Wifey Training

Sex, Marriage, and Fairytales

2012-01-27T08:05:00.000-08:00

This video is one of the most powerful things I've seen in a while. No commentary can do it justice. Check it.

To Appease the Summer Travel Bug

2011-07-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

I love infographs posted on a blog I follow, Shrinkage is Good
This is information that I find valuable.

Ben and I are planning on going to Mexico (of course), Greece, and potentially India in the next few years. Two of those three on on this list :)!

DAY TWO: Texas to Memphis in 11.5 hrs (Part 2)

2011-07-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

After the gigantic Cross, we made our way over to the Oklahoma border. My mom's side of the family is from here (Dutch immigrants and Choctaw Indians!) so it was interesting seeing where she came from.

This is the closest thing to a "welcome to Oklahoma" sign I could find.
Apparently Choctaw Indian's aren't too friendly ;-)

As you can tell, there was a lot to look at*....

Oh Yeah, this was the coolest part- a rock climbing gym inside an old grain silo.

Tut tut, it looks like rain!

You know you're in the Bible belt when you can't drive somewhere without a lil bit of conviction...

ALMOST to Little Rock, home of nothing but an Air Force base. FORWARD MARCH!

I would show you more pictures of Arkansas, but as I said, the only thing there was an Air Force base.* So I'll show you what used to be the MISSISSIPPI.

.. ... ..

TA-DA!

Yeah, this is the MISSISSIPPI as you drive into Memphis. The dirt around it used to be covered in water....
At least Tennessee welcomed us *cough, OKLAHOMA sucks, cough*'

We stayed in Memphis for the night and enjoyed the town. It was better than NEW YORK (that's not saying much if you know how much I dislike NYC). I'd say almost as cool as Philly (xo xo).

We stayed at this fabulous hotel that was the epitome of Southern Hospitality, The Madison!

*denotes sarcasm

Taking a LEAP of Faith...

2011-07-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

**This was a blog I had intended to post before we left for Georgia, However, since I am often absent-minded, I forgot to. Now I am posting it and the parentheses are my "in retrospect" comments.

---

...Or a plunge to our death. Only time will tell.

Ben & I have decided to move to Georgia. We've pretty much secured jobs there and you know me, when I do something, its GO BIG OR GO HOME. In other words, "move to the complete opposite side of the country or don't move at all."

Mom calls it impulsive. I call it, impressive.

The friendly folks at AAA helped prepare me for my trip by giving me giant books for each state we'd be driving through. (I must note, I do not know why some states even have books since they are so empty. I didn't even open the book because I already knew the description would read something along the lines of "void of any living organisms and/or lifeforms)

My coworkers were in full support, even to the extent of making care packages :). See the package that Vicki made for Ben and I? A porta potty! (So thoughtful and practical! I'll spare you the gruesome details of how to use this...)

My Faja (pronounced FAH-Jah in a Madeline Kahn voice) picked me up a cake,

and while he was at the market he threw one of these suckers in the basket ;-)

(no, supermarkets do not generally sale Samsung Galaxy Tabs)

They got it for me as an early birfday present. How awesome is that? It has a front facing camera so I can web chat from anywhere! You know you have awesome parents when they buy you a TABLET for your birthday! (my birthday is July 8th, please mark your calendars).

Next, we had Jared over to help me pack. He was so helpful! He decided that we need to use Space Bags for the packing of all my clothes.

Step One:

Put the clothes in the space bag

Step 2:

Seal the Space Bag

Step 3:

Suck all the air out of the Space Bag via vacuum cleaner.

And thus the story of our packing and moving begins...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the sheer irony of things, I feel it necessary to note that the font I am typing in is called GEORGIA.

A Bathroom Update

2011-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

I sent this memo out at the office the other day, and thought my friends and family would enjoy it:

Hello Folks,

It pains me to have to be the bearer of bad news, really, it does. However, as of late, we have been receiving some complaints* of abnormally foul smells permeating out of the restroom facilities. As you could imagine, this causes great discomfort considering the restroom’s proximity to the kitchen.

I was asked to kindly remind you of the clean and care-free facilities located at the end of the “Green Mile.” Now, we* understand that making it to the Green Mile facilities is a stretch at times, and accidents DO happen; in lieu of these findings, we have invested in a remedy. (please see attached “Exhibit A”)

The remedy is called ‘POO POURRI’** and it has a friendly tagline of: “Spritz the Bowl before you GO and NO ONE ELSE will ever know”. The bottles are conveniently located in the restrooms, so if/when and accident does occur, you will be well equiped.

Please follow these instructions and thank you for making this a safer environment for us all.

Exhibit "A"

*This email does not reflect the personal opinions of the OFFICE MANAGER, but rather, THE COMPANY as a whole. Don’t shoot the messenger.

**This product is not meant for topical or internal use.

DAY TWO: Texas to Memphis in 11.5 hrs (Part 1)

2011-06-21T19:56:00.000-07:00

day two...

Alas. We wake up to Texas doing it up BIG. The hotel we stayed at (Super 8, Amarillo) had hot breakfast ready. Hot biscuits and gravy, hot grits and pats of butter, bagels, donuts, and my personal favorite -a Texas shaped waffle maker.

Now, I know you are probably wondering, "why the heck did you stay at a Super 8? Only hookers go there!" Oh, little do you know, unexperienced Traveler, that THIS particular Super 8 used to be a Country Inn and Suites. Therefore, the rooms were huge, they had a kitchen nook, a living room, the works! Not even Hilton could boast that. And the breakfast was mmmm mmmm good.

While heading out of Amarillo, we caught a glimpse of the notorious, Cadillac Ranch. However, we were not inclined to stop due to the over-abundance of Back-packers/potential homeless people that loomed about. (that and we missed the exit and the next exit was not for 15 miles. minor details). I've attached the picture below for those of you that are unfamiliar with the ranch.

As we trekked along the I-40 I read a beaten, broken sign that read "LARGEST CROSS". I, of course, thought it was a joke. But the joke was on me, we is in the South!

We kept trucking along until, in the distance, I saw it. One huge Cross. It looked out of place, in the middle of a field in no-wheres-ville. This caused us to stop off and see it. Turns out, it was worth it.

We got out of the car and saw a ton of statues placed in a circle surrounding the cross. The statues were a representation of Jesus' trip to the Mount of Golgotha. They were detailed and awesomely breathtaking.

to be continued...

DAY ONE: You Know You're From Cali When...

2011-06-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

day one.

We began our trip at the bright hour of 3am. And anyone who is anybody knows, 3am ain't too bright. But, regardless, we made it up right when the alarm went off. That, in and of itself, was a miracle. By the time daylight hit, the pictures began.

We drove through California, then finally hit Arizona. It was a much longer, tedious, empty, hot, lonelier, drive than I first expected. Needless to say, we were unimpressed by Arizona, thus the lack of pictures.

I was thoroughly disappointed that I did not see ONE cactus.

That could only mean one thing, the cacti in the Roadrunner cartoons were fake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM CALI WHEN:

You're driving through Arizona and somehow you can relate the absolute nothingness you see to DISNEYLAND.

Hubby: "This reminds me of the tram ride at Disneyland- you know the part when you go through the desert."

Me: "Uhm, people are going to know we're from California right quick."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SO after an unimpressive Arizona, we headed on towards New Mexico. Which oddly enough looked like an even more empty Arizona, I did not think that was possible.

We saw practically NO buildings in New Mexico until we hit Albuquerque.

When we arrived in Albuquerque, we were convinced that the buildings were disguised rock formations, since everything was so.. earth-tone-y.

I kid you not, I told Ben:

"New Mexico reminds me of the SKIN TONE CRAYONS that you had to buy in 1st grade to draw Colored people. "

To this Ben responded with a blank stare.

So much for being politically correct.

And off we go!

After an unimpressive New Mexico (that vaguely resembled the whereabouts from the horror films, "The Hills Have Eyes" and "The Hills Have Eyes 2") We went on to TEXAS!

Not without neglecting our High-Protein Snacks...

HISTORY LESSON:

Highway 40, which we took all the way to Memphis, parallels the Historic Route 66. Point In Case.

And we FINALLY MADE IT!

See below for a picture of the WORLD'S LARGEST USB DRIVE (as determined by Ben and Myself)

Some parts of Texas were about as Empty as Chernobyl.

JUST SPOTTED:

A giant SQUIDWARD making its way through Texas!!!

We arrived in Amarillo, Texas at about 7am. Just in time for some Texan BBQ at the Texas Roadhouse. We were famished, and total gluttons.

After that we retired to our living quarters, exhausted and eagerly awaiting our TEXAS shaped waffles the next day.

Bedeep Bedepp Bedeep That's All Folks!

Long time no see!

2011-03-15T20:52:00.001-07:00

That it has been. Marriage life is awesome! Also exceedingly busy. Merging two crazy lifestyles into one home(condo) has been intense. Hence my apology to my friends I miss you all a lot!

For those of you who want me to reinstate my Facebook (ahem Linda), since its easiest to keep in touch, I can't do that.. I'm a facebook Hay-tah! That's right. So here's the lowdown:

Most of you know ben and I were asked to start up a ministry at our church. Kick butt! But we'll still reamin fairly inaccessible. Pretty much every evening we have something going on so ill revert back to blogging to keep in touch. I've loved living vicarious through you guys through your kick butt blogs!

Thanks a bunch for those who are praying for the ministry! Ill post updates to that soon.

#41: A Woman's Place...

2010-10-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

...IS In the Kitchen

I get a lot of rift for putting emphasis on a woman cooking. So let me explain a bit why I PERSONALLY see a great value in cooking. So passion will bleed from this...

