not being able to enjoy the little things in life, but being caught up in big things.

There is so much going on right now. This stomach thing is unexpected and tearing me up in my extra money department. We were trying to save that money for our anniversary or Christmas cards, but since I've had to get all these tests done and see different doctors, that money is quickly flying out the window. Not to mention that hours are decreasing at work. I need to advance in my career and I'm working real hard on it, but nothing is cracking.

This whole house thing is throwing us off. I know we wouldn't have to put any money down while we are looking, but it's scary and we want to make sure we are putting money away accordingly.

But that's not what this is about. This is about getting things done.
Remember a while ago when I said that the original Pixie Dusted Proposal blog was going under construction and wouldn't be ready until the fall? Well guess what!?! Tomorrow my good friend David arrives in Orlando and we are going to have our first "production meeting".

I think that you guys are going to LOVE LOVE LOVE the new things coming to the Pixie Dusted Proposals blog. I really hope that it will bring more readers and conversations to the blog.

please send good vibes!

August 14th

It's easy to say that I don't pay attention to dates. More like actual numbers. I can tell you that it's Wednesday, because Tuesdays and Wednesdays are my days off. I can tell you it's August, because schools are starting to begin and work is starting to slow. But when it comes to dates, I always have to look at a calendar.

Sunday marked the one year anniversary of my Poppop's passing. That day will forever be ingrained in my mind. Thank the Lord you can't see me as I write this because tears are streaming. Good tears.

*WARNING: This is sad. It may hit home to those of you who have lost someone. But I need to tell this story. I need to get it out.*

Last July Dave and I were lucky enough to get some time off to spend with my family in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. I feel extremely blessed that my managers pulled every string they could to get me the time off during our busiest summer month.It was the last time I would ever see/spend time with my Pop. I knew something was up by the way my Pop was acting. Every day he would make sure he came down to the beach and play games with us. He would wade into the water up to his knees or play bocci or washers with us. He would laugh with us and make sure that we had a great time. He didn't make it look like he was trying, but we knew he was. The whole family and Dave had a great time during that vacation. Before we left Dave made the mistake of calling my Pop Mr. Keenan (he is Mr. Cassidy). We were all in stitches during that moment. When my brother was driving us to the airport I couldn't help but to silently cry, knowing that the next time I would see my grandfather would be so different.

Bernie, Joe and the Grandkids (Billy, Lauren, Kate, Alissa, and Lindsay)

Pop and my sister Alissa

Pop fighting the ocean (aka the good fight)

On August 13th 2010, my Uncle and I arrived at Philly International. My dad picked us up and we drove straight to the hospice. My Pop was unable to open his eyes or move. I held his hand and talked to him. I told him I was there, that I loved him very much. I told him that the weather in Florida was hot and disgusting (we always talked about the weather over the phone). I sat quietly expecting to see him one last time maybe the next day. I never did. After I said goodbye, I went home and got in bed knowing that I would get up early the next day to go visit him again. I remember crying before I went to bed. I had this feeling that something wasn't right, yet I felt really at peace at the same time. It was really unsettling.

I don't know what time it was. I felt like I had just closed my eyes and I was already waking up. It was time to go back to the hospice. Pop had passed.

Everyone was in this tiny room. My grandmom was holding his hand. My uncle, aunt, and two cousins and my dad, mom, brother, sister, and I were all standing at the foot of the bed. There were tears. My grandmom was combing his hair and talking to him. It was just a really odd feeling. That feeling of finally saying goodbye. We all talked to him, cracked some jokes with him, and sent our love with him to heaven. It was nothing like I imagined it would be and no one really burst into tears until we left. We all knew it was long overdue. It was his perfect time.

This was the first time I had ever lost someone so close to me. My Pop was the ONLY man (aside from my hubby, brother, and dad) I wanted to be at my wedding. I really wanted to share a dance with him. It's really hard for me not to think about him all the time. He was such and influence on my life and in the lives of my entire family. Everything reminds me of him.

