Getting Giddy!

Following my "week of pain" a.k.a. Bloody Hell, I am back!  Now for a yucky detail that I am proud of myself for.  (If you get grossed out, you might want to skip ahead.) 

I pulled out one of my stitches.  Ewww!!  It had started to come out and was getting caught in the back of my mouth between the two rows of teeth, causing me more discomfort than anything.  It was Thursday morning, like really morning, about 1AM and I got so frustrated, I figured I'd take a look back there and see if I could help the cause.  Well, once I caught the little sucker, I barely tugged and out it came.  My husband thought I was crazy!  It was sore, but more comfortable, if that makes sense. 

Anyways, when I told the doctor at my one-week post-op he wasn't too upset and took the other stitches out for me.  He said to take it easy for the next few weeks and that I should be healed in about a month.  I've already noticed a difference in my comfort level, but yeah, it reminds me a few times a day like when I try to eat or talk for too long! 

End gross-out.
And since things have calmed down in my mouth, I feel like I have a better hold on everything else going on...liiiiike my birthday tomorrow!!  My birthday is one of my absolute favorite days of the year, or quite possibly, my actual favorite day of the year.  Literally.  It is thisclose to Christmas in my eyes.  And I have a wonderful family that treats it as such!

My parents still make a big deal about it, yes, even for a woman that will be in her late-20s.  In fact, I have a package that I got a few days ago that's just sitting, just waiting, for that special day to roll around so I can open it.  (They sent it early to make sure it got here in time and to torture me while I wait for the day that I am allowed to open it.  My mother even made sure to let my husband know, that she let me know, that I can't open it until my birthday...redic!)  Can't wait to see what's inside!

My brother and SIL sent me a really sweet card with an awesome Victoria's Secret gift card inside!  (They let me open things early, unlike said parents!)  I love Vicki's Secret, but hate spending money on myself since we're newlyweds saving for a house, another car when we move, etc. but my SIL has advised me to have different "weapons" in my "arsenal" when it comes to bedroom attire.  I am sure that my hubby will enjoy this gift as much as I enjoy picking something out!

So, I don't know what is in store for me tomorrow.  My husband has planned the day out and I have to just go with it.  He has done things like this quite a few times before (read: so romantic), but I am afraid that Mother Nature will have an objection tomorrow.  We are supposedly going to be in the worse blizzard since 1967...and I hate Chicago winters hence one of the reasons we are moving.  Lucky me, this will all go down on my birthday, but it's okay.  Change what you cannot accept, accept what you cannot change...right?  We went grocery shopping yesterday and stocked up.  If we end up getting snowed in together and eating cream-cheese filled poppers all day, then that'll be okay too.  I'll just have to push my mani/pedi (the one thing I know about scheduled for tomorrow) back to later in the week.  That is something I am sooo looking forward to.

Perfectly smiling ear to ear today,
Danielle

Bloody Hell

I know I've been MIA for a bit, but! I have a good reason!  I had surgery on my gumline on Friday. 

Yup, Ouch!

Basically, part of my gum line had to be removed (read: dug out...literally) from where I got my wisdom teeth removed as a teen and my gum decided to bully (i.e. start growing) over my farthest back tooth. 

I've got stiches, Vicodin, and a frustrated little body that is tired of doing nothing.  And OMG!  I just want to eat something with substance.  I've basically had mashed potatoes, Stouffer's mac 'n cheese, and oatmeal for about 4 days.  It's getting old. 

Gotta say that my husband has been a trooper.  He has been an awesome nurse, making me as comfortable as he possibly can.  Thanks, babe!

So I will be back soon.  Just give me a minute to heal a little more!

Perfectly legally dizzy,
Danielle

My Jack Dawson

Titanic.  One of the greatest films of all time.  Sometimes cheesy, but what love story isn't?!

The movie came out when I was about 13 or 14, if my memory serves me correctly.  I saw it, along with every.other.person.on.the.planet.  Let's face it.  The amount of money this movie has made is ridiculous.  But I am not here to talk about money.  I'm here to talk about the emotion in this movie.  Emotion that I didn't quite grasp in my early teens.

I get it now.  I can really understand now how Jack and Rose love each other.  And as cliché as this is...I see my husband and myself in these characters.
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My husband come from very different backgrounds.  Different races.  Different culture.  Different social class.  The list goes on.  But it's all okay.  There are challenges that come with this, but we find and focus on the positives.

I am more of a free-spirit, he definitely has more self-structure.  Is that a word?!  He's also the problem-solver/thinker.  When a crisis arises and I start to panic, he's so collected and already has a plan in motion.  I always call him my calm in life's storms.

My husband is a drawer/painter.  I love to be a model for art.  No naked pictures to speak of...yet...

My husband has helped me appreciate the non-materialistic things in life more.  No I was not a priviledged, spoiled little brat.  I do love Coach bags, but I know that spending money on a memory is a much better investment.  It's the everyday things in life that are most important.  I knew that before, but I live it now.

