Division of labor and assests has been on our minds lately. How does a couple who once lived totally seperate lives, mesh their two lives together? It's a hard subject to bring up. We had the conversation when we first moved in together. We weren't engaged, but we knew we were headed in that direction (or else I never would have moved in).
We split certain bills, and we went every other on grocery trips...seemed fair. Then almost hubs pops the question, and the whole topic comes up again...not to mention I took a different job, which I love, yet doesn't pay me near what I was making before. Suddenly I find myself doing all of the housework, cooking all the meals (at least the meals that we eat at home...we eat out A LOT) and clipping coupons, and all other wifely duties. While almost Hubby took on the brunt of the bills, I turned myself into a nice little housewife!
Don't get me wrong, I like making my own money, and I love my Independence..and I'll be damned if my wedding vows say the word obey. Chances are if almost hubby told me to stand still, I would jump up and down on one foot..I don't "obey" But I love love love taking care of him.
I love cooking for the almost hubs, I don't mind doing all the laundry..I don't love laundry in general, but it doesn't bother me to do his too. Partly because I don't want him to ruin anything of mine. I love cleaning the house, and making it a clean home for him to come home to everyday. If he's going to be doing most of the providing for our family, why shouldn't I be helpful in the places that I can be?
Some people may read this blog and want to totally smack me, and think these opinions are the reason why women still aren't equal to men. I would like to point out..if I had a high paying stressful job that provided a huge chunk of our income, I know I would be singing a different song, however the situation being what it is, I feel perfectly content in contributing in every way I possibly can...so put me in an apron, and stick me in the kitchen...I'm cookin dinner tonight!
<3 Karissa
p.s. 1 month 1 week 1 day till I DO!!! YIKES!!!!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Man Gene and Total Destruction Part 2
So the past few posts have been about how vastly different men and women are. How our brains are totally different, and how we function completely opposite. In my Total Destruction post we covered the topic of our backyard overhaul. I was pretty happy with the outcome of our conversation. We were going to tackle the backyard one section at a time, that way we didn't have to look at a crap pile of a yard the whole season. Well that whole theory went to shit yesterday. I blame my father. What is it about a pair/group of men getting together, and suddenly everything seems possible? "Oh you want to dig a hole for a pool with your bare hands...NO PROBLEM. I bet I can dig faster and deeper than you!" Everything becomes a possibility and everything becomes a giant pissing contest.
Throw in my dad, and suddenly hubs to be thinks he can do it all, and for some reason has to prove it. *Side note, when men are all together why do their ideas become more and more stupid?* We had my dad over to help with some yard work. My idea was to get one whole side of the yard totally cleaned up, and ready for some planting next weekend...Aaron and my dad had a much better idea. Lets get a 15lbs sledge hammer and giant ax and chop at a stump in the ground for 2 hours...just to see what happens! Oh lets also get a saw and cut down two trees in the backyard. Honey it will be a great idea.
EXCUSE ME..HOLD THE PHONE.... What happened to pulling weeds raking up all this dirt and getting some nice stepping stones and potted plants?? Oh I know Father and Son-in-law together...Operation Total Destruction is back on. I'm so glad our logical conversation was at the front of almost hubs mind...oh wait it wasn't.
While I appreciate all the cool news toys my dad bought Aaron, I don't appreciate the fact that he's now got these massive toys that do nothing but create a mess in my yard! So now my yard has to extra stumps from the cut down trees, a "burn pile" the size of a bear cave of wood that we'll have to burn once we get our fire pit, and nothing has been planted yet.
We worked ourselves to the bone yesterday, and my dad was great help, we actually got a lot cleaned up and while it looks worse than before..it also looks better..all the weeds are good, all the dead leaves are raked out. My dad did a great job helping us...I just don't think I'll ever let those two make the plan again!!
Throw in my dad, and suddenly hubs to be thinks he can do it all, and for some reason has to prove it. *Side note, when men are all together why do their ideas become more and more stupid?* We had my dad over to help with some yard work. My idea was to get one whole side of the yard totally cleaned up, and ready for some planting next weekend...Aaron and my dad had a much better idea. Lets get a 15lbs sledge hammer and giant ax and chop at a stump in the ground for 2 hours...just to see what happens! Oh lets also get a saw and cut down two trees in the backyard. Honey it will be a great idea.
EXCUSE ME..HOLD THE PHONE.... What happened to pulling weeds raking up all this dirt and getting some nice stepping stones and potted plants?? Oh I know Father and Son-in-law together...Operation Total Destruction is back on. I'm so glad our logical conversation was at the front of almost hubs mind...oh wait it wasn't.
While I appreciate all the cool news toys my dad bought Aaron, I don't appreciate the fact that he's now got these massive toys that do nothing but create a mess in my yard! So now my yard has to extra stumps from the cut down trees, a "burn pile" the size of a bear cave of wood that we'll have to burn once we get our fire pit, and nothing has been planted yet.
