La Petite Chic

Grace Vingt et un & Grace Vingt-deux

I think I love baking so much because the idea of making something from nothing is magical, especially when they turn out as cute as these cupcake bites.

They were a huge hit at my friend's birthday party as well as at work.  Those are regular M&M's on top, to give you an idea of their size.

They were actually pretty easy to make, just very tedious.  But don't they just make you smile?

Something else that I find to be quite magical is my crockpot.  What else will turn a couple of pounds of raw meat, cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots and spices into a yummy, homecooked meal in a matter of five hours without any effort?

Corned beef and cabbage, the delicious way to celebrate St. Patrick's day, especially when made with Guiness! 

Grace Vingt

Jonathan is on spring break this week and next and we are both loving it, albeit for different reasons.  He's just happy to not have homework looming over him and I'm happy to get to see my husband for more than just a couple hours a day. 

After this semester is over, he only has one class left before he graduates with his MBA and I feel like this is a nice glimpse of what life will be like then.  I'm so proud of him for all the effort and time he's put into this, but I can't wait to have him back full time!  I fully intend to take advantage of our extra time together these next two weeks. :)

A Little Bit of Luck and A Whole Lot of Grace

I promise I have a really, really good reason for not posting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and for screwing up my nice and orderly 40 Days of Grace.  I think the reason for my absence and the news I have more than makes up for Grace Dix-sept, Dix-huit and Dix-neuf.

So...WE SOLD OUR CONDO!!!

As I noted in my last post, we received a counter offer to our counter offer on Friday afternoon.  Another couple came to look at the house on Friday evening and then we had yet another couple come on Saturday morning. 

To be honest, I was putting my money on the Saturday morning couple.  Their realtor made it seem as if they were going to sign on the dotted line as soon as they were done looking around.  They never did.  They really liked our condo but they just didn't want it.  Fair enough.

Jon and I were pretty disappointed and mutually agreed that if the guy didn't accept our counter offer, we would accept his original counter offer and clean our hands of everything.  The housing market is still dropping around here so we didn't want to take any chances.  We really want to cut our losses and start rebuilding.

Imagine our surprise and delight when we heard from our realtor just a few hours later that he accepted our counter offer!  We are still in shock I think.  To have our home sell in less than a month, hell, in just 24 days, is a miracle!  We didn't get our asking price, but through our countering, we were able to get a price that we think is fair and a price that shouldn't be a problem at the appraisal.  

Of course, there's still the chance that things could fall through and not come to fruition, but I'm not going to let that worry me or damper my excitement.  We settle on April 23rd...let the countdown (and packing) begin!  Oh, and guess who got to move home yesterday?  My lovely Lola Bean!  Hooray!!!

P.S.  Thank you everyone for your lovely comments on this post.  They meant the world to me and I'm working on responding to all of your kind words, so thank you for being patient :)

Grace Seize

Our second offer came in tonight!  It was low, of course, and they were asking for a lot of help in closing costs, so we countered with what we and our realtor deem to be fair.  We're hoping that maybe this will be it.  My fingers have been crossed all night! 

UPDATE (3PM on Friday):  We just received a counter offer to our counter offer.  It's still kind of a low ball, so we're not going to respond just yet.  We have another couple scheduled to view our condo at 5PM today and we want to get their feedback before we proceed.  At least this guy got back to us though, unlike the other offer!

Grace Quinze

I have a confession to make: I don't speak French.  The little bits and pieces I do know are the simple basics I quickly learned before our trip to Europe last May.  I've had to consult Babelfish for the French translation since day eleven on my Grace in 40 Days lenten project. 

But hey, this little exercise in finding grace is helping me to learn more French!  Sure, it's just numbers but I'll take what I can get.  You never know when you might find yourself in some French-speaking country! :)

Grace Quatorze

You know, this whole finding the joy in every day things and being grateful for all that life gives me is a good reminder of all that I have, but I have to admit, some days it's pretty damn hard. 

Like today, all I can think about is how much my teeth hurt.  I used to wear Crest White Strips Premium about once or twice a year, but I can't remember the last time I used them.  However, I've been feeling particularly sensitive about my teeth, and my smile in particular, since going through the two failed root canals and the resulting extraction, and soon to come, the implant.  I am admittedly vain about my teeth and seeing as how I spend so much time examining them as of late, I've noticed that they're not as white as they used to be.  Note to self: Stop drinking tea in the morning.

Since the White Strips Premium were on sale this weekend and I had a $5 off coupon, I decided to buy a package and regain the sparkling white that I love and miss.  Well, today is day two and my teeth are already killing me.  Ahh yes, I definitely remember this sensitivity.  I can't bear the thought of eating anything crunchy or dry and a squeaky filing cabinet is enough to send shivers down my spine and pierce right through my teeth.  EEK.  I have five days to go and I don't know how I'll survive.

Jon thinks I'm absolutely ridiculous.  He asked, "Why do you care how white your teeth are, you're married?!"  AHEM.  I will not let myself go just because I'm married, dear! (said through clenched, painful teeth)  

My grace in this?  My teeth will be beautifully white by Sunday.  But please, no loud, shrieky noises until then...

Grace Treize

I had an appointment with my OB-GYN today.  My appointment was at 2:15 PM and I didn't see him until 4:30!  It was slightly frustrating, but that's part of the territory when your doctor is the only one in his practice, not to mention the head of the OB department.  He had to do an emergency c-section right before my appointment thus I wiled away my afternoon in a waiting room full of expectant mothers, new mothers and more experienced moms. 

I adore my doctor and from sitting in that waiting room for so long, it was clear that his other patients love him just as much.  To pass the time, we laughed about how he's always running behind and the moms exchanged their pregnancy and birth stories.  I didn't have much to add to the conversation, but I really enjoyed listening to their stories and words of wisdom. 

While it wasn't the ideal way to spend my afternoon, I'm grateful to have a doctor whom I trust and one that really cares about me.  He's kind and gentle and really loves what he does.  When it comes to your lady bits, would you want it any other way?

Grace Douze

Mmmm...cupcakes! No explanation necessary :)

Grace Onze

Sometimes you just don't know what you're missing until you have it.  In my case, "it" happened to be Lola.  I was given Lola as a college graduation present from my grandmother.  I remember hissing under my breath to my mother, "But I don't like little dogs!"  I intended to give Lola back to my grandmother after my graduation party was over.  There was that whole business of not liking little dogs and besides, I had just graduated from college and was looking to get a job and rent a place of my own, two things that aren't really compatible with a new puppy.

In the end, there was no hope for me.  I fell in love with Lola (who remained unnamed for several days) and have never looked back.  It took me awhile to find a landlord who would let me have a pet, but she was worth the wait. 

Lola is totally me in dog form.  She's finicky and particular and loves to nap in the sunshine.  She likes to be the center of attention and her bark is worse than her bite.  She suffers from a wee bit major Napoleon complex and is a total Daddy's girl.  Her full name is Lolita Scarlett O'Hara because I knew from the beginning that she would be just like my favorite heroine, her namesake.  She is my baby girl, my darling, my Lola Bean.

Happy 6th birthday, Lola!  I am so grateful that you came into my life and really can't imagine it without you in it.  I love you, Bean!

Snuggling with mama:

 A good back scratch in the sunny grass:

 Napping with Daddy:

 Wondering who in the hell this Pleepleus character is:

 And just being her beautiful self (on neighborhood watch, of course):

Grace Dix/Fabulous Find Friday

You know what makes me really happy?

Flip flops and sandals.  And the fact that I can wear them this weekend without freezing my toes off.

I especially like these:

 

And these:

   

And these (just $12.99!):

 

And these: