Afscheid 2012!

Time seems to have flown, especially since the movers will be coming next month to pick up our household items, then we'll be flying back to the States the following month. It's kind of crazy to me that it's already the end of the year, not to mention, our time in Belgium is almost up! 

Here's some memorable events from 2012: 

In January, I got to go to my first TNA Wrestling event with Eric over in Brussels. I mean, we traveled to London the year before, but Eric went to that event on his own while I chilled out at the hotel and got pampered at the spa. Hard life, right? Anyway, it was pretty cool to see in person, especially since the place wasn't super super packed and we got to sit fairly close to the ring :) 

In April, Eric went to Non-Commissioned Officers Academy and graduated! He was gone for a total of six weeks and he learned to be extra responsible, lol. I was (and still am) EXTREMELY proud of him! AND, he smiled willingly! VICTORY!

In June, I had a fabulous "girls trip" to Poland to do some more pottery shopping. We ended up staying at a place called "Palac Brunow" and it was absolutely AWESOME! 

In July, Eric and I celebrated our FIFTH wedding anniversary!! Oh my goodness! It feels like we just got married yesterday. It's rather crazy how much time has flown and all the things we've experienced together. Obviously, I'm looking forward to many...many more years together :D

In August, I got to see the last Flower Tapestry in Brussels for quite a long...long time. Hopefully Eric and I can come back for our ten year anniversary or something to see it again :) 

Oh, and we welcomed Grimm to the family in August :) He's a standard sized Wirehair Dachshund with a massive personality. Since his arrival, he's brought loads of entertainment, laughs and snuggles to our lives...he's definitely a perfect fit for our family.

In November, I got to spend my 30th birthday with Eric in Rome! We stayed at a fantastic B&B, got to see some amazing sites, and made some wonderful memories :)

Also in November, Eric, myself & a group of gals went to Poland to do our last round of shopping. I realize when I went in June, I said it was gonna be my last one...but obviously I couldn't stay away from the place. Not to mention, Eric was really wanting to go since he was jonsing for some Polish food. 

In December, we started the process of buying our first home! I'm SO excited!! I'm looking forward to having a place that's OURS rather than renting a place or living on base. Decorating ideas have been running through my mind non stop in addition to finding lots of things I can do in our soon to be new city. 

Hopefully, everyone will have a very Happy New year and start off 2013 on the right foot :)

Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book.

 Write a good one.

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*2011*

I was a busy little bee throughout 2011. What did you do all year long? Here's a list of the things I did to make my time fly:

January

I began selling for Tastefully Simple! 

 Had the pleasure of taking Eric to London for the first time so I could show him around the city in the midst of seeing a TNA Wrestling event.

February

I traveled to Mechelen with a group of friends to check out some old world tapestries from the De Wit company. 

My tickets to go home to California for a two month vacation were officially booked!

March

Checked out a killer farmers market in a near by town called Zolder.

Found an amazing scale at my favorite antique warehouse. 

Scored an antique coffee grinder from the same warehouse a week later :)

April

My fashion forward Dachshund gets a rain coat.

Went on a great adventure back to Poland with some awesome friends. 

Experienced the Spring Bazaar at Spangdahlem, Germany

May

Found our rhythm when it came to making a lot of food for the upcoming week. 

My beloved Blackberry went to the great cell phone tower in the sky.

Did some retail damage in Germany while visiting some friends. 

June

Movie dates with my lover face. 

The horses in the field next to our house had another baby! 

Began experiencing one of the wettest summers in Belgium's history. 

My landlord broke ground right next to us to build a duplex :-/

Three whole days of summer! 

July

I put a deposit down on my dream table! 

Went blueberry picking!

Eric and I spent our four year wedding anniversary in Venice, Italy! 

August

FINALLY organized my office! 

My spiffy dream table finally arrived!!

We realized our landlord is filthy rich.

Scored a nifty old school clock!

September

I went..went..back back to Cali Cali.

Adopted a $2k puppy from the SPCA (cost after fees, buying a new plane ticket, carrier, vet bills, etc) 

Drove to Oregon and Washington!

