Good Friday, to you!

The only thing that could make this Friday better would be if I wasn't sitting at work staring at my completed to-do list, watching 5 o'clock never come.  I really should have been a school teacher, for more than the scented markers and spring break, but you have to admit that is a perk.  

I will say that I have been much more positive today than I normally would be.  My whole new "be positive" self is already starting to work for the best!  

On that note:

Dear Spring time,
There you are!  I have missed your warm embrace!  Welcome.  Please never leave me again

Dear Camera,
Get ready to be used a lot this weekend!

Dear Husband,
Okay, fine.  You won the Easter basket argument.  I made  you one on Wednesday.  I just need to warn you that it is actually an Easter bag, not a basket.  I refuse to pay seven bucks for something that I am going to want to throw away the following day.  Also, I had a very difficult time finding anything age appropriate for your Easter basket bag.  Most things at Target had Lightning McQueen or Hello Kitty on it.  Thus proving my point that adults shouldn't exchange Easter baskets.  But whatever.

 Dear John Sylvan (inventor of the Keurig),
Thank you for your invention.  You are a god among men.  I am forever indebted to you.  I do have one question though.  Back in 1997 when you ended up hospitalized for caffeine poising, did it ever cross your mind to just switch to decaf?

Dear Doughnut(s).
GET IN MY BELLEH!  That is all.


Happy Friday to you all!  Have a wonderful Easter with people that make you happy! 

I should be more positive

Is it just me or is this week flying by?   Tomorrow is Friday already (Holla!!).  The week may be flying by, but that last hour of work just seems to drag.  Any one else?

Something that I have noticed lately is that I am, in all actuality, a negative person.  I am not sure what happen to me that turned me into a spiteful little twat, but I am.  I complain about everything!  I complain about the weather, my job, my cat, my husband (who is wonderful to me and gives me no real reason to complain), the government, the cost of living, you name it and I am sure I have complained about it.

I can't pinpoint exactly what happen to me that made me turn bitter, but I am not sure if I would want to.  It wouldn't change anything.  I know that I have been through quite a lot in my 26 years, but that should make me thankful.  I should look back on my life and be proud that I am where I am today.

I may not be able to change the past, but I can change my attitude about it.  I think I say "I hate people" out loud at least 6 times a day.  The thing is, I used to be a people person.  I used to love hanging out with a big group of friends and just act stupid and giggle at everything.  Then life beat me up a bit, a grew up, and grew bitter along with it.

please excuse the uber bad quality.  It's a photo of a (already poor quality) photo

So, I have decided that I want to be a happy person again.  I know that I don't have a switch built into my back that I can just flip (although sometimes I think that would be awesome).  I know that this will take time. I understand that it is okay to have a bad day, and that there are frustrating things in life.  But I also have so much to be happy about and thankful for.

I have a car that will pass inspection on the first try for the first time in my life

I have a husband who rocks at the whole "in sickness and in health" thing

I have a job with benefits.  Even if they aren't that great, it beats working three retail jobs without benefits (like I did once)

I have both lungs.  I know that seems like a silly thing to add to this list, but when you are hospitalized with respiratory issues two days after your wedding, you can choose to be thankful for your lungs, or bitter that you missed your honeymoon.  I am done with the later, so that means I have to be thankful.

It will be a challenge, but I am tough.  BRING IT!

The happiest I have ever been.  

Cara Box Reveal

Remember when I mentioned that I signed up to do my first ever blog swap?  That's okay if you didn't because none of the juicy stuff happen until now. Well, other than developing friendships behind the scenes.  


The Cara Box exchange is run by the beautiful Kaitlyn at Wifessionals.  She is such a wonderful person who puts a lot of time into helping out smaller bloggers.  AND  she's going to be a new mommy soon!  I am so excited for her!  Thanks for everything you do, Kaitlyn!  You are awesome!

The way the exchange is set up, is that you are paired with two different people.  One person to send a box to, and one person you get a box from.  There is also a monthly theme.  This month it was "__ is for...".  Everything in the box should have something to do with the first letter of your partner's name.   I was paired with Katie from a heart consumed and Kayla from Green Mountain Couple.  K was a tricky letter for me, but I was able to get creative and send Katie some cool stuff (at least I hope it is cool).

Here is what Kayla put in my box....

Yay for happy mail!

There was a cute card explaining how happy she is that we are friends.  That made me smile.  Who doesn't love new friends!



This fantastic yellow key fob is from her Etsy Shop!

If you love this she has a promo going on use code GrandOpening13  for 10% off $5 or more until March 31, 2013

Kayla asked me what my favorite kind of candy is,  Truthfully, I am not huge on sweets, but I love white chocolate, or anything filled with caramel .  Since she couldn't find a white Kit-kat bar or caramel kisses, she sent me some Ghirardelli Milk and Caramel squares (G for Gootee, my last name).  Good call, Kayla!

Yes, it's open.  I couldn't wait...

Another fun Key chain because I love keys!

Last but not least, my favorite thing of all: a homemade kite wall hanging.  One of my favorite memories from my childhood is kite-flying with my mom at the local high school.  For Kayla to make me something to remind me of that is so sweet.  Something a real friend would do.

I already have it hanging by my bed.