My husband believes in me, without any doubt.  He is my cheerleader, always pushing me to improve myself.  Physically, emotionally, mentally...he encourages me to be a better me. 
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Now, granted some of these are not "exclusive" to only us.  I am sure that other people could relate to some or all of these characteristics.  But I wanted to give you a sample of "us" in "them."

Sergio is my Jack Dawson.  He is my hero.  He is my lead actor.  He is the one who inspires me.  He is my love.  He is my everything. 

We acknowledge our differences and embrace our similarities.  We love hard and passionately.  We fight for each other.  We fight for us.  We beat the odds and the haters.  We make our marriage our #1 priority.  We think of the other one.  We make the best of sucky situations and inject humor whenever possible.  We are an example to our friends.  We are...perfectly....imperfect...and that's perfect to me.

So I challenge you all.  Go out there today and LOVE your LOVE (gf/bf, fiancé, spouse, sig other).  Love like in the movies.  Love like you only have today.  Love like you want to be loved.  Love deep enough you can't describe it.  "Love someone and mean it." (-C.S.) 

Perfectly "Never let[ting] go",
Danielle

daaaa BEARS

I realized that I hadn't told you all about where I lived for sake of privacy cause there are weirdos out there but I think that I live in a big enough city that I don't think said wierdos could easily find me. Plus, we've had some wonderful memories in this beautiful city that I'd like to share :)

Since we made the move here, we have done a ton of things around the city. People who have lived here their whole life have siad we have done in almost three years than they have done their entire life. But that's what we wanted. We knew our time here was limited so we wanted to live it up! Now, the countdown is on until we move and a bucket list has been composed and seems to get longer every few days.

My husband is a huge fan of Chicago sport teams. All of them. He was raised and grew up in the south suburbs. Cubs, Sox, Blackhawks, etc...he reps them all. Insert the bucket list. We have been to Cubs games, Sox games, a Blackhawks game (3rd row from the ice thank you very much) but never to a Bears game. He loooooves DA BEARS. So, shortly after our wedding, I got the bright idea to buy tickets to this season. After realizing the crazy prices of said games, I came across another idea. Comcast sponsors a Family Night each year for [wait for it] 8 bucks a person. SCORE! I knew he'd be happy.  You basically get to see the players come out in groups and watch their first practice.  By no means as exciting as a game, but hey, I got him in the stadium didn't I?

Before you enter the stadium, there is a long wall with the different military emblems.  It's really beautiful.  I, of course, had to have a picture with the USMC emblem.  I was raised by a Marine and I married one!

This is a radio DJ here in Chicago, Julian, from B96.  Crazy cause he used to do the late night show in the D.C. metro area, which is where I am from.  He was jealous to hear I get to move back soon!

 Now a few shots from the inside...

Soldier's Field is beautiful.  It is gigantic, but there's a spirit there that is very intimate.  



This was when they were annoucing some players.  They bring them out by "lines." 

This was in the garden I wasn't suppose to be in on the side roof of the Field Museum.  We were walking through the museum campus to get back to the El and I couldn't resist this picture.  Sorry it isn't the best quality.  My camera was dead dying and we didn't have time to change the setting.



We had a great time at Family Night even though we didn't have a stroller to cram into the back of innocent bystanders ankles. Seriously though, it was fun seeing the kids all done up in the team paraphernalia.

Yes, I had this cool dude's Dad's permission :)

Perfectly wishing we could live in Chicago every summer,

Danielle



Post Secret

Every Sunday morning, I wake up and head straight for my laptop.  I am in love with a project called Post Secret. 

Quick summary from Wikipedia: 
PostSecret is an ongoing community mail art project, created by Frank Warren, in which people mail their secrets anonymously on a homemade postcard. Select secrets are then posted on the PostSecret website, or used for PostSecret's books or museum exhibits. 

When I had first heard of Post Secret it was pretty much just an interesting concept.  But once I had loyally  checked out the site a few weeks in a row, I was hooked.  Anyone from anywhere can write down their deepest, darkest, most crippling secret and then {sigh} release it.  When people put their secret in the mail, it's like they let it go.  They allow themselves to relieve themselves of the guilt or embarrassment that they are carrying around.  We are all these people.  We all have secrets.  We all have things that not everyone knows about us.  Whether it's on purpose or not.  They None of us are ever completely alone.

Source: seanjonesfoto



Another awesome aspect of Post Secret is that it's a huge supporter of suicide prevention.  They have paired up with a helpline to offer support to those in need.  1-800-Helpline has gained tremedous respect and been given many "shout-outs" from readers who have called in for help.

To check out an archive of postcards, you can go here.  Otherwise, check out the Post Secret site.  Every Sunday, you get a new batch of postcards.  You get a chance to remind yourself that your perfect co-worker we all have things we struggle with, no matter how well things are going.

Perfectly right there with ya!,
Danielle

Can't Hold It Against Me

Those that know me in the 'real' world know that I love to dance.  Whether in a studio, in my living room, in da club, or my car like no one is looking.  I like all types of music, but some of my favorite artists give me the tunes that I can groove to.  Insert:  Britney Spears. 