Met my brand new baby cousin!

Won FIRST PLACE in a photo contest! 

October

Made some awesome blankets for my son and husband

Visited Stefanie!! 

Missed my old stomping grounds in San Luis Obispo

Got my Dad hooked on a video game. 

Invaded Pier 39 in San Francisco with my Dad. 

November

Got pictures done with my Dad

Date day to France to buy some Le Creuset 

Lovin' on some European Christmas Markets

Discovered the black hole that is Pinterest

Finally obtained Steve

The goodies I acquired while in California finally arrived! Eee!!

December

Finally came across something quite useful for my Scentsy warmers after being here for almost three years! 

Made arrangements for Eric & I's FIFTH wedding anniversary !

I've come to realize that Belgium likes messing with me. 

Turned my kitchen into a cookie factory.

Took a crack at being a couponer...and failed. 

Here's to hoping for a productive 2012!

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Dear 2010

   Thanks to those who hated me, you made me stronger. Thanks to those who loved me, you made my heart bigger. Thanks to those who worried, you let me know you care. Thanks to those who left, you showed me that not everything is forever. Thanks to those who stayed, you showed me the meaning of true friends. Thanks to those who entered my life, you made me who I am today.

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Ohhh la la

Well looky here..it's 2010! I guess 2009 started to become out of style and it was time to switch  some big gears. Seriously, how fast did 2009 fly by?

It's currently..hmm..1:17am here in Belgium. Being my ever so blondy self, I crashed out at the wee hours of 6pm (Yes, I know. I'm a rock star) and I managed to wake up ten minutes after midnight. Atleast Eric stumbled into the bedroom and gave me a sloppy New Years kiss. No, he wasn't drunk.. the room is just pitch black and we normally stub our toes on the bed banisters no matter how hard we try NOT to, lol. That or we trip over our Turkish runner...

My neighbor has been playing "Hey Macarena" for the last almost hour and twenty minutes. I'm going to have to assume they passed out from heavy drinking or let's atleast hope that's the case. That has to be the reason...who the hell can listen to that song that much!? Fireworks are still being shot off in my neck of the woods...atleast I can look out my kitchen window and I can see some of the different towns firing off for their light shows :)

All in all, 2009 was a pretty good year!

I have a few "resolutions" for 2010:

- Average walking 12 miles a week. I know, it sounds like alot..but when you think about it.. that's about 2.3ish miles a day (for 5 days, not 7). Aw hell, let's make it 14 miles a week...that way, I'll just do 2 miles a day for 7 days a week....and lemme clarify: This is for while I'm in the gym..this doesn't include while I'm out and about with my usual routines and errands!

- Less time on Facebook. Why are you laughing? Facebook has become rather addictive, especially since they introduced "Farmville" and "Bouncing Balls". WAY too much of my life has been wasted on that site, although it's helped me stay in touch with friends from back in the states...still...it's sucked MANY hours from my life that I'll never get back. Sadly, I can say that I think it was one of the culprits for making my ass a little wider over this past year *sigh*

- Travel more. Yes, I know I travel as is, but not nearly as much as I want to. Mainly, since Eric works alot, it's hard to get him to actually out of the house (aside from the drive to Schinnen).  So, I'm hoping we'll get out and see more countries since we'll be here for another two years. Sure, it's two years and I know it "sounds" like a long time.....but this first year flew by! Before we know it, we'll be getting orders to move again.. and who's to say our next place won't be stateside? I rather hammer out all my overseas traveling while I'm within a reasonable flight time verses moving all the way back to the states then saying "Man, I really wish we went to Spain..Greece...Ireland...etc".

That's all I can think of in terms of my "resolutions". I hope everyone had / has a happy and fantastic New Years, don't get too drunk cause starting out a brand new year with a hangover isn't exactly thrilling!

Love,
E

*Funny thing is, I'm posting this on January 1st 2010 in MY time, but Blogger begs to differ and says it's Dec. 31st. BOO!*

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