We're in BRASIL!

*******Unfortunately this is NOT a live post! We are a little *ahem* busy, but I PROMISE I will update for you all SOON!******

Sidnei,

We have been waiting for this day for a LOONNGG while....In fact, 14 months and 13 days to be exact.

Today is the day.

Today is our day.

Today is the day, that those 14 months and 13 days become the past.

Today is the day, we leave it all behind us.

Today is the day, that we start the rest of our lives....

And I for one, am so grateful and SO excited!

If this experience has taught me anything, it is that I can not imagine my life without you in it. The world is just not the same without you close to me. So today, I take off the shades and I put on my rose colored glasses.

Today is the day, that I will smile after I cry , I will hold your hand, I will hug you, I will kiss you, and I will look at you and tell you how much I love you, how much I've missed you.

And then I will smile and nod at the rest of his family............. I kid, I kid! But today begins my official Portuguese crash course lessons!

My love, in all seriousness, today is going to be one of those days that we will always remember. My heart is bursting!

Remember how I was such a good little packer???

I thought for sure that I would get to the airport today and things would go off without a hitch because I had been such a good little prepare-er. However, no. such. luck.

So we get there, and the lady takes one look at Gracie, another at my reservations, and says she needs to get her supervisor. Great.

The supervisor comes out and proceeds to tell us that there is no way Gracie can fly with me domestically and then be check in at Miami. There is just not enough time. There would be no guarantees. That I had two options. One: Leave without Gracie (this one brought tears) or two I could wait and take a different flight another day (this one brought tears). No good.

Thank goodness for my Mom. This is a woman who does NOT back down. My Mom told that ticket agent that I had been told by 3 different American Airline Employees, I had come to the airport a week in advance to make sure that everything was okay, and that she better go find someone who can make this work.

Just to let you know this is an hour and a half later.

So we wait ANOTHER hour. Finally the lady comes back out. First she had booked me a flight for the next day, arriving in Brazil on Thursday. Then we needed to wait again. She had called Miami (after we had asked her two hours earlier to do so) and they told her (SURPRISE!) that two hours was plenty of time since they didn't start boarding pets until about 3 hours before departure. So after all this, I have missed my flight to Dallas, all to find out what I had known from the beginning. The prior arrangements with Gracie were FINE. Thankfully she found a flight for me out of Richmond right away. So right now I am in Charlotte waiting to be connected so that I can go to Brazil! So we are on the same schedule! YAY!

Even better news is my first flight was with US Airways. I think the guy saw how frazzled I was, and he decided not to charge me for the two extra bags (I ended up checking my laptop bag too because apparently even though you pay for an animal to fly, it still counts as a carry on...BOO) and he saved me $200!!!!!!! It was definitely the bright spot in my day and I was so glad he did that for me! Thank goodness for kind hearted people! And to be honest, I know my bags were overweight too, so he saved me probably another $200 because of that. I am a lucky, lucky girl. With wayyyy too much stuff.

Thanks for all your well wishes!! And I am sure that I will post later this week! Maybe. I have some things scheduled, but I know you are all waiting for the pictures!

Here's hoping the rest of the journey is a smooth one!

And let's hope all goes well in customs (I'm super nervous about this part!)!!!

Leaving on a jet plane...!!

Today I am FLYING!!!!!!!! As we speak, I am taking my VERY heavy and MANY bags to the airport! I will be flying all day, and I will land TOMORROW morning! I can hardly contain myself!

But while I am flying, here to keep you company is Gracie! I have been taking a LOT of pictures of her lately, so I thought I'd share! Just say a little prayer for her...my poor little dog has anxiety issues, and HATES to be seperated from her Momma! Domestically, she will be in cabin with me! However, on the flight to Brazil she has to go under the plane. And I am worried about her! Hopefully she will make the flight alright!

Without further ado, let me present you Gracie, pre-grooming from last week!





Last Monday, the FIRST task, was to get the poor dog a hair cut!! Here she is!!





On Thursday, we went to Grandma's and we got to play in the yard! She is SO fast!






And then we played watch dog...the landscapers came to cut the lawn and Gracie did NOT like it!





Thanks for letting us come and play Grandma! You are the BEST!


Next time you see us, we'll be in BRASIL!!!!!!

How could I NOT think about it??