I am not here to say that her voice is fantastic by any means, but I will say that her music makes my rump move.  Her lyrics do not bring enemies together, but the beats give me the variety to feel like I am in my own music video.  I am a Britney fan.  There.  I said it. 

Are you done laughing?!  It's okay, I'll wait.

When she had her whole I am going to shave my head and talk with an English accent phase, I took a step back, but I didn't lose hope.  I was the only person, in my circle of people, that could feel that she'd come back after all the craziness.  Well, I was right.  She released an album, sold out shows galore, earned her little 'Pop Princess' title back.  Good job, Brit.

But this morning, I wake to her new single...released a day early.  Not that I was waiting.  I just wanted to see the direction of this new album.  My review of this new song:

Not impressed.  It's definitely got a beat.  A techno beat.  I can't stand techno.  It's like fingernails on a chalkboard to my ears.  The 14-year-old that is in my heart holding a portable CD player, not an ipod is hoping that this next album is not a disappointment. 

I have to give her and her team credit on something though.  They definitely fought tooth and nail to keep the song under wraps until they were ready to release it.  Yay for keeping that old-school, guys.  Now...lose the techno and leave that for the awful remixes.

Perfectly hoping for more,
Danielle

Birthday Babe

I love the idea of birthdays!  Every person gets one month day a year that is all theirs.  We go big on birthdays in our house. 

Happy Birthday to my Mister Mister!!

I know this blog is new, but I wanted to take a minute and share with you all how amazing my husband is :)

• My husband is every woman's dream man.
• My husband is kind, gentle, romantic, and charming.
• My husband is unconditionally supportive.
• My husband is romantic - in big & little ways.
• My husband knows the little things in life matter most.
• My husband is loyal and stands up for others.
• My husband is so calming - especially when life gets crazy.
• My husband is honest and does the right thing.
• My husband is funny and can always make me laugh.
• My husband is beyond patient.
• My husband loves life and helps me appreciate our everyday adventures.
• My husband is the person I strive to be.

Sergio, you are such a blessing to anyone that knows you.  I feel so lucky to be your wife.

Today, I celebrate you.



Perfectly making a BIG deal out of my husband today,

Danielle

No excuses! No explanations!

My husband and I just finished watching 'Julie and Julia' on Netflix.  This movie came out awhile ago and I never had the urge to watch it until last night. 



We were out to dinner with two of our best friends, another couple, whom we will refer to as M (the lady) and E (the gentleman).  I don't even have the slightest clue as to how the movie came up, but before I could blink, the VERY different reviews came blurting out of both their mouths...typical...and a true example of why we love them!!

E looked me striaght in the eye and with complete conviction let me know that there was no plot and absolutely no point to the movie.  M briefly told me the point and that it was a cute movie.  She then suggested that my husband and I watch it because she thought that we would find it interesting.  She was right.

This post is not a review because it was not one of those 'life-changing, OMG! You have to see this' type of movies.  It was simply a nice, relaxing 2-hour block of time we spent cuddled on the couch.  There was a quote that I did find to be empowering though...

"No excuses!  No explanations!"

This is something my husband has desperately tried to get me to practice in my own life.  You see, I used to be somewhat of a push-over in certain aspects of my life.  I let friends walk all over me.  I let employers take advantage of me.  I let my voice go unheard.  And you know that children's book with the apologizing monkey?  The one where he's always saying, "Oh, I'm sorry" to everyone and everything.  Yup, that is was me.

And I know I am not alone.  I feel like as a woman in our society, we are programmed to apologize, even when we are not at fault, just to smooth things over.  We try to keep the peace.

Fortunately for me, I have a husband that has helped build up my self-esteem and encouraged me to speak up for myself.  He's taught me that I don't have to give anyone an excuse for anything.  He's taught me that I don't owe an explanation to anyone.  He's helped me...be me. 

The quote in the movie was a nice reminder that I don't have to apologize for being myself.  I am who I am.  I like who I am.  No excuses and no explanations needed.

Have any of you seen this movie?  Did the quote hit you in the same way?  Do you have anyone that has helped your inner voice speak up?

Perfectly Content,
Danielle

Free Organize in Style Coupon Book

The thrill of getting a good deal can make my day.  When I can get something for free that I will actually use...?  I'm in heaven! 

I have grown fond of checking out Heather's Clearance Chick periodically because she is always on the hunt for deals and she is kind enough to share with everyone!  Here's one I woke up to ths morning...

Be sure to get your free coupon book - $35 in savings!  It's promised to be full of coupons and tips for organizing your home.

Now get to those NY resolutions - I am sure many of you have set goals of saving money and/or getting organized!

Perfectly Loving Free Stuff,
Danielle

HNY 1.1.11

I wanted to start this year off with a bang and with much enthusiastic pressure from a very dear friend, Becky over at Love Everyday Life, here I am.  My first blog.  Be patient as I start this journey :)

Perfectly Learning,
Danielle