Confession: This picture is really for Kayla.  Yes that is a .22 in the background.  Little Miss Prepper wold be happy to know I own a fire arm.

I was a little apprehensive about meeting new people via the internet, but I am so glad I did.  I enjoyed getting to know Kayla and Katie so much.  I can't wait for April's match ups!

If you want to join in on the fun, you don't even have to be a blogger!  Just head over to Wifessionals and sign up!

Husband bragging

I don't like being overly emotional or mushy about my husband.  I love him, of course, but it is just not my thing to brag about him in every other post.  But today I must.

Not only did he have dinner ready when I got home, the kitchen was clean as well!  Then he suggested that we get out there and enjoy the spring like weather (yes, 42 is spring like in Rochester).  So, we walked down one of my favorite streets in the city and got some frozen yogurt. On the way back we ducked into one of the charming little shops. He even bought me a new mug.

Chicken purse anyone?

Who else read the Roger Hargreaves books when they were younger?

You are now entering Laughter Land
Smiling
Laughing
Chuckling
Giggling
PERMITTED
By order of the King

And then, the best thing of all, he redesigned my blog for me!  I was complaining that I was frustrated with the header I had and that I was half tempted to pay for a designer to do it for me.  He says "show me what you like and I will see if I can help"  So I did, and now I LOVE what I have (both the husband and the blog).

I love happy nights. ♥

Is it wrong that I love Mondays?

I love Mondays.  There I said it.  I know that completely goes against the norm, but I never really called myself normal.  My type A personality just loves to have a schedule and be busy.  Tuesdays are really the day I contimplate calling in sick while my alram is blaring in my face.  Tuesdays are less busy and lack structure.  I hate that.  Anyway...

I thought about not doing another one of the "weekend recap" post because I realized that my weekends are usually extrememly boring AND I forget to take photos. I know, that makes me a horrbile blogger, but people keep reading so I guess not.

So, for those of you that are holding your breath and dying from suspense, you can relax.  Here is what I did this weekend:

Friday, I completely forgot about putting dinner in the crock pot, so I suggested we go out for dinner.  We ended up at great Norther Pizza Kitchen (Dean's idea not mine).  That will be the last time the Gootee's step foot in there.  Boo!  I ended up stopping at Wendy's for more food because I was still hungry.

Satuday, was a normal saturday.  I slept in.  Cleaned like a mad woman and acidently threw out almost all of my mose rings in the process.  Not cool, Katie, not cool!   The bright spot of my day was going grocery shopping with Dean.  He never comes with me, and I remembered why when our bill was about $40 more than it should have been.   Home to more cleaning and watching "30 Days" on Netflix. I love Netflix, I seriously don't know how I went a whole year without it.

Sunday, We went to our new church for the third time now.   That's a big deal.  I love Jesus, but often times I feel like we would be better off without the institution of christiananity.  However, we both know that fellowship with outher Jesus lover's is healthy, so we keep going. And we actually have enjoyed it.  We went out for coffee with some of them after.  It was great.  Then after Dean's nap time we did laundry

And that is my weekend.  Not  that exciting, but hey, it is what it is.

And since it is a crime to have a blog post with out a photo, here is a picture of a garden tea party I attended two summers ago.  Two of those friends moved away, and three of them had babies.  Yeah, I was the token "single gal" friend for a while.

Sunday Social

So, I am going to try this whole "Sunday Social" thing.  Why not?  I am in the mood for change - as you can see.  Yeah, I changed my blog name.  I really didn't like "Enjoying Life's Little Surprises".  It was way too long. I also really wanted a more fun Blog layout.  I still don't like what I have, but it is better than it was.  So I will take it.  

Anyway, on to the Sunday Social Questions:

1. What is your favorite thing about Spring?

Spring cleaning, wearing flip-flops, and my birthday.

2.  Favorite flowers to grow or receive?

I LOVE Gerber Daisies!!

3. What is your favorite nail polish color? 

I don't really know the name of any thing.  I like pastel colors for the spring.

4. What is your favorite out door activity?

I love sitting out side just after dark, around a camp fire, with good friends, laughing.  Oh and being barefoot 

Of course, I can only find an especially unflattering photo of the two of us

5. Do you have any fun spring plans?

We are going to have a little celebration for out wedding in May.  I guess a perk of "eloping" is being able to celebrate with people multiple times.  

Friday Letters! 3.22.13

Happy Friday, everyone!  I know that someday Fridays will not be as awesome to me because I will be a mother.  Let's face it, mom's don't get weekends.  So I better make the most of it while I can.

Dear Rebecca Black,
You and your annoying song are pretty much the only down fall to Fridays.  What were you thinking, really?

Dear winter snow storm happening outside,
You are late.  Sorry, you have to leave.  You are not welcome back until Christmas.  Tootles.

Dear incredibly awesome hair and face day,
You have topped off my Friday.  What can be better than going to work with a much needed confidence boost?

Dear Pot Roast,
I completely forgot to put you in the slow cooker until right now.  Whoops.  I guess that means it's a date night (good thing I have awesome hair today) .  We'll eat you tomorrow.

Please enjoy this picture of my cat that has nothing to do with anything.

As Always, linking up with The Sweet Season blog