And then Mildred Agnes Estel came along an stole our hearts

Matt and I have wanted a puppy since we got married. Our first apartment in Chicago, we could not have pets. so that solved that problem.... 

When we moved to Michigan, we decided we definitely wanted a place that we could have a dog. Then, we moved and decided financially we should wait a bit. 

Then we put it off more when we decided we shouldn't have a puppy during our first Michigan winter... 

we obviously couldn't wait. We have been looking for a puppy for about a month. We started looking at the humane society. They didn't have what we wanted. Matt and I both wanted a small dog. We live in a 2 bedroom upper duplex and we didn't want a big dog here. 

On Wednesday night, we found a puppy listed on ebay classifieds. She won our hearts. I called the lady and she said she still had all 3. We said "we will be there tomorrow". I went to work that night and Matt picked me up after my shift and we went straight to the ladies house, an hour away. She had 2 females. We literally had the hardest time making our decision! They were both so cute! 

She is a jack russell terrier and maltipoo (maltese and poodle) mix. 

 this little white and cream fluff ball won our hearts. 

We drove there saying "we cannot come home with a dog today". We were hoping to have the lady keep her until Saturday (today). That didn't happen. We were too in love. We brought her straight home.

Meet

Mildred "Mille" Agnes Estel

Matt never had a dog growing up. Can i just tell you, he is smitten. 

but how can you not be?!?! look at her... 

Family portrait

We had game night at our place last night and had about 14-15 people over. I was a little worried about how that was going to go over with the new pup. She was such a champ! She loved every minute of it! She, of course, got the most attention ever. 

We are so in love. 

Words To Live By

The past year and a half or so, I will randomly ask Matt the following question:

"What Do I Want to Do With My Life?!" 

My husband has started replying with these 5 words. 

created via picmonkey. 
If you would like to post on your blog, feel free! 

Matt has always been such an inspiration to me. He is always encouraging me to be better, but does it in the most loving way possible (most of the time. hehe!) 

I am so thankful for him and for his wisdom and love for God. 

This guy... love this picture of us in the cutest coffee shop in Trier Germany last year. Love the elderly couple behind us as well... 

In 2013, I have decided to do my best to stop asking that question and to love God, and Love people. 

That's what my job is. To love people. As I head back to work tonight I am going to continue to remember these words. When I am out and waiting in a long line with people that are making me crazy, I will remember these words. 

I hope this is a bit of inspiration for you as well. I felt that in the New Year, we all try to make so many changes. We exercise, diet, try to read our Bibles more, "live healthier", etc. This year, I just want to Love God, and Love People and through this, I feel like the rest comes along... 

Have a blessed day! 

What are your words to live by for 2013?! Link post in my comments if you feel like posting about it! 
I would love some more inspiration! 

Why Today Was a Perfect Day

Today was one of the best days.

 Matt was just mentioning how he didn't know what would make this day more perfect for me. 

We slept in until 10:30. 

Woke up and drank some coffee. 

I called around to some humane societies and rescues about puppies.

We had a lunch date at a new (for us) place called Bangcok Taste in downtown Grand Rapids with our friends Brandon and Gabe.

I had a delicious peanut curry. So yummy! one of my new favorites.

Then Matt and I went to Kohl's and shopped around and then to Hobby Lobby to get some things to start crafting for a craft show in the spring (i decided to make it happen!). 

Then we went to see Les Miserables. It was so good! I never imagined Russell Crowe to be much for musicals. I was wrong. HAHA! 

Then we went to the Electric Cheetah for dinner. 

I never imagined a feast of my dreams... and then tonight, in the midst of this... 

I realized how I would answer that question people ask about your last meal... This would be it. 

It started with a draft root beer (this place has like 40 some different kinds of root beer). 

Then I ordered a Reuben  This Reuben was literally the size of my head! It came with chips. Matt got a burger, with bottomless fries (that we shared), and then finished things off with a chocolate malt to die for. 

Then we came home and I was in my pajamas by 7:00. On the couch, watching TV and curled up with my husband.

The best part of it all was spending it with Matt. (cue the cheesiness!) 

We had such a fun day. This was my last day of my 8 day off stretch. 

It was celebrated greatly. 

Back for work tomorrow night.. but for tonight... CSI: Miami and rubbing my belly after that meal! 

what would you choose for your last meal?!?! hehe! 

The Puppy Conundrum

While Matt and I were dating, we discussed having a dog someday. The entire time we have been married we have been wanting a dog. 

Our first apartment did not allow dogs. So, we had an excuse not to get one. 

Since moving to Grand Rapids 6 months ago, we have wanted a puppy SO BAD! we decided to wait until this spring to get one due to finances and well, we live in Michigan so it's a bit cold and snowy right now. 

Matt and I had originally wanted a West Highland Terrier. Then as we researched that the breed is not the best with small children. 

source 

But look how cute they are!!!! 

So, we decided to get a maltese. 

source

HOW CUTE right?!?! 

We have both been waiting patiently. Well, today I decided to call the human society to ask if they had any puppies. 