We worked ourselves to the bone yesterday, and my dad was great help, we actually got a lot cleaned up and while it looks worse than before..it also looks better..all the weeds are good, all the dead leaves are raked out. My dad did a great job helping us...I just don't think I'll ever let those two make the plan again!!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The Man Gene
Lets talk about the man gene. A gene that resides only in the male species. This gene allows for men to walk in the door, see the mat where shoes are supposed to go, and it somehow signals their brain to put their shoes three feet away from that mat. I don't get it. It's not just shoes either it's all inanimate objects.
Dishes are placed in the sink, when the dishwasher is full of dirty dishes, waiting for the last few dishes to have a full load. Mind you the dishwasher is a foot away from the sink.
Empty glasses are left ALL OVER the house, regardless of how many times he's walked into the kitchen to get something else. Same goes for dirty socks, and walking to the bedroom.
The real kicker is the keys...ohhhh the keys. It's an on going battle and I honestly think I'm fighting it with myself., because no matter how many times I subtly move the keys to the correct spot, I find them resting peacefully two inches away form their true resting place.
Dishes are placed in the sink, when the dishwasher is full of dirty dishes, waiting for the last few dishes to have a full load. Mind you the dishwasher is a foot away from the sink.
Empty glasses are left ALL OVER the house, regardless of how many times he's walked into the kitchen to get something else. Same goes for dirty socks, and walking to the bedroom.
The real kicker is the keys...ohhhh the keys. It's an on going battle and I honestly think I'm fighting it with myself., because no matter how many times I subtly move the keys to the correct spot, I find them resting peacefully two inches away form their true resting place.
Where they should go...
Where they end up.
This BOGGLES MY MIND!!!!!!
Someone please explain to me how as women we can be soooo vastly different from men. How is it that I can walk in the door each day and put my keys in the little box (which was purchased by Aaron not me!!) and he manages to get them about an inch away from the box???
I don't think he's lazy by any means. There are a million and one things that Aaron has going on around the house, but it will never cease to amaze me that the small tasks somehow are nearly impossible to get men to complete!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Lions and Laughs with the Larners
After a few crazy weekends working on the house, and dealing with the wedding, we decided to forget about our projects, and do something fun! We have both always wanted to go to the Detroit zoo, so we packed our bags and headed to Detroit. Aaron has a cousin that lives there (we went to the Pistons game with them earlier this year) so we crashed their weekend and all went to the zoo together!
Talking a 1 year old to the zoo is SO MUCH FUN!! I'm about to marry a grown child, and Amanda and I joked about how excited Aaron was getting about the animals, but watching their little girl watch the animals was so cute! Plus she is the cutest little baby on the earth! I could watch her facial expressions all day long.
The zoo was lots of fun..it was sooooo hot. Somehow I managed to get a wonderful burn on my left shoulder. I have been tanning so I have a nice base color for the wedding, and I have been really careful about lines, and now I have a lovely strap mark on my shoulder...awesome.
After the zoo we went home, and had grown up's night out! John and Amanda had a sitter all lined up, and it was the first time their little lady wasn't staying with a grandparent it was an actual sitter. It was so funny/cute to listen to Amanda give instructions! I have to say, while we were out, she was a very good trusting mama, and didn't call and check in every 5 minutes! I know I won't be that calm and collected! We headed out for a great dinner, and comedy show! It was so much fun. Aaron and I always go out to dinner, and we hit a movie every now and then, but we never actually get all dressed up and do date night. It really made us think. We promised on our way home today, we would do an official date night once a month. Something that we don't always do, where we have to get a little dressed up (that was my rule) and something that would expose us to different things and activities that are around our city!
John and Amanda live right in front of a pond, so we slept with the windows open, and had nice breeze and listened to the frogs all night, it was so peaceful! This morning we woke up and sadly said our goodbyes, and headed out to Ikea!
Ikea is one of my favorite stores. I would love to be able to walk in to their show room, pick up a "room" and put it in my house. Sadly I'm not a zillionare and can't do that, but we made out really well! We go some decorative pieces, and a new TV stand. We pretty much got everything we went for and then some! Of course I explained to Aaron that the reason we did so well money wise was because we have to put everything together ourselves. Anyone who had every put something together from Ikea knows how OBNOXIOUS it is. It will truly test how solid your relationship is if you can manage to put your stuff together without killing your partner.
We bought a bed side lamp.....took us 25 minutes to put that animal together, and we were on the verge of killing each other. We managed to survive and it's sitting blissfully on our nightstand. Probably mocking us at how long it took us, but regardless..we did it!
We had a wonderful, relaxing (minus the assembly of the lamp) weekend. We spent it with wonderful people, and had a great time reconnecting!
xoxo
<3 Karissa
Talking a 1 year old to the zoo is SO MUCH FUN!! I'm about to marry a grown child, and Amanda and I joked about how excited Aaron was getting about the animals, but watching their little girl watch the animals was so cute! Plus she is the cutest little baby on the earth! I could watch her facial expressions all day long.