I know many of today's women see the kitchen in a negative light, they view it as a crutch, a cave, or a cage.
In a way, I pity those women who see cooking as a frivolous and somewhat barbaric. They see it as a place that 'caged' in women who have "spirit" and "drive." Let me tell you, they could not be farther from the truth.

You see, a woman who can cook, holds something far more powerful than one with a law degree, or who wakes up to put on a tight fitted pencil skirt with stilettos that leave an echo of, "business woman," to all who are close enough to hear it. A woman who can cook a meal holds more power that a U.S. Senator ( I know, that's not saying much...)
... Why do I say that?

Well, anyone who knows me, knows that I believe food has supernatural powers.

Oh yes, I went there.

[SUPERNATURAL FOOD]

Before you write me off as a lunatic for my previous statement, reminisce with me for a bit. How many times have you had great laughs over a meal with friends? Or even a snack? How many times have you not been able to focus because you hadn't eaten yet that day? How many times did your grumpy side come out because you didn't eat? How many times have you went to a restaurant and enjoyed something tantalizing, something that you and your company spoke of for years to come?

Food has the ability to do many things...
The Physical: Nourish, revitalize, strengthen, sicken, weaken...
The Emotional: Comfort, tempt, remind, bring happiness, bring relaxation..
Any time I really connected with someone or strengthened a friendship it was over food. It is usually over food that we meet someone on a date. It is a familiar need. People need food to survive and function, bellies have to be filled before they can defeat anything...

It is a neutral ground, but a powerful one at that.

[/END SUPERNATURAL FOOD]

So if food has the ability to bring people together, to create or break bonds, to bring back memories, it is pretty special. Therefore.. to prepare food, generally someone has to be in a kitchen somewhere to create anything that may/may not be edible. Thus,

[SUPERNATURAL COOKING]
There is something special in being able to prepare a meal that facilitates such interactions between people.
As a wife who has been deemed my husbands "helper" there is something supernatural in providing him with a good meal as he serves the Lord, and serves me.

Cooking is:

A form of service, a form of discipline, an act of patience (esp when waiting for things to rise), and dare I say the word that makes the modern woman quiver--

an act of submission.

The idea that I have the power of promoting unity, laughter, and bonding amidst loved ones and strangers alike by simply preparing something- is magical. The idea that I can serve my husband as he is my protector, provider, pursuer, and priest - is honorable. The fact that, by cooking, I am able to exemplify what a Proverbs 31 woman is called to be-- is Biblical.

[/END SUPERNATURAL COOKING]

I don't see the kitchen as a cage, I see it as a place to strengthen people before the battles they fight everyday. I see it as a place the feeds the flames of dreamers. I see it as a way of service. Its a place of solitude and honestly, my prayer life got way better when I decided to cook for my husband, because I want to feed the man who supports me and fights for me the best that I can. Some women think it makes them the lessor being. Apparently they are unaware of the power of food, and the power of hunger.

It isn't everyones "strength" but to say you can't do something makes you a failure before even trying. So don't knock it and put it down because you don't know how or think you're unable. Many women work respectable jobs and still feed their husbands.

Don't call it a cage when its really a fear.

---

Proverbs 31:15

She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.

39: The Aftermath

2010-10-01T15:06:00.000-07:00

23 days later, and in all honesty, it seems like nothing happened.

Well something had to have happened for me to now be living in a different house, waking up to my husband every morning, I guess a better way to describe my feelings towards my wedding day is "distant memories."
I hear this is a common sentiment amongst newlyweds. So happy I could fit in...

All in all, the day went by fast, the ceremony and decor far surpassed anything that my menial imagination could dish up. It was awesome to see how supportive most people were. Well, some people shocked us, in both good and bad ways. I think you really know the value of a person's friendship based on whether or not they even show up to your wedding (haha).

The most amazing thing though was the realization that from here on out, it really is a triune union. Its now just me, Benji, and the Good Lord Himself.

#38 Final Countdown

2010-08-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

16 Days!

till I'm a married woman!

#37: Potential

2010-08-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

Fact

Treat a man as he appears to be, and you make him worse. But treat a man as if he were what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

#36: California is TOO LONG

2010-07-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

California is too long of a state. Not the name, although it is somewhat lengthy, but geographically, positionally, situationally, what ever other "-ally" you can think of, California has it ALL wrong.
I have friends in other states that mention, "I drove 3 hour from Philly to have a nice dinner in New York".. OKAY, Where I live in California, If I drive 3 hours in ever direction (minus SOUTH) I'll still be in CALIFORNIA. WHY? because the state is too narrow.
I'm an advocate for Nor Cal splitting off and becoming a different state for the sole purpose of being able to go for a different state on my weekends.

#35 Macaroon!

2010-06-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

They look awesome, don't they? For those of you that don't know (and have obviously been deprived of all things wonderful...) these are coconut macaroons. ... homemade.

I ~~stole~~ borrowed the recipe from THIS site. I did, however, change a few things around.

Here is my altered recipe:

What you'll be needing:

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
5 1/2 cups flaked coconut (I used half unsweetened, half sweetened, this was pretty much the perfect ratio "this was pretty much ALL WE HAD" -Ben minor details...)
1/8 teaspoon salt (<notice the difference? the salt does not incorporate well in the primary dry mixture, so I said, to heck with it, it needs less..)
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

What you'll be doing:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). I had Ben line the cookie sheets with wax paper after spraying the sheet with PAM, this creates an adhesive-type of effect.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, coconut and salt (not too much salt!). Stir in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla using your hands until well blended. I sprayed my ice cream scooper with PAM so the coconut batter wouldn't stick profusely. This worked rather well. After dropping the batter I kinda played with each one till it achieved the "macaroon" shape if yadamean.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until coconut is toasted. I left them in for about 14 minutes at 350 degrees. Just enough time to get that awesome "oh this is going to be good" browning on them.

What you'll be eating:

SO yeah, all in all they were better than store bought, which is saying something because even the store bought ones are glorious. They took about 20 minutes (30 if you count the time that it took Ben to run to the store for me & buy condensed milk...)

Ben says they go well with a glass of PORT.

#34 Geo WHAT?

2010-06-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

Ben and I decided we want to start Geo-caching together. We are actually going this weekend and I'm thrilled!
What is Geo-Caching you ask?

According to valuable sources (Wikipedia), Geo-caching is described as:

Geo caching is an outdoor activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System(GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container (usually atupperware container or ammo box) containing a logbook. Larger containers can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value. Geocaching is most often described as a "game of high-tech hide and seek," sharing many aspects with benchmarking, trigpointing,orienteering, treasure-hunting, Letterboxing, and waymarking.

In other words, treasure hunting, yay!

Ben will prob download the app from the geocaching website on his iPhone. Nifty, huh?

When we find a cache we are going to put in some "swag" so we'll pillage my place and find some stuff to contribute. We both like nature and what not so this will be a totally free date night/hobby/adventure extraordinaire (consider we will not be renewing the Disney passes this year GASP)

I'll give you an update as to how it goes and if Ben and I choose to continue being pseudo-treasure hunters.

What else is on the menu this weekend?
Uhm, CENTERPIECES woohoo! I'm going to get those DONE.
I'll def take pics.

Updates coming soon =]

#33 Courtship

2010-06-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

Okay,

Am I the only one that finds this funny?

This is a widget I came across while updating the blog..

All New Courtship Gadget

Also known as the YES Gadget. Make the woman of your dreams fall for you, let her say the word you've long been waiting for...... YES. - Shows random tips on how to win a girl.
By Jughead

#32 Reading Reading Reading

2010-06-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

I started this "Bible in 90 Days" reading plan. I think the last time I read the WHOLE Bible was my freshman year of high school. Ironically, that was before I even knew what a "walk with God" was.

Its tedious but wow, super exciting. I mean the Bible is such a thrilling book.
Its completely interesting to me how the people of the Old Testament "tithed" per say. Their sacrifices.
My parents definitely instilled in me the importance of tithing since I was a young lass.

SO with that being said, while reading through Genesis, I'm starting to see how none of the people seemed to show an attitude of entitlement when they were giving to the Lord. Abraham

Genesis 12: 7

Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said,

"I will give this land to your descendants."

And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord ,

who had appeared to him.

Abram, or Abraham, rather, built an altar to the Lord in reverence. He built the altar out of gratitude for what the Lord did, what the Lord is doing, and what the Lord is going to do. Abram knew that his offering was a time of intimacy with the Lord. He offered his time and effort to the Lord in an act of sacrificial obedience. He built an altar pleading to the Lord to GO before him.

In the old testament, there were men who gave out of gratitude and out of their LOVE. (Abel) Then, there were men who gave out of selfish ambitions (Cain). A lot of the church body now gives grudgingly. God has nothing to do with them earning the money, why give some to Him? Is He poor? Does HE NEED their money? There is an attitude of entitlement that transcends the church nowadays. I speak from first hand experience. We all suffer from it.

I think one thing that the Lord taught me, and I learned the hard way, was that He doesn't need me. He asked for something far more when I dedicated my life to Him. The tithe He asks for isn't a chore. He sure as hell doesn't need MY money. He does, however, want my devotion, my love, my gratitude, and my Faith in Him. What better way to do that then to trust Him with the fruit of my labor, with the full knowledge that He will bless in return for obedience. He doesn't ask for my 10% because He has an electric bill to pay next month, but the state of a man's heart really shines through his checkbook.

Its so easy to get caught up in the MINE and forget WHO gave it to us to begin with.

Mark 12:43-44

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said,

"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything

—all she had to live on."

#31 Blogging Fail

2010-06-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Its true, you never really know how much of a failure you are till you start blogging.
Needless to say, I'm an epic failure and a commitment phoebe. The silver lining is this: so is everyone else.

In my defense, I've been busy getting a website up and running for me and Benji's upcoming wedding. Now that the site is done, I am running out of excuses. I guess I can re-use the: I need to wash my hair one a few more times.
*On a completely random side-note (If Microsoft was manifested as a human being I'd be sued for libel right about now) Internet explorer sucks. Not only is it the most prone browser for malicious content, BUT it just does not have the capacity of brilliance that Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome have. Just say'n.

Anyways, A round of applause for my first blog in JUNE! Yes, its June, the month that you actually have to start shaving your legs to wear all the cutesy summer clothes.Well, I suppose you don't have to..

So unless you choose to go Au Naturale, Here's a few tips I came up with for the summer of shavin' lovin'...

SAVING MONEY ON RAZORS

MEN: For the guys who are NOT beard enthusiasts... (check out the beard blog if you are ) Invest in a safety razor. In all reality it makes you appear more manly anyways. My fiancé uses his and it saves us ALOT of money considering the cartridges for them are $15 for 100. The actual razor will range in price but you can find one on the internet for roughty $25. The average male spends $130/year on disposable razors or newer ones with temporary cartridges. You can be saving about $100 a year by doing things the old fashioned way!
Women: Honestly, Waxing is far cheaper as it lasts longer. I recently invested in my own wax pot and I love it! This is the kit I bought, and each pot of wax will last me about 6+ months if I just it on just my legs. You can do your own eyebrows with it, however, I just stick to threading mine :)

TANNING AND SHAVING: Ladies (and men, I suppose) if you decide to tan and but recently shaved, be careful what oils you use (especially if you are acne prone). I recommend a coconut oil like Willies. I've been using it for years and it gives you a phenomenal, even tan, PLUS coconut oil is an anti bacterial so it will prevent inflammation generally caused by oils entering your pores.
Waxing: make sure the wax isn't too hott. I will heat my pot on high for 20 minutes, stir it to make sure it melted, and then I will lower the heat to Medium. This has worked pretty well for me. Make sure the skin is clean too! Wax when your hair is about 1/4-1/2 and inch long. If its too long or the wax is too hott you'll break out. I'd clean the waxed area after with Tea Tree oil. I swear by this stuff.
ACNE PREVENTION: Not changing your razor blades enough is one of the leading causes of acne. This goes for men and women.

Tips for Men:

Dry The razor: this lessens the oxidation of the metal and thus helps the blade last longer (it won't get as jagged or dull)
Clean your razor: Hard water takes a toll on metal. Coat your razor with vinegar, tea tree oil, or rubbing alcohol. This helps sanitize the razor too, thus promoting cleaner skin and less acne.

Tips for Women:

STAY AWAY from highly scented creams and lotions. The more crap you put on your skin, the more crap that your body pushes out, causing acne.
Use a natural astringent: I dilute tea tree oil (about 5 drops) in 1 cup of water and use it with cotton pads/ and old t-shirt that's been washed well on my acne prone areas. Needless to say, this stuff works well. Its almost as if God knew what he was doing when He created all these plants ;)

So there are some tips.

PS, is anyone nursing? OR do you know anyone who is? I have a few samples of infamil and stuff that I want to get rid of. I'm not popping one out anytime soon ;)

#30 Basically Done

2010-05-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

Welp,

Thank goodness the wedding planning is nearly done. I relinquished all my rights of decision making last week after it became evident you'll never please everyone. My parents are taking care of the final touches. After all, the whole wedding is about/for them anyways.

Which is great, takes most pressures off of me and if anything, my wedding will be a huge surprise to even myself :)

---------------------

On to more important things... like DINNER. I'll be posting some pics of the scrumptious concoction that gets whipped up tonight ;)

#29 MAN DOWN!

2010-05-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Wow, writing has been scarce.

The Bad News: Things are hectic. As I trudge through the unknown while planning the "best day of my life," I'm also buying the "dream home" or working long hours with short lunches to pay the bills.
There is also the in betweens: the pseudo social life, and the families who feel they should take precedence in the lives of the young couple who really just want to be together.

The Good News: The good news is that:
-the wedding will be stunning and it will be worth it in the end. My parents have been phenomenal through it all and are so accommodating and benevolent. I'm so blessed to have the wisest man ever as my dad. My mom is also financial guru. I mean, this woman is frugal, smart, and she knows how to get the best deal and keep everything afloat. I love the fact that amidst all the stress my parents really shine, you know?

-the dream home will be an absolute blessing. I've wanted to buy a place for about 3 years now and its finally starting to fall into place. Thoughts of decor and colors are floating around in my head constantly. I'm thrilled to have a place to call my own. After all, I'd rather pay my mortgage than someone else's.

-my job is great. I'm ever-so blessed to have a job and more hours when I need it? AWESOME. My manager and co-workers are the coolest ever and the owner is probably the most professional, wise, business man I've ever had the honor of working for. ^_^

-pseudo-social life. I get to see Megan at least once a week to read the Bible, talk, and plan. Kristin is no longer in school so she'll be able to shop with me on weekends for the bridesmaid stuff. Super rad.

-family entitlement.. I adore my family. My dad is the best man ever. He's my hero! My mom is super smart and taught me a lot of what I know, she was my teacher! My older brother is just plain rad. He's the brains in the family and its humbling talking to him. My little bro is crazy. He keeps the family on their toes. My sister is fun and makes everything lighthearted.
Despite all the awesomeness that exudes from families, sometimes it just gets to be TOO much so I value the fact that I'm learning to say "no." However, this leave and cleave business sounds phenomenal right about now.

Amidst all the frustrations, the failures, the pseudo joy, I can tell you Jesus is wonderful. Sooo very faithful. Man, yeah, He's awesome.

#28 What is LOVE? Part 1

2010-05-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

I've been looking at social topics from the eyes of a child lately. If anything aside from humor it has caused heartbreak.

Kids, aged 5 to 10, were asked questions about what they thought of love and marriage. Here's what they said:

"I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." -- Manuel, age 8

"One of the people has freckles, and so he finds somebody else who has freckles too." -- Andrew, age 6

"One of you should know how to write a check. Because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills." --Ava, age 8

"Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife." -- Tom, age 5

"Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me." -- Dave, age 8

"When somebody's been dating for a while, the boy might propose to the girl. He says to her, 'I'll take you for a whole life, or at least until we have kids and get divorced.'" -- Anita, 9

Funny to see the perspective of love from the eyes of innocence. We're raising a society of skeptics and cynics who forgot what it was like to live and dream to be better than the standards our parents set before us.

Instead of becoming a society that stretches for the greatness that our parents failed to achieve we've merged into a culture that settles for the less-than-called lifestyle.

So, what IS love?

#27 Drama

2010-05-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

"This is life. If you can't find drama here, then where is it supposed to be found?" --@johnyacoub

#26: PS It IS Earth Day!

2010-04-22T11:49:00.000-07:00

So enjoy this free online .pdf of great recycling ideas and some super fun crafts... <3
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Free Online Book yay !

#26: Its about time!

2010-04-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

POP QUIZ:

Priscilla needs:

A) a cup of hot tea

B) and umbrella

C) a vacation

D) all of the above

If you answered: D) all of the above, you would be CORRECT.

- It is chilly today (for being California) and tea would be wonderful.

- An umbrella would be nice considering it is raining

-a VACATION would be wondrous.

So, tomorrow I leave for a little bit. I'm going to explore a bit more of this country we live in and go where they "go big or home".. that's right, your girl is going to Texas.

WHY Texas you ask? Well first off, the trip only cost me $250 for a round trip ticket, hotel stay, and rental car. Can you say SCORE?

The sad part is that Benji won't be enjoying this time with me. But I am making a list of things I want to do when I bring him with me :)

Have you ever been to Texas? Any fun things you've done there?

Things I Plan on Doing:

Arts District

Bishop Arts -- there are so many fun little stores in this arts district. There's a store called the soda gallery *see below* that only sells soda, and like, every one thats ever been made! How cool is that? I don't even drink soda and I'm excited to go here!

The Soda Gallery

Crooked Tree Coffee House- I've read the reviews about this place. It is situated with a pretty, crooked tree. Sounds cute, picturesque!

CHEESE !!! -- Okay, a store that only sells cheese? PERFECT! I'm planning on bringing some delish cheeses

DUDE sweet Chocolate! -- a store of creative chocolate. I don't eat chocolate but I may bring some back for friends

Texadelphia Cheesesteaks -- philly cheesesteaks in TX? I'm there!

The Rise No. 1 -- souffles. nuff said.

iPod play list:

Match Made In Heaven- Jon Courson <<<

Perelandra, by CSLewis (audiobook) << FAVE BOOK BY MISTER CSL :)

Any other iPod fillers you can advise me to d/l before takeoff?

Things to do with Benji:

Angelika Film and Cafe

I'm thrilled. I'll post pictures when I have a chance!

#25: Stealth

2010-04-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

My ~~sincerest~~ apologies. I've been ever-so busy.

As a real estate consultant, I don't think I've ever truly understood the stresses of buying a home until now, when I'm in the process of buying one. In this market, a house will go up for sale (in California) on the 15th, and be in escrow by the 17th. Meaning, you don't have time to consider whether you really like that forest green Berber carpeting. You just have to go for it.

SO we scrambled, panicked, ran out of ink in our signature pens, and spent hours on end looking for properties. Finally, we've submitted an offer.

We went for it, and now we wait for an answer. I feel like my years of elementary homeschooling have prepared me for such a time as this. You see, the homeschooling motto is: hurry up, and wait.