The girl on the phone told me that they had a maltese. I didn't ask any details. I just said "okay! THANKS!" I told Matt what the  lady said. 

We contemplated all day. It's not time right now.... but we both want one! HOW CUTE!!!! ugh... but it's going to be like $600. It's snowing.... but we want one!!! 

So, we drove to the humane society. There were no puppies... It was the saddest thing! All I could think of was that freaking Sarah McClaughlin commercial. All those dogs and cats and bunnies that need a new home! UGH! 

SO sad.

We came home empty handed this time, but we started our paperwork for the next time. We will be back West Michigan Humane Society.... we will be back! 

Stay tuned ya'll... Mildred "Millie" Agnes Estel will make her appearance soon. (Yes... we already named her). 

A Fabulous Little Monday

Today was a pretty productive day. 

I slept in (always productive in my book!). 

Woke up and Matt made me a yummy breakfast sandwich and we sat around and watched CSI: Miami (we're addicted. thanks Netflix) and sipped coffee. 

I organized all of my nursing CEU's into a binder (super productive and have been putting this off for 2 years people!) 

We went grocery shopping. 

I made a yummy dinner. Chicken fajitas and chips and salsa. We ate on the floor and had a picnic in the living room. 

I hung up that antique window and hung some rosemary, thyme, and mint to dry from it. need one more... maybe garlic bulbs or basil?!?! 

I made a huge decision today as well. I have been contemplating a  way for me to make a little extra money for my own spending. I thought about getting a job in a local coffee shop or antique store a couple days a week... then my good friend told me there was no way she was going to allow me to do that. I already work enough at my job... she's right. 

So today I decided that in the spring, I am going to do a craft show. My grandmother and my mom used to do craft shows all the time! I grew up going to them. I honestly kind of miss that part of my life. So, today I started researching some ideas and making a product list and trying to figure out prices and production and all that. 

These wreaths were a couple things I am thinking about selling. Do you think they would sell!??

Also, I was excited to hear that my husband is thinking about trying to pick up the guitar and write songs again to try to play some local shows here in Grand Rapids! Looking forward to hearing him play again. Always makes me swooney when he does! hehe! 

I am really excited about it! I honestly can't wait to start making things! 

Stay tuned for more on that... but for now. I need to study a bit of my class for work and then relax in front of the TV for the night (and CRAFT!). 

Happy Monday! 

Life Lately

An update on life lately via my Iphone and Instagram. 

Since putting Christmas decorations away I have been dying to redecorate and find some new antique things for around the house. I hunted down some cute things via pinterest and it just so happened that this weekend was the Grand Rapids Antique Market and Matt, my friend Nicole and I definitely went and checked it out. Most of the stuff was very over priced but I got a lot of ideas for around the house! 

Like these coffee filter flowers I made tonight. 

I am trying to loose weight in 2013, like the rest of the world. We were having some friend over for game night last night and I made a chocolate cake with cream filling layers (3 layers to be exact) and chocolate ganache Icing with a funny little powdered sugar deal on top. Delicious. 

Chocolate ganache in the works.

Game night with a couple fellow nurses from work and their husbands. 

My antique market find. An old antique window that I put fabric behind. Going to hang above our stove and tie dry herbs from it. I have since ironed the fabric as well. 

I have been spending quite a bit of time at my craft nook as well. 

I made this pretty garland out of paint samples from Home Depot. 

A couple Saturdays ago I went ice skating in downtown Grand Rapids with some friends. Good times had by all. None of us fell! 

I'm on a sort of vacation right now. I have an 8 day off stretch. Matt and I have been living it up. He is off from school this month. We're both studying as well. We've been having a great time as well though!

Stay tuned for my new years resolutions post...  

2013

Here we are, a new year. I can not believe it's 2013 already. 

I have been reflecting lately a lot on the past 2 and a 1/2 years of my life. It really has been a crazy couple years. Let me lay it out for you: 

May 2010: Graduated Nursing School 

June 2010: Took my boards. Worked full time. 

July 2010: Got married!! 

August 2010: From Honeymoon in Jamaica, to West Virginia, pack penske truck, move to northern suburbs of Chicago. 

October 2010: Start first nursing job. 

March 2011: Start second nursing job. 

October 2011-January 2012: Pray over where God will place us after Matt graduates in May. Applications for PhD programs go out. 

March 2012: Matt gets accepted to Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids. Wait listed at Baylor. We decide to head to MI to look at the town. 

May 2012: Matt's graduation

June 2012: Move from Chicago to Grand Rapids MI 

July 2012: Start my third nursing job. 

and settle in all over again..... 

It has been an eventful and life changing 2 years. I have learned how to adjust and that life is never what you imagine it will be like. 

So here we are in 2013. We are settled into our little apartment here in Michigan. The stories are quite true. Michigan is COLD and SNOWY! 

I have a lot of goals for this year. I am working on writing them out and putting them together in my mind. 

Obviously, one of them is blog more. So here I am. Back in the blog world. 

We'll see how this goes.... 

HAPPY 2013 EVERYONE!