Maybe I was in denial or maybe I wasn't paying attention, but it snuck up on me. August 14th, 2011. I was opening coordinator and dating the opening checklists when I stopped breathing for a second. Mid writing, I stopped and walked out into the bypass hallway and cried. I didn't sob, but I cried. It was like I ran into a brick wall. It hurt.

I made it through the day. I like to think that my Pop's love and comedic outlook on life helped me. He lived every second of every day. He made all those seconds count. His life is carved into my entire family's life. He was going to be my brother's best man at his wedding (though my brother knew that he wasn't going to make it to the wedding). He took my cousin Kate and I on many trips to the casino, he took my cousin Lindsay and my sister Alissa out to lunch. He was an amazing father to my mom and Aunt Clare. He was a stubborn Irish father-in -law to my Dad and my uncle Bob. He was a loving husband to my Grandmom. He was funny, inspiring, caring, loving, energetic, and more. He was Joe Cassidy. He knew everyone and everyone knew him. I wasn't really sure of this fact until EVERYONE showed up to his viewing and funeral. It POURED on the night of his Viewing and there was a line for two blocks the whole time of the viewing.

I would be a totally different girl if it wasn't for my grandpop. I owe so much to him. However, to honor him the most, I only have to live this life to the fullest. I have to know and care about everyone. It doesn't matter if they care about me, I just have to care about them. It makes a difference.

So Pop, since you're up there watching over us, can you give me a swift kick on days that I need it? Can you throw some sunshine on days when I'm gray? Can you send some Irish luck to help me walk in your footsteps? I love you and I miss you every day.

Here is a video of the Christmas we bought my cousins a wii and my grandmom and Pop bowling....

Lessons from the couch

Hey friends, sorry about the lengths between posts lately and lack of Take Me Back Thursdays. I've been picking up extra shifts at work and dealing with an awesome stomach attack. Let's go back to the beginning.

The day before my vacation the doctor called me to tell me I was anemic. Really, really anemic. He put me on this slow release iron pill and the rest is history. The first 5 days was fine. The last day of my vacation I had the worst stomach pains. I survived them, though the plane ride back was not fun.

So I started taking them every other day per doctors orders. Still, horrible stomach pains. A week after I got back Dave and I went out to breakfast and started an adventure to Disney Quest.

After heading into a few games, I stated that I felt sick and dizzy. I tried my best to stay as long as I could but there was no hope. I had to get home. I spent the rest of the afternoon in bed. Dave made soup for me to slurp.

For the past two weeks I have been either at work hunched over or at home on the couch/in bed with some of the worst stomach pains in the world. SO here are some lessons I've learned from the couch.

1. Don't tell people you think will help. They will just think you are preggers and rumors will fly. I'm pretty sure everyone at work thinks I have a bun in the oven. NOT POSSIBLE PEOPLE. NOT POSSIBLE!

2. Lying around, while it feels good, won't help. You need to get up and get out. You need to move around. Your stomach may hurt, you may not be able to stand, but you need fresh air. You need life around you.

3. It's a great time to read a good book. Currently I am reading Pour Your Heart Into It by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. It's been really enlightening especially because I am hoping to own my own coffee shop one day. So find a good book and read!

4. The commercial for Sittercity.com is awesome! haha I need to get that cookie cutter for all of the states!

I am hoping to see the doctor again in the next few weeks. I have to wait for an opening at his office. Please pray that the Lord gives him the knowledge to help figure out what is wrong with me and how we can work together to fix it. I am willing to change my diet or do whatever it takes to feel better.

Bloggy Bracelet Swap

I recently participated in Michabella's Bloggy Bracelet Swap! It was such fun and now I have some cool new accessories!
I got two lovely new bracelets.

They are shown here with my morning coffee Mike mug. Very stylish!


The first one of beautiful blue beads is from the lovely Nicole over @teampipkin. Her daughter picked it out for me and I think it's perfect!