Pray for us to live where we need to :)

#24: Yummy in da Tummy

2010-04-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Benji

You'll Be Needing:

1 lb of fettuccine pasta
1 cup butter
3/4 pint heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste
1 dash garlic salt
3/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (OR just 2 cups of Parmesan)

You'll be doing:

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add fettuccini and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
In a large saucepan, melt butter into cream over low heat. Add salt, pepper and garlic salt. Stir in cheese over medium heat until melted; this will thicken the sauce.
Add pasta to sauce. Use enough of the pasta so that all of the sauce is used and the pasta is thoroughly coated.

You'll love:

The super great thing about this mean is this that its super cheap (considering the quantity made could be lunch for you and your guy for a few days). I'd say it could serve 6 people comfortably.

I usually add a few cloves of garlic and some parsley in the mix. Its really up to you.

-Prisc

#23: Big Drip

2010-04-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

I know, it has been quite some time since I've made a sincere effort to write.
Amidst pre-marital counseling, finalizing a reception menu, buying a home, and enjoying my finance's company, I've been ever-so busy. That's no excuse, of course... unless it worked.

Big Drip. What's that about? Well, I came across the title in reference to a wife this weekend. "She's just a big drip"
What does that even MEAN?

Upon reading some Jesus Book I came across a chunk of verse in Proverbs 27 that threw me for a loop. It took me a few moments to figure it out.

Proverbs 27:15-16

A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious wife are alike;

Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.

I hope this some-what confuses you as well.. so I don't feel as stupid as I did upon reading it.

----------------------------------------------------

Benji and I did quite a bit of driving on Sunday. He drove to my place. 40 miles.

We drove to church, 8 miles.

We drove to the restaurant for taste-testing. 45 miles.

We drove back to my house. 40 miles.

The whole trip we heard (this is the best I can do, since I'm typing out this crap) *rattle rattle* * jingle* *bang* *plot* *rattle rattle*

Ben had left his tools in the back of his car. During the whole drive we were held victim to this orchestra of sheer annoyance. Brutal.

At one point between our journey, Ben opened the trunk and moved things around in order to alleviate the noise. He even stuffed a duster in there to smother the noise. Nothing helped.

Rattle. Prattle. Annoy. Annoy. Annoy.

---------------------------------------------------

THAT is the kind of woman that these verses are talking about. A contentious woman. One who loves to argue. One who always nags. A nit-picker. A big drip.

What is interesting about these verses is how it talks about someone else trying to fix a big drip of a problem. The man in the verses is attempting to cover up the shame his wife brings him by being a obnoxious, contentious hag. It is as if one attempted hide the noise the wind makes, or hide the smell of fragrant perfume on your hands, you can try to hide it all you want, but in the end it gives itself away.

I can only pray that my (soon to be) husband never has a need to refer to me as a, "big drip "

-Prisc

#22 House Hunting

2010-04-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

...isn't at all what it seems.
Its a completely different experience when the shoe is on the other foot and I am now the buyer, not the agent.

There are so many options! Two story or one story. Gated community or un-gated. Condo or Single Family Residence. Two bedroom or three bedroom. Attached garage or detached garage. Which freeway do we want to be closest to?

I feel like a kid in a candy store with so many options. =]

Granite Countertops?? SURE, they'll go great with yummy dinners!

Wood Flooring? Of course, they clean up nicely!

Carpeting? MayBe!

Then there's a million questions as to. How will we furnish it? What colors will we paint the interior? What color appliances?
I suppose that will come when Benji and I find a home we completely, totally, utterly, love. But its nice indulging in ideas :)

I'm excited that the state of California is now giving the $10,000 to First Time Buyers. Finally there are incentives for young people like us ;)

Dream home description? I know we all have one.

#21 Needed To Breathe

2010-04-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

HAPPY EASTER!

Yes, I know, I know. I'm a day late on my blogging. Oh well.
To make up for it, Here is a picture of my ring for you to stare at all day. I do, after all. ;)

Ain't she a beaut? Ben is a man of good tastes.

We spent the weekend enjoying each other's company. It was SO refreshing :)
Friday: We went to South Coast Plaza!!! Its a huge mall. We went to Tiffany's to find Benjamin's wedding band. We may be in luck, who knows!
Saturday: We, well, Ben worked on a website for a client. He's super talented. I fell asleep for an hour and woke up to a masterpiece. I scored big time with this guy ;) Saturday night was Amanda's super cute "Vegas" themed 21st birthday.
Sunday: EASTER. We cooked filet mignon, grilled peppers, baked asparagus, and a whole bunch of other treats. Then we listed to audio books and put together a puzzle together. Ben and I rarely get time to spend together nowadays, like quality time that is, so this weekend equates to:
Best Easter EVER!!!

If I can recommend anything to a young couple: it'd be never to get engaged. I recommend just date- then elope.

This bypasses the whole, "Oh when are we going to meet your fiancé(e)?" business that everyone feels an entitlement to. An engagement stage is pretty pointless. It just leaves you anxious to be married to that special person. Not to mention, it robs you of all the time you should be spending with your soon-to-be-spouse before you both have to put noses to the grindstone.

On a completely different note, here is a picture of Ben and I on Saturday night. We enjoyed hanging out with friends on Amanda's 21st Birthday.
HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY AMANDA!
Amanda made this ridiculously scrumptious "Mojito Punch" that is a must-try, we're drinking it in the pic. I'll have to swoop on the recipe

;-)

Anyways, hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.
Much Love!

-Prisc

#20: ROTH IRA, what the hell is it?

2010-04-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

I have heard of ROTH IRAs quite a few times. Actually, my soon-to-be sister-in-law mentioned that it was the way to go to, and that quite a few people who have invested in ROTH IRA's are now living quite a lucrative life because money held in ROTH IRA's are tax free :)

It sounded too good to be true. I make interest on my money without the gov't taking any? I'M ALL FOR IT! Aside from that question, my first one was "Who the hell is ROTH and what the hell is an IRA?"
After researching ROTH IRA's, and consulting an "Important Advisor" ;) I've decided I'm going to open one.

Who the hell was ROTH?
The ROTH preceding the IRA Sen. William V. Roth who represented Delaware and advocated the bill in the 1980's.. probably the same year I was born because obviously, good things came in that year ;)

What is an IRA?
Individual Retirement Account. Pretty easy to guess what its used for.

Do You Know How Many Times You've Used The Word "hell"?
3, its a real place, or a place holder, both are interchangeable you know...

Example of ROTH IRA EARNINGS:
Before the yearly deposit minimum increased to $5,000, a deposit of $4,000 could be made yearly for 20 years. The total deposited in the account (which is found by using basic multiplication of $4,000x20= $-- ---) would be $80,000. With a yield of (since it is a high yielding acct) $200,000.
Meaning you just made $120,000 of non-taxable monies over a course of 20 years.

What's the catch?
-Well, before you are able to pull any amount of money out of the ROTH IRA without being taxed on it, you must hold it for 5 years.
-You pay income tax on the money you earn to put in the R.IRA (dah), but, you won't pay taxes on the money yielded (which could be 100,000 bucks, meaning taxes would be roughly 30k, but you can get out of it wooohooo)
-You can only deposit money if you have a job. For instance, a college student who is not working can not open a R.IRA and deposit residual money from student loans.
-You can't open an R.IRA if you make too much money. There's a cap on income, meaning rich people can't be greedy.
-If you have a 401k plan, however, where the company matches your deposits, it may be best to keep it. You can do a few easy calculations to see which is most beneficial for you. Personally, the idea of not paying taxes just brings me great delight.

Here's how a traditional IRA matches up to a ROTH one:
Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA from ZECCO

TRADITIONAL IRA	ROTH IRA
Contributions may be tax deductible	Contributions are not tax deductible
Any and all contributions and earnings compound are tax-deferred until they are withdrawn at age 59 1/2 or later	Withdrawals of contributions at any age, or earnings after age 59 1/2 and after account has been open for 5 years are penalty and tax-free
Qualified distributions are considered ordinary income and are taxed at your current tax rate	Federal tax-free growth
Required minimum distributions begin before April 1 of the year after you turn 70 1/2	There are no Required Minimum Distributions
Provides flexibility in using assets immediately for qualified home purchase, college costs or any major medical expense	After five years you may withdraw earnings for qualified expenses such as the purchase of a first home, unreimbursed major medical expenses, or college – all free of penalty
No limits on income	Income limits apply (see below)

Majority of the ROTH IRA pics on Google include eggs, who knows what the reason is behind that one

I'm thinking if for 5 years, hypothetically, a married couple could open one immediately after their "I DOs" and five years later, withdrawal enough money for a hearty down payment on a home of their own.

A FEW GOOD ROTH IRA ARTICLES:
Money Central, Hey Hey HEY!
ROTH IRA lovers UNITE
IRS, Meet ROTH IRA, Your Worst ENEMY... =]

#19: Blood Red Never Looked So Good

2010-03-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

Red Velvet Cupcakes. I can't express in coherent words how much I love red velvet cakes. The closest I get is yummmmm nom nom nom nom. I'm the cookie monster of red velvet. Self-proclaimed, of course. However, ever since I started vegan-izing my cakes, they have been a trial.
If it wasn't for Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, I would be a lost soul amidst many-a failed cupcakes..

To make these savory bundles of red:

1 c soy milk

1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 c flour
1 c sugar
2 Tbls cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c canola oil
2 Tbls red food coloring (liquid)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 tsp chocolate extract
Preheat oven to 350F and line a cupcake tin. (I used mini-cupcake tins =])

In a fairly large bowl, combine the soy milk and vinegar and set aside to curdle (this is a very important step. The baking soda reacts w. the vinegar to curdle the soymilk -- similar to buttermilk in taste )

In another bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

Add the oil, food coloring and extracts to the curdled soy milk and whisk well to combine.