So last Thursday, I told you I had some spiciness to share with you! However, I did not make my Friday deadline, and since my weekend traffic is so low because I know you are all chomping at the bit , I wanted to wait until TODAY!

Besides everyone needs a Monday distraction!

Just as a precaution, this is a family friendly blog unless I'm angry and so I would like to warn you this material may not be appropriate for kids or the workplace.

Continuing on...

You all know, since I talk about it EVERY SINGLE post, that I get to see my husband in 2 days!!!! (I leave TOMORROW, but it will take some time since they are flying me all over the place to reach my destination, and I will arrive on Wednesday!) And it has been almost 15 months since we have been together. And when I say together, I mean TOGETHER.

Just as a side note, the crappy thing about this is, we are Mormon. Not that that is a crappy thing....that's not what I meant. What I mean is we were TOGETHER for one week. That's it. ONE. That is crappy. That is NOT enough time.

So when Eden Fantasies contacted me about writing some reviews, I said heck YES.

And of course with my upcoming 2nd honeymoon, I chose lingerie!!

I wanted to do something different, I have tons of lacy beautiful "first honeymoon" lingerie! So this is what I chose!

Keep in mind, that this model is a mannequin. And she scares me a little. But there is a "real" model of the lingerie. And she looks MUCH better! And while I will NEVER look like the "real" model I was surprised how MUCH I liked the way I looked in it. The lingerie I think would look flattering on all body types!

When I first chose this lingerie, I was going for something a little more fun. Which it is! I love the corset style and the lace up in the back. At first I was a little worried about what the quality would be. Again, I was pleasantly surprised! I would say that the only thing I don't really care for is the clasp on the front. It's a little industrial, but other than that, I love it. The fit of the lingerie is the absolute BEST for me!

So head on over to Eden Fantasies Eden Fantasies has a menagerie of different items for the bedroom!! Have fun!


And don't worry, I have another review! But this will have to be Brazilian bound!! Stay tuned!

My first Brazilian

Okay, so that is not 100% true.

My first Brazilian would be Sidnei. So technically this is my second Brazilian! Har, har.

My sister, Rachael, you remember her right?

Well my little sister decided to go get a Brazilian. You KNOW. A BRAZILIAN. That's right, WAX. So what did I do? I joined her.

Can I just say one thing? Please?

OUCH!!!

What in the WORLD, could I have been possibly thinking?

Holy Cow.

So after the trauma, we waddled back to the car and went to dinner. PF Changs style. And talked about how we couldn't cross our legs. Or move really. At all.

Then we got a pedicure.

So now my toes are HOT pink and cute! (Finally...it's been needed for a while!)

But we have both concluded that cute toes do NOT make our crotch stop hurting. Not. at. all.

So for the next couple of days, we will be taking it easy! And moving as little as possible! Let's hope tomorrow is significantly better!

Has anyone else done this? Do you have any words of comfort?

Hope you all have a GREAT weekend!


**By the way, that post I promised for yesterday? Sorry. Look for it Monday!**

What have I been doing this week?...

You may be asking yourself...I wonder what Stephanie is doing? Is she enjoying her time in Virginia with her family and NOT having to work???? (Oh, what you didn't ask that? Well don't worry, I'm sure your curiosity is peaked now, and I aim to satisfy!)


The answer would be YES!

I have not put on makeup since Sunday. I finished Grey's (I was really behind...), Ugly Betty (season finale tonight!), and I have saved the best for last...and I am finishing LOST. I am wrapping up my book "A Thousand Splendid Suns" which is really great so far. I LOVED "Kite Runner."

I did finish packing my stuff. Remember mock packing?? Well let me put it this way... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I have too much stuff. And one of my suitcases had an unknown hole. So I had to get a new one.

I have been to Petsmart about a thousand times. But Gracie finally has a carrier, the airline is happy, and the people at Petsmart are praying I don't come back!

The guy at the airport laughed at me today....I took my stuff there so he could weight everything, check Gracie's carrier, etc. Apparently efficiency is quite comical these days. But I don't want ANYTHING to prevent me from getting on that plane Tuesday!

I know I have been a little boring lately, but I promise its about to heat up! In fact check back tomorrow, it's gonna get a little spicy!



5 MORE DAYS!!!

Rachael's Graduation Weekend Photo Style!

Just so you know...still LOVIN the hair!

Starting out with a road trip to VA!

Gracie was such a good girl on the trip! And isnt that bow cute??

