Thursday, December 31, 2009

Tightening our belts and cooking a bird.

Most of you know the continued saga of us attempting to buy a home in Los Angeles.  Our lender keeps telling us, "it's gonna close tomorrow".  It's actually become a joke to us.  Good thing we are so easy going...or, so I've learned to be :)  We have been assured that we do own the house but there is one remaining technicality left to resolve.  I am reluctant to pop the champagne just yet as we don't want to count our chickens before they hatch (thank you mom for this saying it's perfect).  Let's just hope that it's ours soon especially since we've re-roofed the garage, tore up the upstairs floors, purchased two refrigerators, a stove and planks of new hardwood floors are lying everywhere! 

In light of this major purchase and the fact that only one of us brings home the bacon (I know, you're shocked - the South Beach Diet commercial from over a year ago did NOT pay me $1 million dollars) we do have to be a little more conservative.  I'm not going to lie, I've been informed that I might need to start tightening my belt (ughh) and worse yet maybe get a "real" job.  If by real we mean working from home and/or starting my headshot photography business then we are in luck!  Honestly though, it's about high time we started coming back down to reality and getting our priorities in order.  Oh, I had you didn't I?!  I can just see my mom muttering "ya" and pumping her fist in the air.  But I'm just kidding.... reality shreality (is that a word?) we're gonna keep rockin it like it's 1999 until we can't party no more.  Yet, our definition of "kickin it" may be more like a six-pack and a sander than a bottle of Cristal at a club (who am I kidding, we've never had Cristal but it's the only drink I could think of that starts with a "c")

In all seriousness though, I am quite a bargain shopper (thank you again Kathy Brink - - she's getting a lot of props in the entry).  And, in the spirit of saving money on groceries I purchased a big ol' 10 lb. turkey at the Ralph's day after Thanksgiving sale.  With an impending move date of January 15th and our lack of desire to have one more thing to transport to the new (not to be confused with "great potential") house, I decided to cook that darn turkey.  Heck, I even made the infamous Aunt Jo rolls (by way of Carol Abo, by way of Nancy Kerwin), stuffing and a salad.  I know, sometimes I even impress myself.  Just when Russ thought he couldn't eat another bite, he gets a second Thanksgiving meal.  And to that I say bring on the leftovers!  Cold turkey, turkey sandwiches, turkey noodle soup, turkey quesadillas and anything else that I cook over the next two weeks to get rid of this turkey!

Life is exciting right now and you'll be happy to know that I purchased a great little lens to help document the home renovation and all the other glorious little events that will continue to happen - - otherwise known as our lives. 

Lastly, Happy New Year all you crazy people we love you mucho!  And in the vain of Garrison Keillor (a shout out to Dave-O)  "Be well, do good work and keep in touch".

Please keep in mind, I had to use my stupid camera phone on these pictures (remember I broke my lens).  Have no fear though, you can prepare yourself for some better photos in the near future. I'm not sure how buying a lense fits into my newly tightened belt but it's an investment right?  Hello my little 1.8, 50 mm lens I'm coming to get you!



Sunday, December 20, 2009

Sydney's 3rd Birthday

I love that our niece Sydney's birthday happens to fall on the 22nd of December because we've made all three of her special days!  I only wish that our other nieces and nephews birthdays were close to major "Brink" gatherings too because Aunt Angie and Uncle Russ LOVE cake (whether it be Dora the Explorer cake or Hot Wheels cake) and we especially LOVE snuggles and kisses from our little tribe of nieces and nephews. 

Note: I had a little incident with my SLR camera in LAX...namely, I tripped over my own foot (typical) and broke my lens so these pics have been generously sent to us by my sister-in-law and I do think they are quite cute :)  More pics to come of the Holidays - - I managed to use my point and shoot and manipulate my camera so a few pics actually turned out.

Baby Maddox!!!


Perhaps the cutest thing about Sydney is her love for her uncle Russ.  She's going in for a "movie star" kiss...he's getting more comfortable with the smooches.  I have to say too that I love Russ more and more because he is such a generous giving person and uncle to all of our nieces and nephews.  Russ really "took on" the "Brinks" with gusto and love.