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Finally I have the room set up as my game room. Yay! Check out more pictures on flickr!

Before

Now

It is finished. Finally the painting of my house is complete… well… sorta. (There are still some ceilings that COULD use a fresh coat of paint, but I don’t count those.. so shhh!!!) The spare bedroom at my house now has Homestead Resort Parlor Sage walls and the inside of the closet is Sparkling Lake (its a robin egg blue). Add those to the previous list of colors in my house : Schoolboy Blue (Kitchen), Turbid Amethyst (Bathroom), Cream in My Coffee (LR), Brilliant White (LR, Kit, Halls), Hopsack (Fireplace), and Turquoise (Hall Closet/Shelf). I’m not sure why they don’t just give them regular names but whatev! My house is gloriously colorful, but hopefully not overly so. I’ve tried to keep resale potential in mind as I’ve painted… except for the bathroom. The dark purple might not appeal to everyone, so maybe I’ll have to paint it Hopsack or Sparkling Lake before I ever think of selling.

In addition to the colors inside, there are the glorious colors outside. The azaleas and rhododendrons were/are beautiful purples. The dogwoods, which barely bloomed, were white and pink. Plus there is the explosion of colorful flowers in my orange, blue, and brown pots. Plus the greens of the numerous tree. I have such a love hate relationship with the trees. I think they look lovely, they provide privacy, shade, and a nice ambiance to my home BUT!!!! I have to sweep my deck and my house every day. Actually 3 times a day would probably be best. We, well I blame Lucy and she doesn’t argue back, track in so much mother nature freaking crap. My trees are constantly dropping stuff. In the fall the leaves were horrible, and I didn’t even have a dog then. I thought that would be the worst of it, but I was very very wrong. There is a constant downpour of random buds, blooms, pollen, and unknown tree stuff.

As for me and my life, which I never blog about now because I’m too busy actually living my life… well. There was Dan’s 33rd birthday a few days ago (Happy Birthday Dan!). There was Mother’s Day (Happy Mother’s Day Mom!), which I spent at my parents with them, Becca & Hannah, and all of my Dad’s family. I arrived late, as usual, but it was a nice day with everyone. Later in the evening I went home and got Lucy so she could meet Hannah. It was hilariously cute watching Hannah with Lucy, and if you haven’t seen them there are pictures on Flickr.

On Sat night there was a big family gathering for Judy’s Birthday (belated) and Stacey’s graduation. Happy Bday Judy, and congrats to Stacey! (wow, I’m so behind with this blogging thing). It was really a good time and was held at my old house. It was really bizarre being in Wayne and at my old house. So many memories, but it seems like a lifetime ago or like a dream. Growing old is weird.

On some other Saturday before that was prom, and 3 of my cousins attended. Haley, Heather, and Carli were all gorgeous of course.

Umm, also I’ve bought my wedding dress and booked Savannah’s Restaurant’s Magnolia Banquet Room for the reception.

Whew, ok I think that catches up this blog a little bit. I’ll try to write more often. Seriously. Everyone knows how I complain about a lack of theme, so maybe I’ll make this a Bridezilla blog and write constant updates about my attempts to have a minimal wedding which is really not turning out to be so minimal

Ciao

THIS pair of shoes…

These Clark’s Artisan flip flops caught my eye a couple months ago, and finally I was able to get them 40% off at work this week… and wow, they are like walking on the carpets of Heaven while eating dark chocolate. If you need new sandals, get these. If you don’t need new sandals, them buy me some in brown or white

Another thing everybody needs, a little bit of love and happiness. I’m loving my life right now. Some flowers have been planted (check out the pics on Flickr), the weather is perfect for sitting on the deck in the evenings, and I have my wonderful little family of Dan and Lucy to share it with. My previously mentioned “surgery” was completed yesterday and I’m doing well. Wedding plans are developing. A gorgeous dress has been purchased. Not much to complain about.

I have watched several movies in the past 2 weeks, but those reviews will have to wait. So many good movies, but…

I just returned home from vacation in Virginia, relaxing and driving through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, taking pictures, and happily trading portions of my meals with portions of my finance’s meals.

Oh, what was that? Yes world, Dan and I are engaged =)

Its hard to explain how peaceful/blissful of a smile I have on my face right now as I watch another movie with him beside me and my adorable Lucy at our feet.

I’ll write about movies, my vacation, and many other interesting events when I get bored.