Fun at dinner!

Rachael's Impromptu Late Birthday Party!

VCU Graduation 2009!!

Mom, Rachael, and Me!

Isn't she gorgeous? Leave her some love! She reads, just NEVER comments!

Dont you just cringe LOVE those yellow nails??

Dad getting in the VCU spirit!

Me and Ashlee! I miss her so much already!

Me, Dad, Rachael, at Graduation Dinner at PF Changs... YUM!

Me and the Graduate!

Breakfast...before everyone left

The girls!


It was a wonderful weekend. But it was so difficult to say goodbye to my Dad, bonus Mom, and bonus Sister. I love them so much!

And the biggest thing from this weekend...I am SO proud of my little sister. She has come leaps and bounds, worked harder than most would dream of, and this is a huge accomplishment for her! I'm so proud of you Rachael!!! Congratulations!

The First of the Last's...

Tonight is my last night in Myrtle Beach. In a lot of ways...it didn't feel like it. It all feels so surreal. And truthfully I was so busy trying to finish it all...well the night and time slipped away...

My room is so empty. And clean. Which it hasn't been that way in a LONG time what with all the packing and lack of ambition or will .

I can not say that I am sad to leave Myrtle Beach. I am sad to leave behind the friends who have supported me, I am sad to leave my family that I have learned to love and rely on so much, and I am more saddened to leave the place that holds so many good memories for me. This is the place that I met the love of my life. The man who took me to Broadway at the Beach, in the winter, just to walk around and be alone. It was terribly romantic. He took me to the beach and etched a heart in the sand, hold hands, and walk... He took me to eat Mexican at our favorite little restaurant Chalupa's more than he wanted, because he knew I loved it! Those little things (and so so many more) tug at my heart strings..I want more than anything to come back here with Sidnei and do those things again. There are so many things I want Sidnei to experience, so many things that I have not yet had the opportunity to share with him!

I know we are about to embark on a bigger journey than either of us can yet imagine. I know there will be new memories, new heart strings. But for now, the feelings are ever so bittersweet. I am sad to leave, but I am happy to go.

Good Day Wednesday

Overall today has been pretty alright! They came and got my boxes and I was SO glad! It is the BIGGEST relief to have that part over with!! Now I am trying to sort through the rest of everything else so that I can take things to good will, throw away the trash, and pack to go spend the rest of my time in Virginia!!

It is AMAZING how quickly time passes! And there is still so much to do!!!

The other good part of my day, is I FINALLY went and got my hair done. The last time I had ANYTHING done at all was in October! I KNOW! It was forever!

Needless to say, I am THRILLED with the results!!



What do you think?


Hopefully I can make my bangs look this good! It NEVER looks like the hairdresser does it after you leave! Im excited to see what it looks like curly as well!!

Do Da Stanky Leg

While traveling to Virginia this weekend, I had to use the work van. And the van does not have any kind of technology in it. So I just scanned the radio over and over...I came across a new discovery...Apparently, there is a new dance...where everyone does the "stanky leg"....

REALLY? A "stanky leg"? What exactly is a "stanky leg"?

So of course as usual, you tube has the answer!



or you can go here to see it.


Am I just behind? How has this escaped me? Are we now reduced to stanky legs? I think I will stick to my country lovin' self...lots of fried chicken and a few broken hearts...but definitely no stanky legs!

Fallin' Off

I sort of fell off...

A lot--

The blogging world.

Emails.

Packing.

The Phone.

Me.

My Sanity.

Basically everything but work.

But only because I can't fall off that. It has me roped up like a calf in a rodeo.


So just so you know. I AM ALIVE. Thank you for all your sweet emails and comments. I am doing alright. I think reality set in a little bit. And then I freaked out. However, I am good. The only reason I am freaking out now is because I stopped packing. And now the company is coming to pick up my boxes. On Wednesday. And I am not finished. Ha. Ha. Haha.

So for this week, I will be buried in bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, tape, and the frantic-ness of making sure I get everything. I am going to try and sell the last couple of items I have left to sell. I am going to finish everything at work. (haha) And this weekend I am going to my sisters graduation!!!!! I am SO excited for her!

But after all of this, I will be here. Promise. I will blog again! I will be at my Mom's in Virginia until I leave on the 26th!!

Did you know it's only 15 more days?????

I can't WAIT!