The zoo was lots of fun..it was sooooo hot. Somehow I managed to get a wonderful burn on my left shoulder. I have been tanning so I have a nice base color for the wedding, and I have been really careful about lines, and now I have a lovely strap mark on my shoulder...awesome.
John and Amanda live right in front of a pond, so we slept with the windows open, and had nice breeze and listened to the frogs all night, it was so peaceful! This morning we woke up and sadly said our goodbyes, and headed out to Ikea!
Ikea is one of my favorite stores. I would love to be able to walk in to their show room, pick up a "room" and put it in my house. Sadly I'm not a zillionare and can't do that, but we made out really well! We go some decorative pieces, and a new TV stand. We pretty much got everything we went for and then some! Of course I explained to Aaron that the reason we did so well money wise was because we have to put everything together ourselves. Anyone who had every put something together from Ikea knows how OBNOXIOUS it is. It will truly test how solid your relationship is if you can manage to put your stuff together without killing your partner.
We bought a bed side lamp.....took us 25 minutes to put that animal together, and we were on the verge of killing each other. We managed to survive and it's sitting blissfully on our nightstand. Probably mocking us at how long it took us, but regardless..we did it!
We had a wonderful, relaxing (minus the assembly of the lamp) weekend. We spent it with wonderful people, and had a great time reconnecting!
xoxo
<3 Karissa
Monday, June 4, 2012
Total Destruction
Just going to throw this question out there...Why do men love total destruction? What is it about seeing something totally destroyed that gives them such a boner? I can't stand mess, I can't stand the feeling of being out of sorts, and looking at something and seeing it competely torn apart. I don't think we'll ever be able to buy a fixer upper I would probably die having to live in the mess. I felt so out of sorts when we were moving, and that was just boxes.
So back to the initial question...Why, oh why do they love the mess? It's a question that will probably always be answered with "It's just a man thing" and there is no logical answer.
We don't have any work to do in the house, where we do have work is the back yard. It's not horrible, but there are lots of trees in one area, and grass will never grow. So us being the HGTV junkies we are, decided to crash our own backyard, and turn half of it into a "Monzo oasis" We have all these great ideas, and lots of work to do!
Now, here comes the fun part. Yesterday we're out working on the yard, pulling weeds and ripping out bushes when Aaron gets an awesome idea. "Let's just continue to rip up everything we want to get out of here, clean the yard and then we'll piece everything together slowly" UMMMMMMMM excuse me!? You want to do what??? Rip out the whole backyard and then piece it back together? Don't we have a wedding coming up, followed by a honeymoon...sure honey, lets destroy the backyard so we can't host anymore parties the rest of the year!
Luckily for me, my quick thinking worked in my favor! "Babe wouldn't you rather work section by section? Work on it finish it, and then be done with it!? It will be so much more gratifying if we can actually see some finished product. Plus if we rip everything up now, we won't finish this summer!" By the grace of God he agreed with me THANK YOU BABY JESUS! I just saved myself from having to look at a mud pit for the entire summer!
So here's a break down of what took us six hours yesterday. We ripped out two bushes....completely took out all the crap all the previous owners laid down (we're doing things the right way) we put down new soil and planted new flowers.
Yep this took us six hours. So glad we didn't rip up the whole yard!
So back to the initial question...Why, oh why do they love the mess? It's a question that will probably always be answered with "It's just a man thing" and there is no logical answer.
We don't have any work to do in the house, where we do have work is the back yard. It's not horrible, but there are lots of trees in one area, and grass will never grow. So us being the HGTV junkies we are, decided to crash our own backyard, and turn half of it into a "Monzo oasis" We have all these great ideas, and lots of work to do!
Now, here comes the fun part. Yesterday we're out working on the yard, pulling weeds and ripping out bushes when Aaron gets an awesome idea. "Let's just continue to rip up everything we want to get out of here, clean the yard and then we'll piece everything together slowly" UMMMMMMMM excuse me!? You want to do what??? Rip out the whole backyard and then piece it back together? Don't we have a wedding coming up, followed by a honeymoon...sure honey, lets destroy the backyard so we can't host anymore parties the rest of the year!
Luckily for me, my quick thinking worked in my favor! "Babe wouldn't you rather work section by section? Work on it finish it, and then be done with it!? It will be so much more gratifying if we can actually see some finished product. Plus if we rip everything up now, we won't finish this summer!" By the grace of God he agreed with me THANK YOU BABY JESUS! I just saved myself from having to look at a mud pit for the entire summer!
So here's a break down of what took us six hours yesterday. We ripped out two bushes....completely took out all the crap all the previous owners laid down (we're doing things the right way) we put down new soil and planted new flowers.
Yep this took us six hours. So glad we didn't rip up the whole yard!
As we move into June I'm constantly thinking of things about the wedding, having bad dreams of all of the things I forgot to do. Now I know why people hire wedding planners. I always thought it was silly to hire someone, but hey it kept me working....now I need to hire someone, I am so overwhelmed!!!
xoxo
<3 Karissa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)