Sift the dry ingredients into the wet and fold to combine, mixing just until large lumps disappear.

Pour into liners (they should be 2/3 of the way filled with batter) and bake 18-20 minutes.

If using mini-cupcake tins, I baked them for 10-12 minutes.

Allow cupcakes to cool absolutely, no questions asked, COMPLETELY, before icing.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1/4 c margarine, softened
1/4 c vegan cream cheese, softened
2 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Cream together the margarine and cream cheese just until combined. Sift in the powdered sugar in half-cup batches, whipping thoroughly combined after each addition. Add the vanilla and whip until light and fluffy.

TA-DAAA!

#18: Baby Shopping

2010-03-30T15:52:00.001-07:00

Okay, I suppose this is jumping the gun. But whatever.
Today I was reflecting on one thing my dad always tells me. "People live thus: birth, marriage, birth, and death"... In this culture most people skip marriage and go straight for the 2nd birth but, whatever, that's not the route I'm taking so:

I was looking at which step I'm on.
Birth- got that covered. Well, my parents handled this one..
Marriage- woohoo! This step has been spoken for. I'll be married in September..
Birth- ohhh yeahh.
Considering I'm no anomaly, I'm sure every woman thinks about having kids around the time they're getting married.

So here are the things I've decided:
1) Our children will be hott so expect to see gorgeous being in about 3 years time.
2) Ben and I will be rad parents, the tattoos alone reinforce this.
3) We want to adopt. With that being said, I wish there was a baby shopping store...

Yup.

#17: The Great Move

2010-03-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Its been a hectic weekend.
MOVE #1: Moving is pretty much complete. Yesterday I wasn't really able to help, I spent time with my family (who I haven't had time to hang out with in a while). Ben was left to finish the move with the help of his family.. thankfully, he's done for the most part.

MOVE #2: I want to move to Ashland, Oregon. Or Jacksonville, which ever is easier. Not only is Oregon one of the two states that don't have sales tax, but the cost of living there is considerably cheaper there. I could get a job for $15/hr, and have a mortgage on a 3bd 2bth home thats only $800 a month.

Still not convinced that Oregon is a dope place to live? Then check this out...

A Picture is worth a thousand words

Regardless of what I want, we're pretty open to going where God wants us to go, however, Oregon would be nice since we can go here.

Lastly, those freebie offers I had mentioned in #14: Free-Fifty-Free came in the mail today.

I'm excited to eat my Dark Choco Coconut bar for lunch today. Its healthy and low-cal so I'll still be on track to wearing my dress=]

Any other places you'd recommend living in, and why is it worth moving there?

#16: Recipes & Packing Woes

2010-03-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

SCENARIO:

One of my super-cool friends asks me to participate in some GRAND event this weekend.

TAKE 1

ANYONE: "Hey Priscilla, want to do something fun tonight? Go to Disneyland, go shopping, dig up graves and look for pricey family heirlooms, perhaps?"

PRISCILLA: "No, I have to pack"

ANYONE: "GASP, the horror!!!"

The only reason these people are happy is because they aren't packing up their home, but rather, their children.

O_o must be a new cult practice..

I was a brat growing up. Some may argue, I still am. So this won't surprise you:
I don't want to pack tonight. Packing is one of my least favorite things. It is up there with the black plague and nails screeching on a chalkboard. Yes, it is that bad.
The only thing that is somewhat interesting is getting distracted by my hott fiancé, Ben. (I will, from now on, refer to him as my HFB- or hott fiancé BEN) As we pack all his little trinkets or oddly named books, he has a story about each one of them. I guess I'm lucky to be getting married a man who is a generation older than me, old people always have such wonderful stories...

One thing that is keeping me looking forward to the night, aside from my HFB, is cooking. I have no idea what to make for dinner, though. Any suggestions? The sky is the limit, but my pocket book is limited, so lets keep it thrifty ;)

OH, good news too, my best friend Kristin said "Yes" to being my MOH (or maid-of-honor, or matron but that sounds like an old loveless hag)
I'm excited that everything worked out well and she'll be able to be there with me through it all. She's the reasonable one out of the two of us.
< Not to mention shes super hott. No homo.

Back to work, I have a weekend jammed full of packing, but there is a glimmer of hope in the distance for me.. I get to hang out with my soon to be Mother-in-law. I don't want to abbreviate that because MIL almost sounds like the beginning to a derogatory term...
Anyways, I'm excited to get to hang out with Family #2, should be fun :)

Any dinner recommendations, or packing tips, would gain you a *hug* and *high5* from me :)
Hope everyone's Friday is super duper spectacular!

#15 Questions Should Not Ask On A Night You Should Not Regret

2010-03-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Last night we (myself, Benji, and my mom) finalized the guest list. What hell it was!
I can honestly say the guest list was the most stressful part of the whole ordeal.

I don't really know if there is an etiquette for weddings, but I am almost positive it is rude to invite yourself. Ben and I were getting texts from people we haven't talked to in YEARS asking us if they were invited to the wedding. In all honesty, I don't even like weddings, nor would I invite myself to one... that may be just me, though.

Regardless: My mom did such a wonderful job of handling the situation. She gave me a lot of tips to cut our guest list down. We also decided on necessities and luxuries to save money. Here is what we came up with:

DISTANT RELATIVES AND BROTHERS-ROOMMATES-COUSINS-UNCLE
And I know you how?
Egyptians have this way of inviting people on your behalf. With every one couple invited, you can expect them to bring 6 more people. You think this is an exaggeration? Well, yes, it is, but I'm just trying to get a point across. The reality is, a wedding is a joyous occasion for you to share in with those who you are closest with. It should never become something that you stress over on account of a guest list. Also, its not about offending anyone. I've never seen the logic behind being offended that I'm saving you money (wedding gifts get costly!). So, we've cut out all the people that we barely know-- and have created a more intimate setting of ONLY close friends and family.
Each guest is approx $50/person...
SAVINGS FROM NOT INVITING COMPLETE STRANGERS: INCOMPREHENSIBLE

SAVE THE DATES:
Did the Amazon really just lost 10% density?
Save the dates could very well be the primary culprit to the depletion of rain forests globally. Wedding invitations use up a lot of money, and paper as is.. yet someone came up with the idea to send a pre-invitation, invitation. That's almost as bad as the Egyptian tradition of a pre-engagement, engagement (yeah, I still can't wrap my brain around that one). People who you are close with generally know when your wedding is prior to receiving and invitation; when people love you, they make an effort to be there on your big day, so save-the-dates aren't always the way to go. I understand that save-the-dates can be useful if you have many out of state guests. Ben and I, however, do not. Not only are we saving $150 by not having save-the-dates printed, but we're saving another $66 dollars on not paying for an extra 150 stamps!
Savings by not "saving" the date: 150+66= $216

ALCOHOL:
Is Uncle Mike really doing a keg stand?
My mom was had mentioned that people dig weddings because they usually have open bars. Well, those types will be out of luck, we're not serving any alcohol at the wedding. It saves on a corkage fee of $10/botte with a cost of $15/bottle. By not serving alcohol, the average couple could save thousands of dollars. There are lots of bars near our venue, so if people really wanna drink it up, Benji can recommend a few for sure. We are saving:
Savings by not getting "crunk with it" : $1,200

Now that we're saving money in areas that aren't necessary, we can splurge a bit in other areas. Such as food. My favorite. Or cake. I personally am not a huge cake eater, but hey, LET THEM EAT CAKE!

COMPELTED AS OF 3/24/10:
CHOOSE COLORS
FINALIZE GUEST LIST
GET BRIDAL GOWN
BOOK CEREMONY SITE
BOOK RECEPTION SITE
BOOK PHOTOGRAPHER
BOOK OFFICIANT
BOOK CATERER
DECIDE ON MENU
DECIDE ON CAKE (WON'T ORDER FOR A FEW MONTHS)
ORDER CAKE TOPPER
ORDER CAKE CUTTING THINGS
WEDDING FAVORS FOR GUESTS

Not too shabby eh? Any advice, input, tips to keeping myself sane through all this.. feel free to comment :)

#14: Free-Fifty-Free

2010-03-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't like free?*

Personally, I've been on this freebie bing that companies have been so graciously appeasing.
As of late, I think I've gotten free samples for every genre. Personal Hygiene, food, electronics, home decor.. you name it, companies are giving it out for free. A lot of this has to do with the economy. FREE is such a good way to bait people to buy more of a specific product. ^_^

Considering Ben and I are HUGE fans of traveling, and will be doing it quite a bit after our wedding day, these miniature products can save time and money. Two very valuable things.
I've already gotten two travel toothpastes, at least 10 bath soaps/body washes, shampoos, conditioners, breakfast cereal, pens, candy, gum, travel fem hygiene products, you name it! All of this will go great in our "get away" bag. The candy, gum, and crackers will probably be in our carry-on bag for some quick and free munchies when we travel. (better than paying expensive airport convenience store prices!)

I created a pseudo email to sign up for all these promos. I recommend doing so if you don't like spam. Then again, if you DO like spam- be it the food or e-mail version, you have a problem and need help.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The links I'm posting below will take you where you need to be to get your free swag.. haha..

Such as:
Shampoo
Coffee
Lipton Tea
Gum (when you become a facebook fan)
Dog Food
Sugar/Sweetener
Fem Hygiene
Oat Meal
Baby Formula
Dishwashing Detergent
Vaska Laundry Detergent (when you become a facebook fan)
Downy Softener
Ritz Crackers (when you become a facebook fan)
Tide Plus Febreeze
John Frieda Styling Product (varies by date)

Anyways, aside from freebies, I'm helping Ben move back into his parents house. I'm pretty lucky that he has such a wonderful family behind him. He has to be out by the first of next month. Hopefully we can tackle this!! Packing is always so stressful! I guess on the up-side we're saving quite a bit of money per month now. YAY for saving!

Anyone have any packing tips? We'll be moving him AGAIN in about 3 months, so I doubt we'll be unpacking a lot. Any advice, tips, or encouragement for moving will be helpful.

*I understand some people think free things are tacky.. That's fine, more for those that understand how hard finances are in this economy. For you, I have a gift, all you need to do is press the red exit at the top right hand of your screen to see it. ;) (or if you have a MAC press the red button in the top left). Haha. Just kidding.. I guess if someone actually did that they wouldn't know I was kidding. Oh well..

#13: So This Is What Being Engaged Feels Like

2010-03-21T23:59:00.000-07:00

Ben proposed!!!!
When: Sunday, March 21st, at 5:30pm
Where: Santa Barbara, California.
How the Story Goes:
I'm a huge SB fan. I don't know exactly why. My parents used to take me out that way often as a child, so I assume that I romanticized the quaint beach city in my mind. Then again, what is NOT romantic about a quaint beach city?

We spent the day visiting all my "old haunts" if you will. It really is gorgeous out there, not to mention the weather was perfect (75F and SUNNY!). We visited the courthouse, state street, the cemetery, scenic ridge, all before making our way to Shoreline Park. The park rests on Scenic Route, so you know its gotta be gorgeous.

We took the wooden steps down to the water. It was getting a lot colder as evening approached, so after walking down the coast a bit, we stopped to sit in a little cove. It looked as if someone had built a miniature-fort there. Ben and I decided to "move in" and grab a seat on the rocks it was built against.

After some mindless chatter (that I'm infamously known for) Ben asked me, "How much do you love me?"
This isn't a question he usually asks so I was a bit baffled by the question..
In return I asked him, "How much do you love me?"
I'm sure he anticipated my asking because his response was: "Enough to ask you to marry me", He then got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and asked me to marry him.

Not too shabby, eh? OH! Here's the kicker, he even took off his hat to show me the utmost respect. Yah, he's a keeper.

*insert picture of handsome couple here*

#12: Buying POWER

2010-03-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how cool it would be to buy POWER?
"Hi, I'll take 10 servings of POWER"

Not in a sadistic-power-trip way. Just a super-hero power kind of way.

I have dibs on the green one!

Haha, that's what went through my mind when I read my own title. But that's not what this blog is about. Its about PURCHASING POWER (better verbiage right there) Purchasing power when it comes to housing situations. Ben and I will need a place to live obviously!

I am a licensed Realtor and Real Estate Consultant. (RE LICENSE # 01870442 for your scoffers our there *wink Wink*) Shocking, I know. I specialize in First Home Buyers. Why? Well, I like helping to make the seemingly 'impossible' much more possible. I love helping people repair credit (its possible!) and get into a home to call their own. (Granted, if I were as super hero, I would just laser blast the credit bureau and demand them to make FICO scores a thing of the past... thankfully for them, I only have the super power of being superrr coooool..)

A few important things about buying your own home

(w/ and FHA or Conventional loan):

FHA buyers are only required to put 3% down. This could be as low as $3,000 in some situations
FHA buyers qualify for up to $8,000 tax credit. This could pay your taxes on your new home purchase!!!
Mortgage payments generally less than rent for the same property
Most engaged/newly wed/oldly wed couples don't know their options for owning a home =[

Take a look at the last point. Most people don't know their options. Sad, isn't it? Our economy is in a blunder because of something we were not informed of until our market busted.

Personally, I'm against renting. I know that renters pay the landlord's mortgage. Why would I pay for someone else's home when I qualify to buy my own? It just doesn't make too much sense.
Ben and I would be able to qualify for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo, in a good metro area... with payments of
drum roll please
$535.99/month (including taxes)*
We would rent the SAME property for $1,000 a month. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

A few people ask my why I'd buy a home when Ben and I do not know where we would be employed in the next few years. My answer is and will always be.. "as an investment you silly pickle!"
"An investment?" Well, yes, of course! If I qualify to buy home with a monthly payment of $535.99
and I rent it for $1,000.. this is what we'd be looking at:

$1,000.00
- 535.99
_________
= 464.01 gross income(however, taxes were accounted for)

now that 464.01 can easily be applied to a mortgage elsewhere. Pretty nifty huh?
INVESTMENTS are smart, and prudent ways to go. Soon I'll talk a bit about ROTH IRA investments and how you can benefit from them.

We probably will have to rent for a few months before we have the down payment on a home, but by next year the plan is to have about $22,000 put away for it. Its always a good thing to consider your options. And if you know us, we like to pray about these things too.

When owning a home sounds impossible...
Remember that all things are possible....

Interesting....

How do you feel about buying a home? Do you currently own a home? Do you WANT to? (<< see how I slipped that in there ;) Also, if you are a newly-wed couple, what is your greatest fear when it comes to buying a home?
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*(this is calculated with a 30-year fixed loan at an interest rate of 5.5% with a principal of 80k on a 105k investment this means I'd be taking a loan out for 80,000 dollars and have 30 years to pay it back with 5.5% interest..)

#11: Shameless Promotion

2010-03-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

A lot of you guys are taking advantage of the ING offer. How exciting!
I've been asked many questions about ING, so here's the answers to some of them:

JUST THE FAQ'S

What is the minimum deposit to open account:
$0

What is the minimum monthly amount to keep in an account:
$0

What is the minimum I need in an account to bear interest:
Well, I'd say $1 to see any interest.. which would be a penny but its still something!

What is the interest rate?
1.10% but it will change with account types and money deposited. In a market boom we could see it increase greatly.

Is the bank FDIC insured:
It sure is! Up to 250,000 dollars per personal acct. If you have more money than that to deposit why the heck aren't you using a higher interest bearing account? Like a.. ROTH IRA...

What's the catch?
Welp, ING is a virtual bank, this means that they don't have branches as we know it. If your employer has an option for direct deposit, you won't have much need for a banking branch (the tellers can't help you much anyways since most banks only make decisions from corporate. You know, how you go in a branch to get a fee removed and they have you call a number and wait a few hours for NOTHING to be resolved?).
ING has a policy that they should not be charging you for money that is YOURS anyways (makes sense eh?). So there is no minimum payments, or finance charges on checking and savings account.

Why do I need a savings account?
Well, you don't need it. Personally, I highly recommend them to any clients. Why? Well, that's simple. EMERGENCY FUND. I can't tell you how many times I've had car trouble, or even a visit to the ER that required a lot of money. Its always good to have an emergency fund, whether you are single, engaged, married, or dead (hey, somebody's gotta pay for your casket.)
I like how ING lets me separate my savings funds. I have a "tag" for emergencies, Christmas, Birthdays, and vacations. This helps me save money for each event year round. That way things aren't as overwhelming when I have to pay for them!

That's great and all Priscilla, But how do I get my $25 bucks?
Well, NOT ALL of my referrals have been used up. If you are interested in an ING account, just shoot me over your email, or comment on this blog, and I'll send you one. Once approved for an account (which is a quick and pain-free process) it will give you all the info you need for the $25 bucks. I think I got mine two weeks after opening, and I put in like $250 upon opening the account.
You can use this link here and I'll shoot you over your referral ASAP! Make sure you give me your email so you can get the money. Opening an account without a referral doesn't give you 25$ =[
Oh, I know the rules for the $25 bucks will be changing for accounts opened after April 1st, 2010, so keep an eye out for that!

Hope all this info helps you save, save, save!

**All information is deemed reliable 3/18/2010 but not guaranteed by Wifeytraining.com or its authors. For up to date information at rates visit INGdirect.com

#10: Saint Patrick's Surprises

2010-03-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

I took Saint Patty's Day off work. It was supposed to only be a half-day for me, BUT........
Ben and I went venue shopping today. There is reason to believe that we reserved our venue for the reception today. Whether we did, or did not, you won't know yet ;)

Regardless, we are pretty much set on a date. Odd to be doing this when I don't even have a ring, but, c'est la vie ;)

Here's a picture of the venue we decided on for the ceremony:

AND, the reception:

Ben and I are very DIY types. We're planning a wedding and, personally, I'm set on sticking to a budget of $8,000. Word on the street is, average weddings cost $27,000. WHAT THE HECK?!

Here's how I plan to cut costs

Ben will be using my mother's wedding ring. I'm pretty excited because it's sheer BLING. The average groom spends $3,500 on a wedding ring. So, even if Ben replaces a solitaire, we are saving!
Wearing mother's wedding ring(s) -$3,000

I am going to be wearing my mom's wedding dress. It will, of course, be somewhat altered ;-) Most of the changes I will be personally making.. however, I love how vintagey it is. I suppose its 20-some years old, so it fits the theme. A few of the dresses I had tried on at a bridal shop were $1,600. By wearing my mother's dress minus the cleaning costs, we save:
Wearing mother's wedding dress -$1,525

I'll be making all my own bouquets. Floral arrangements can cost around $5,000 for the wedding. The fact that I'm making them all myself will save us a lot of money. Along with the bouquets, comes the centerpieces!!! All handmade stunna!
Making my own bouquets -$4,400

Those are just a few cut-backs we're making. More to come. Also, I'll begin to post HOW-TO's for all of the bouquets, centerpieces, save-the-dates, and invitations!
Planning a wedding on a budget in 6 months. It CAN and WILL be done!

As for the rest of Saint Patty's Day... We didn't pitch it too frugal I confess. We got two $3.99 pizza from Stater's and Ben made these drinks called Snake Bites. Needless to say, I didn't even drink half of mine. I'm glad Ben enjoyed his with a side of Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride. Relaxing days are few and far between.