Today I felt great pride and relief, as I was planning to file 3 years worth of taxes. Gasp! Shock! Shock and Awe! Mission Accomplished! Oh yes, its true. I have been a criminal on the run. Here is the story…

In 2005 I was planning to file on time, but wasn’t sure how to file since I lived in 2 states. Then I didn’t get one of my W-2s from babysitting, so I filed an extension. Many attempts were made at obtaining this elusive W-2, but no luck. So my 6 month extension ended and I was panicked and had no clue how to file a late, multiple state, missing W-2 tax return. I did my usual tactic for stressful situation, I avoided. I have been stressed and scared every since then.

So 2006 tax season rolled around, and 2005 was still being avoided. 2006 was even worse because I was “self employed” half of the year as a Realtor and babysitter, and taxes weren’t held out of any of those earnings. It was madness, like 4 extra forms to determine my taxes and deduct the money I spent on my business. I had an expense book and all my receipts to go through. I got it all figured out eventually, but filed an extension because I didn’t get it figured out quick enough… plus I was still unsure what to do about 2005. PLUS, Turbo Tax printed out a payment booklet because I owed so much. When the IRS doesn’t expect you to pay the full amount, its bad. So I avoided again. Scared. Stressed. Hide Natalie, hide. I would almost vomit every time I even thought about my taxes.

Now here we are, April 15, 2008. 2007 taxes are due today. For months, I have been saying “I’m going to the IRS office this week” or “I’m going tomorrow” so that I could file those other years and set up a payment plan. Seriously, I meant to. Last night in a brief moment of not total procrastination, I sat with 3 years worth of tax forms and W-2s around me. I organized and mostly completed the 05 & 06 forms. I (amazingly) filed 2007 federal and Maryland taxes last night. What a great feeling. But I hadn’t even picked up the 2007 WV forms yet, but no biggie right? Hahahahaha.

Today I got the WV form at the library this morning. I began filling it out during a 45 min break in between appointments, but that crap was crazy. I had to file 2 forms, and do all these formulas and tables and charts to determine my WV tax since I was a partial resident. I didn’t finish it then, but no biggie because I’ll be home 4-5pm before work and can do it then. Hahahahaha.

I arrive home and finally finish that WV form, and then realize the only other incomplete form is the 2005 Maryland… which is also a complicated mess of formulas and tables and charts because I was a partial-residence then too. I was stressed to the max. I finished it. I carefully stuffed envelopes to ensure the correct forms were with the correct W-2s with the correct checks in the envelope with the correct address. Its 5 minutes before I’m scheduled to work. Stress!!!!

Walk dog.

Leave house in mad rush to the Barboursville Post Office, driving like a maniac. Post Office is closed! Wha?! Mother frig a duck. I thought/assumed all post offices were open until midnight or really late on tax day. Why not assume, even though I haven’t personally filed taxes in 3 years and have never filed by mail? That surely can’t be a bad idea, right? hahahahahahah.

I google phone numbers and attempt to call other post offices, no answer. Even the iPhone can’t save me now. I drive like a mad woman while calling my mom. She assures me the main post office will be open because they always show people on the news filing at the last minute. I call work and explain I won’t be there, which I’m sure they assumed since it was already 30 minutes past when I was scheduled to be there.

Drive like maniac to the west end of Huntington.

Get stuck in construction on interstate. hahahahah

Arrive to the MAIN post office. It is closed and they don’t even have stamp machines. Hahahahah. I am one of dozens of angry and confused tax payers roaming around the post office.

Drive like total maniac having a total manic fit, screaming to other less manic drivers to get out of my way as I go downtown to that branch. It to is… (can you guess it?)… closed! But inside I find a postal worker and a stamp machine. She is explaining to the angry woman in front of me that the machine doesn’t take cash. She guides me through the stamp buying process and explains that I can mail my taxes at the west end branch outside (or inside, but she would just stay in the car and use the drive up box if she were me). Thanks.

Back in car, more hostile driving.

Arrive again at the west end branch. More stunned tax payers loom around the outside and inside drop offs. The outside box I was advised to use says the last pick up is 5pm, and its currently 6:45 so I’m not sure how that is going to work. Strangers are discussing options, helping each other determine which will be most likely to get postmarked, and some are even selling extra stamps to poor souls like myself who expected a stamp machine or actual live postal worker. I dropped my precious 3 years worth of taxes in the inside slot. I took a deep breath. I did the best I could, if you factor out my fears, avoidance, stupidity, assumptions, procrastination, and poor time management.

Happy Birthday today to my wonderful best friend & sister, Becca.

Happy April Birthdays to Courtney and my cousins Jamie, Heather, Josh & Christi, and Aunt Judy.