The second one is a lovely Stella and Dot bracelet from Crissa who can be found @bellabud.com. This bracelet is a from the Stella and Dot foundation and it supports positive change in women! How lucky I am to have this bracelet because I am making some positive changes myself!!

Speaking of Positive Change...

Dave and I have talked a lot this weekend and we have decided on big things! The first thing is that I have plans to go back to school. I really really really desire a MFA in theatre, however, I'm super rusty and may have to settle for a MBA instead. That's ok since I have become extremely business minded over the past year and talk of the Cafe.

The second is that we are going to start looking into buying a house. I know what you are thinking. Lauren and Dave you aren't even married yet...wait, you're not even engaged yet! Well there is good news folks. Dave is working on a promotion. Should he get it, then we have plans to be engaged within the next 6-8 months. This is something we have talked about a lot and we want to make sure all our finances are in a row before diving into anything extreme. Oh, and this does not spoil an ounce of surprise since I don't know when, where, how, or even what the ring will look like. If the promotion doesn't happen, we will still keep our plans at bay, though they may take a little longer!

Finally...Happy Friday Friends!!! I hope you all have an amazing weekend! I'll be working away until my weekend (which is Tuesday/Wednesday)! Have a safe and happy weekend!

For the Love

(image from SIVacations)

Recently I went on vacation. I went to a lovely little place called Sea Isle City, New Jersey. It's a place my family has visited every year of my life. It's special to me. The reason why I love this little shore town so much is because it's quite. Sure it tends to get a bit busy, but it's nothing like Wildwood or Ocean City, the major beach town destinations. So on a Monday morning, while sitting on the beach reading this amazing book about how Starbucks built their company, my mind began to wander.

I asked myself: "Lauren what do you love?" My silly little self replied as follows...

I Love:

David. He is my heartbeat and constant encourager. He is my inspiration and best friend.

I Love:

Jesus. No picture needed. Jesus is awesome and my reason for being. He has big plans for me in this world and I have no clue what they are yet. I just know I am going to change the world one day, whether it be in a big or small way.

I Love:

Taking pictures and making movies. I mean I have a degree in Broadcast Production, I just don't have the monetary funds to buy my own camera, a new computer, and a new editing system to start my own business and hone my skills. Here is a video I made in the beginning of my college days. It's just a bunch of pictures set to music, but it means a lot to me because the people in it mean a lot to me. We were a bunch of theatre kids and we loved every second of it.

I Love:

The wedding and event industry. I don't know why I am so drawn to it. Perhaps it's because I love fairytales. Perhaps it's because I love how creative people can get. I'm not really sure, but I would love to work in this industry somehow.

I Love:

Food. Let me clarify. I live with a chef. He's amazing at what he does. I eat a lot of GREAT food! So I love food. I love learning about food. I love how food and coffee brings people together around a table. I love stories behind foods. Most of all, I love baking! This past year I have had the opportunity to bake some amazing irish breads and pastries for Dave's work. They were so impressed that I was asked to come in and make some for their VPs for St. Patrick's Day. I got to work in a REAL kitchen and I relished every second of it. I love making treats that make people just sink to bliss. That classic "mmmmmm" feeling.

I Love:

Life. My current life is crazy beautiful. Yes, I have a job that I love but doesn't satisfy me. I crave more. I crave excitement and adventure. I crave the great unknown. I crave a different kind of interaction with people. I am a HUGE people person. So I love interacting with them in different ways. I crave the outdoors and I love exploring the indoors. I have a hunger for life and I need to live it to the extreme. That is why I am proud to be part of the movement my friend Casie started for her beautiful sister Kellie. The Live Out Loud movement encourages us to live life to it's fullest and not just sit and accept life for less than it has to offer.

I found out what I love, now I just have to make something of it. If anyone needs to hire anyone, let me know. I may be looking for a better job. Shhhh, don't tell the Mouse though. I am craving change. Change is good.

So what do you love? What are you craving?