(sorry for the quality... Blackberry phones, you know)

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Saint Patty's Day!
**please remember to drink responsibly,

#9: Financing Frugality

2010-03-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

There comes a time when a couple talks about the dreaded subject..

FINANCES

When it comes to finances and couples, one party almost always avoids the subject. Why? Well, when you don't have money, you rarely like talking about the money you don't have, especially if it is in the negative- meaning debt.

Financial problems is listed as being in the top five reasons (#1 Reason, #3 Reason, #5 Reason) for divorce. Intimidating, I know.

Thankfully, Ben and I work very well as a team. My weaknesses are his strengths and vice- versa. However, I know this topic is often addressed far to late in a relationship. (Obviously, if you look at the divorce stats and reasons). Even Ben and I butt-heads when it comes to particular financial decisions. I won't pretend to be a relational/financial expert, but I do know is this topic is one that people have to grow together in. Its a process, it doesn't just magically happen.

I can't stress enough how hard finances will be on a marriage. We've all seen families in financial distress, especially in this economy. I came to the understanding that if I'm waiting to be "well off financially" before I get married, there is a good chance that I might not get married. So, Ben and I have been tackling our fears together. After all, a three-fold cord is not easily broken..

A few great things Ben and I have come across to help us live frugally and *soon* debt free ^_^

Student Loans:
Yikes, this has been a huge one for American couples, especially. I'm not a fan of our government's "John Maynard Keynes" train of thought, regardless, I am thankful for the IBR (Income Based Repayment) plan that Obama has put into effect.

What is IBR you may ask? Well, according to Steve Rhode of Get Out Of Debt.Org:

"Under IBR, your required monthly payment is capped at an amount that is intended to be affordable based on your income and family size."

Consequences of the IBR: This plan is great for students who can't find a job after spending 4 years to earn a piece of paper with their name on it in cheaply-written calligraphy, however, the short end of the stick goes to *drum roll please* the US tax payers.

After 10 years of timely payments that are decided by IBR's payment calculator, the student is forgiven of their debt. SO, although you are forgiven of your student debt, it is at the expense of the tax payer, which is you as well.

Savings:

Savings accounts or even 'jars' are vital to financing frugality. If finances is a top cause of divorce, nip it in the butt by preparing for any emergencies; a savings account is a great way to do that.

A great interest-bearing account that I can't help but recommend is: ING Orange Savings. I'd recommend it for anyone regardless of marital status, old or young (obviously over 18).
You'll earn interest without even knowing it! Obviously I'm too mediocre of a person to be promoting a company for reimbursement, so trust me, this is legit. You don't have a minimum to open it, nor to start bearing interest. Plus, if you use one of these referral links, you'll get $25 bucks and Ben and I will get $20, JUST for referring you!!

1)~~Referral Link: 25 for YOU, 20 for ME~~
2)~~Referral Link: 25 for YOU, 20 for ME~~
3)~~Referral Link: 25 for YOU, 20 for ME~~

Don't worry! You can still get your money if you comment on the blog and leave me your e-mail, or if you fill out this nifty form I made on Google spreadsheets (click here)!

PS: the creative and super funny ad seen above "Generate the RIGHT kind of interest with your money" was made by my sexy red-haired, soon-to-be, husband, BEN! =]

For spending money, Ben and I combined forces to decorate a glass jar. In here we'll store up for vacations, activities, or any other thing we delight is as a couple. Ben actually had this planned on Valentine's days as one of my many creative, handmade gifts ^_^

Mint.com

I was home-schooled for 6 years. In those 6 years, my wonderful mother scrupulously taught my brother and myself to manage our finances and construct reasonable budgets. To my knowledge, the public school system does not. I was blessed to have learned how to right a check and balance my checkbook while still in second grade. I'm pretty sure I hadn't even had cursive down at that point.

Thanks to the wonderful world of technology, there is mint.com to account (no pun intended) for the public school's deficit (well, one of them at least).

Mint.com is a phenomenal budgeting program. I was leery at first to give them so much of my information, but what the hay, the gov't has it all anyways!

Mint shows you your spending patterns, cash flow, investments, and debts, (as shown above for the iPhone) as well as notifies you when you exceed a budget you have set. For instance, when I buy something from MACYS mint.com already categorized it as spending on clothing. If I budget for $20 a month on clothing, and I spend $30, It lets me know that I'm dropping the ball.

I love how it has an app for smartphones. Ben loves the app for his iPhone and I do as well for my Blackberry!

-------------------------
Finances are a big deal when it comes to a relationship, but please don't expect being prudent and frugal as being cheap or materialistic. Rather, look at what Proverbs 31 says about the IDEAL wife..

Proverbs 31:16
"She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard"

Do you have any tips, recommendations, or even questions about having good finances and getting out of debt? Where on your list of priorities is managing finances?

AND (CLICK HERE FOR) A BAG OF CHIPS

#8: Thankfulness Through Thanklessness

2010-03-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

I work a thankless job. Not that I need "thanks" to survive but sometimes its nice to know all that you do is appreciated, especially when you don't get paid for going above and beyond for rude people.
I work with people who expect you to do their work for them and they take the credit/pay. I know this sounds like this blog will be full of complaints, but hear me out.

I work in a thankless job, with thankless people, but it causes me to give thanks. It has not always been this way, but I suppose this is something that the Lord is doing in my heart.

I am able to give thanks because 10% of American's are currently unemployed
I am able to give thanks because I can give back to the Lord, pay my bills, and even have some money to save for my wedding with Ben.
I am able to give thanks because this job is really showing me how much Ben is worth it to me.

You see, I am very fortunate to have many job opportunities open to me. I have actually been in the predicament of being offered 2 other jobs that offer significantly more money than this one. However, they have potential to jeopardize my ability to serve Ben. With that being said, I prayed about it, and decided to turn two of them down. I've decided to stay in a position of, well, thanklessness, because it is what is best for Ben AND I in the long run.

I am not working my 'dream job' but rather, this job is just a means to my 'dream ministry' of serving my future husband as he serves the Lord in the capacity that we were called to do so in.

Have you had any epiphanies like my most recent one? Anything hard that you've gone through or are going through but it is just a means to a glorious end?

#7: Snakes, Mites, and Vapid Ex's

2010-03-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

As a child I was always afraid of walking through grass, because poisonous snakes lived there, of course.If it was not a poisonous snake, it was a sneaky mite that instilled fear in the very core of my being.

You may think I was being overly dramatic.

Yes, yes that has some truth in it.

You may say that the subject of this blog is overly melodramatic and yes, yes it might be. But sometimes its fun to indulge in other peoples exaggerations when you know they are, in fact, exaggerations.

And away we go...

There are three people to be weary of, avoid, or take with small doses when it comes to your relationship. Other people are almost always the problem in a pre-marital relationship if they are allowed to pollute it. I'll give you a break down of each types of people I've personally encountered:

1) The Snake

The snake is a person who has this malicious venom that they poison you with. Normal people call this poison "negativity," however, I feel the word "poison" captures the essence of what it really does. When someone is constantly putting down your relationship without merit, they may be bearers of such poison. Sadly, often times family members are the most poisonous of carriers. Being robbed of hope, feeling drained, excessive amounts of fear, are all symptoms of things you would feel after having spoken with a poisonous person. Negativity makes its way into a relationship very quickly, so remember the old phrase and remember it well, "garbage in, garbage out.." Poison spilled into your mind, poison spilled onto your relationship, your spouse/fiance/boyfriend, and poison spilled onto your personal walk with God.

Unfortunately, the person rarely knows they are the carrier of such a devastating poison, so the cure on their part is unsure. The cure on your part, is Jesus.

2) The Mite

Some might say a mite is worse than a venomous snake. Whether that is true or not, I do not know. One thing I do know is that mites, ticks, lice, and other gross things... are very, very annoying. Normal people call mites "overly opinionated", but again, I personally feel the word "mite" captures the essence of what these people do.

You see, the "overly opinionated"- mites, if you will bestow upon you their "wisdom". Meh, if you could call it that. They are the people that tell you to do things that were never required by Biblical standards.

Mites, sometimes over-spiritualize their opinions to where they sound "right" on the outside but are the wrong combo of "uncooked" and "rotten" on the inside, Similar to a hot pocket....

For instance: one thing I've been recommended to do was-- "fast with the person you're interested for a few months before beginning to date. That way you go into the relationship with God's approval." Fasting is a powerful thing, but God's blessing is HIS to give, not OURS to take by fasting. Some people say you can't kiss before you get married. I understand the temptations that follow kissing, regardless, this is an opinion, not a requirement.

The reason opinions are mites is because they really dig into your skin, they irritate and cause rashes to form (figuratively, I hope). They almost inhibit you and your significant other from deciding what is best for you as a couple because all you ever hear is what worked for "everyone else."

The cure for this mite is unknown, because they sincerely believe their opinions and wisdom may help. The cure for you, however, is Jesus.

3) The BAD "Ex-Girlfriend"

I now present to you a new wide-spread disease that must be vaccinated against. Far more potent than the H1N1 virus, far more lethal than the Avian flu, and causes more insanity than Mad Cow, it is the "BAD Ex Girlfriend Disease." We all know the stereo typical "ex girlfriend gone bad" persona. The call-all-the-time-clingy-jealous-manipulative-sneaky kind of gal. Well, the disease has spread and is now able to be contracted by guy and girl alike, friend and foe as well. WHAT?! You may shout; YES it happens. Symptoms of people suffering from this disease are: people who become jealous of your relationship, people who complain you don't spend as much time with them as you used to, and people who need to know where you are at 25/8/366 (previously known as 24/7/365 but they tend to be overachievers and ask even more than humanly possible). The reason this is so detrimental to a serious relationship is because

Biblically, when you become married you 1) leave and cleave to your spouse -Genesis 2:24 and 2) your concern becomes for your spouse -1 Corinthians 7:34. Your interest is not divided amongst friends and family (relatives) when you are married, it is your SPOUSE first, and everything falls into place after them. So if your desire is marriage and you are on the road to being married, not everyone understands what the Lord is preparing you for. Prioritize!!!! Jesus, Spouse, Whatever else next ;) The cure for these people is to loosen up, and the cure for you when you have to deal with these people is: You got it :) Jesus.

All in all, you may encounter these people as you grow closer to your someday-to-be-spouse, and you may not. Even the book of Proverbs fore-warns us of these poor souls. If you are in a relationship and you and your bf/gf are striving to seek the Lord amidst the chaos, just remember to keep Jesus in sight for optimism when the world screams negativity, keep Jesus' Words in heart when everyone feeds you opinions, and keep Jesus in mind when it comes to priorities.

As you already know, I'd pray about how to handle each types of people with wisdom and gentleness. Just don't avoid dealing with them if you value your relationship.

Have you come across any snakes, mites, or people suffering from the bad Ex disease? How have you handled it?

Also, if you find these depictions offensive, praise God for conviction ;)

# 6: Journey Through The Unknown

2010-03-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

This stormy weekends always yield some of the most dangerous adventures for me.

Suffocating is the only way I could describe it. Tighter and tighter the pressure coaxed my ribs into bending as if they were meant to be malleable things. Gasp after gasp- one gasp from my suffocation, the other from the people watching me go through such a strenuous process. The first gasp out of fear of death, the second out of sheer awe and pleasure. Sadistic and masochistic are just a few words that justly explain such a process.

Such torture that I refer to (that many girls succumb to daily with such pleasure) is...

Wedding gown shopping.

Yup, that's right. Saturday I went wedding gown shopping. BUT YOU'RE NOT EVEN "ENGAGED" YET, you may say. You would be correct. I am not engaged by your standards. In all reality if I went with the flow and did what everyone else was doing, I would have voted for Obama, but thats a story for another day, and a different blog.
ANYWHO, Ben asked my dad for my hand in marriage (who said "yes" by the way), and Ben and I both love Jesus and each other "like a bear loves honey" so what else has to be done?

With that being said, I went wedding dress shopping. Since Ben and I both feel it is wisest to have a short engagement, we don't have much time to spare as many couples do. Also, we are on a strict and frugal budget, so the sooner we get to work, the better on our pocketbooks it will all be :)

Anyways our search began at GROUP USA. We went here because I had an appt at a bridal boutique at 4pm and it was still 2pm. Well, needless to say, corsette dresses suck. I don't expect to be breathing much on my wedding day if I am wearing one. The sweet woman was helping myself and my (soon-to-be) sister-in-law fit me into a lace-up gown. I should have known it was a bad idea when, before lacing it up, she asked, "are you pregnant?" Upon hearing my, "HAH! NO" she pulled those two laces so hard that I was almost certain it eliminated my need for a rib cage altogether.Not to mention the tighter drawn it was on my waistline the higher my boobs got. I suppose that is the wonder of a corsette.

I can't say I've never had anyone dress me before (aside from my mother, and that promptly ended when I reached "adulthood" ...at age 6) So the gal at the boutique I had an appt at picked out a few dresses, all of which were completely stunning. A few had the vintagey feel I was looking for... However, she took it upon herself to add an extra ZERO on the price I told her that I had budgeted for. Shucks, is all I can say there.

All in all it was an interesting day. Thank God for Amanda and Megan being there to make the whole ordeal more lighthearted. I don't know what it is about 'not breathing' that makes me nervous...

For those of you that are married, have a similar or completely different experience gown shopping? For those of you single ladies, do you already have your dream dress picked out? What do you envision your gown hunting experience to be like?

#5: Worth The Wait

2010-03-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

After I started walking with the Lord, I expected Him to immediately bless me with a husband and send me off to some foreign country to fulfill my destiny as the wife to an adventurous missionary. Well, things don't quite work out that way...

I waited about 1.5 years before the Lord made me tolerable enough for someone to date me. Thank God for His Grace :) However, one thing I can't reiterate enough is that Ben was worth the wait. Granted, we don't have that super-cute story of how we met.. in all reality we met at church, barely talked, he blew me off, then in comes the gay bar, I blow him off, and we then begin to date and the rest is history.
Despite the ...unique circumstances which caused us to "re meet" each other being far from romantic... Ben has done nothing but **romance me ever since.

If you're in a relationship, you most likely understand what I'm talking about (especially if you have a man who is seeking the Lord )

If you're single, you're probably wondering, "That's great for YOU Priscilla, but why the hell do I care? I'm still single even though you have a great fortune (= ben)"

Well, Yes, yes I do..

I went through 3 stages as a single Christian:

Stage 1--The Hunger:
I sincerely began to desire a husband. I can't really say when this innate desire began to.. blossom (isn't that such an awkward word for this sentence? It sounds... wrong. Like when an adult uses it in reference to puberty). I began to read all sorts of books about being a single Christian.

Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot (The only book out of all of them I'd actually recommend)
Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge (meh)
Knight In Shining Armor: Discovering Your Life-Long Love by P.B. Wilson (meh)
Lady In Waiting by Debby Jones (blahhhhhhhhh)

Stage 2--Fed Up:
Yeah, I pretty much started to get mad at God for keeping me single. It was all His fault.

I hated, NO!, loathed when people would tell me to be patient and the Lord will bring me my husband. My initial response to such a person (because I never actually said it) was, "I hate you". But then I'd flip on my Spiritual Switch and agree with them. Even though I really didn't.

I even came to the conclusion that God was keeping me single because I was called to celibacy. Yup, I swore up and down that was the conclusion. I think I even mentioned it to my friends Brent and Brenda (they're a married couple that I'm friends with, notice how their names seem to match, some say cheesy, I say God planned it) that I wasn't ever going to get married.

I ended up meeting a guy that I feel pretty hard for. I think he had short-term memory and forgot he was a CHRISTIAN so he basically led me on and did me dirty, I was hurt- badly. Confused- immensely. But that led me to my next stage...

Stage 3-- Fed Right:

Well, I finally came to a Luke 22:42 understanding. Lord, not my will but Your's be done. I truly believe that is the point the Lord brings us before He blesses us. A point of being fully and completely submitted to the Lord and all He has planned. My plans led me into distrust.. His plans lead me into a state of absolute faith that is exhilarating... no doubt. A few months after adopting this mindset I met Benjamin.

Chance? No... God's GOOD and PERFECT Will for me. Just because this is how God worked in my life, He may very well choose to do something else in yours...

What stage are you in? Can you say you were brought through the same process before you met "the one?" Or were you a smart cookie from the get go and skipped steps 1& 2 and bathed yourself in step 3?

**Swept off my feet is an understatement, no doubt.

#4: So, How Did You meet?

2010-03-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

I dread when girl's ask, "so how did you too meet?" with the expectations of some lovey-dovey, "the notebook-esque" kind of scenario. . .

I know many of you have been asking what the story is behind this. I've purposefully neglected to tell it. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Benjamin with every inch of my being. Maybe I just see how I "re-met" my husband-to-be at a gay bar as a moo-point. Meaning, it doesn't matter.

A gar bar you ask? (Yea, BRICK in POMONA, CA.) to be exact. Now the point I wish to clarify is why I was there to begin with.

An acquaintance of mine had sent me an invite to her birthday party online (FACEBOOK, you're getting free advertisement right now). It was a charity type-of deal in which you bring a toy to the club and that rids you of a cover charge. I totally loved the idea but I wasn't too sure about attending as there were a few other events that night that I was motivated to go to ( I am not a fan of "clubbing" or the environment it yields). However, my best friend Kristin talked me into going.

While on our way there, my over-protective, loving, father asked me what the name of the club was (so he could have our family body-guard meet up with me there) I told him the name and he "GOOGLED" it. The next text I read from my dad went a little something like, "You're meeting church friends at a gay bar?"

Now, this didn't phase me, as my dad often "jokes" with me.

It.

Was.

Not.

Joke.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind gay people at all. In fact, I don't mind bars too much either. HOWEVER, If I am going to walk into a club and turn around to see two grown men (nearly in their birthday suits) kissing, I'd like to be advised prior-to. I had no idea.

Finally I found a few friends I recognized from my old church. We were all a bit frazzled at the circumstances. We sat down and began to catch up when it happened.

He noticed me.

My husband-to-be walked up to me and said, "hello". I had been formerly acquainted to him but nothing intimate. So how did I respond? Oh, you know me. I played it "calm and collective" by ignoring the poor chap. That's right. I ignored my future husband. Rejected. Denied. Ignored. Just a few of the words to describe how I responded to him..

He walked away, head hung in shame.

Our party moved its way to the dance floor. I can't say I didn't watch him all night, because I did. He didn't talk to me, though. I guess it didn't dawn on me that I IGNORED HIM not even an hour earlier. So how did I get his attention? I had his number from a year earlier when we were working in a homeless ministry together sooooo I utilized my Blackberry and I texted him, "So this is awkward". Ohh yeahhh, your girl is smooth. (Lines like "So this is awkward" are the best way to break the ice when you are two heterosexual people who have found themselves unintentionally in a strictly homosexual environment.)

After that, I think Ben knew he was texting his future Mrs. May. Ben went on to ask me out on a date, to which I cordially accepted his invite. After the date which took place less than a week later-- Wow.. all I can say is I have tasted Heaven's nectar and found it sweet!

Bone of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh..I met the man I was created for at a gay bar.