Our Journey to the Midwest, Or, A Day of Eating Cough Drops

This past Thursday we left Florida and flew to Chicago Midway in a day that I like to call, "Missy the Bitch on Wheels Day".

Our day began with me realizing that I should have set our alarm an hour earlier, resulting in me running around my mother-in-law's house like a madwoman. We expected the limo driver to pick us up at 9:30 am, which meant we needed to sedate our cats at 8 am, put their harnesses on, and get them into their carriers. Plus I had to get dressed, pack our luggage, and figure out how I would get fresh laundry and a mysterious bulky Publix bag that Jeff handed to me {"Here, I need to put this in the suitcase} into our already busting-at-the-seams-luggage.

Of course, OF COURSE, the cats would not eat the Pill Pocket "treats" filled with their sedation medication. Cookie spit it out and ran away from us. Doughie ate a tiny bit and then proceeded to run around the house like she was on Speed. I kept yelling at Jeff to get the harnesses on them, and he kept saying it wasn't going to happen. They were too wound up and they sensed something was up.

In the midst of all this, I could not FOR THE LIFE OF ME get all our shit packed again into our suitcases. Normally I am a light traveler and I always carry on my baggage. Not this time. I had to pack work outfits, three different pair of shoes {of course}, two handbags {of course}, casual clothes, Jeff's clothes, toiletries, make-up, jewelry, our laptops, paperwork, my water mug that I take everywhere...the stuff never seemed to end. I am embarrassed to admit that of the two bags we checked, the larger one weighed 12 pounds over the limit. That's a first for me!

All that running around the house made me break out into the classic Florida Indoor Sweat Because It's So Damn Friggin' Humid Inside. Once inside the limo Jeff and I sat like contorted gymnasts trying to get our legs configured around the cats' crates while we listened to the Cat Symphony...Cookie and Doughie alternating their cries the entire way to the airport.

Since I never check bags, I can't remember the last time I had to stand in line inside the airport to check in. What a headache! After waiting 15 minutes and enduring either happy faces from strangers {"Oh! Is that a kitty in your bag? I love cats!} or glares {"Is that a CAT? I am allergic to CATS!} we finally got through the line...and then the stress level shot up big time.

I warned Jeff that we would have to take the cats out of their carriers at Security. But we both hoped they would make an exception since we they didn't take their medication AND since we failed to get the harnesses on both cats {did I mention that??}. No luck, we had to "remove the animal from the cage" as one Southwest employee said to me. I have never felt more nervous in my life. All I could imagine was each cat jumping from our arms and running into the depths of the Fort Lauderdale Airport, never to be seen again.

Well, the whole thing turned out to be a non-event. The cats were too scared to move and we easily moved them in and out of their carriers with no problem. The next hurdle would be our flight.

Of course, OF COURSE, there is some crazy lady sitting in the front row on the plane yakking with every person walking past her. Prior to boarding I heard her talking to someone about their bag {"Oh that's a lovely bag, where did you get it?} and chatting unnecessarily with people trying to board and MOVE PAST THE FIRST ROW. As soon as we boarded I noticed two open seats right behind Chatty Cathy and open space for our carry-ons so I just went for it. The minute I started to put our bags in the overhead bin, this lady starts quizzing me about whether we can carry the cats on board, and where would we put them? I shot her a look like, listen lady, stop asking me questions, there are 100 PEOPLE BEHIND ME TRYING TO GET ON THIS PLANE.

It took some finagling {is that a word?} to get our soft-side carriers under the seats. Doughie cried the ENTIRE flight. Cookie never made a peep. As soon as we took off, I realized that in all the madness of the morning we never ate anything for breakfast. I managed to sip about 1/4 cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee at the airport but that was it. I'm the kind of person who needs to eat three meals daily, if not every 4 hours. Digging around in my purse I managed to find some Watermelon flavored Halls Vitamin C Cough Drops. YUM! Just the perfect snack, hahaha. Well, not really. The cough drops made my stomach growl and my brain calculated the time of our next meal...probably not until late, VERY LATE that day.

Sure enough, I was right. We waited nearly 45 minutes at Midway's baggage claim {that is no exaggeration...I wanted to KILL someone by the time our flight's bags started coming off the baggage carousel} then we had a three hour drive in a rental car, but not before we dealt with the nasty bumper-to-bumper 15 miles an hour traffic going out of the city. We finally arrived at our destination around 7:30 p.m. and dropped off our cats at the place where we're boarding them. {I've visited them every day and I can't tell you how much it pains me to board them! I will be happy when we're moved into our house and they have their lives back to normal.}

We ate dinner, if you want to call it that, at well-known Midwest burger place that night called Culver's. I'm not much of a burger person but at that point I would've eaten anything. It turned out to be a huge mistake because we both had massively upset stomachs on Friday, the day our cars arrived on the big 18-wheeler, the day we needed to return the rental car, the day we needed to get the keys for our rental house, the day we wanted to go see the cats, the day we needed to get some groceries for our hotel room, and the day I had to go get my car washed because it was so dang filthy from being on the truck.

All this activity and not-feeling-so-well might explain why I am doing absolutely nothing today. Other than using the hotel's indoor pool and sitting outside on their nice brick patio.

It's just as hot here as it is in Florida. I feel right at home.




I can't believe I have to start using my brain again tomorrow. Back to work!! More on that in my next post.

A Weekend of Lasts

I've only moved a handful of times in my life but with every move comes my need to remember certain things. I have a ritual of taking one last look at places, at streets and people. Somehow doing these things helps to paint a permanent picture in my mind.

This weekend as Jeff and I ran our seemingly endless array of final errands, I found myself paying closer attention to the area in which we live. I wondered if I will ever be back to Boca Raton. I wondered if there will be any reason to return to our neighborhood. As a homeowner, you become so attached to the home that you've made, the one you cared for so lovingly, that it's hard to believe you're leaving it behind. You wonder what will become of the place you've called home for over four years. You hope the new owners will take care of it like you did {Fingers crossed our house will sell quickly!}

We will undoubtedly be back to Florida since my stepson and in-laws still live in the area. But it will be different. My in-laws are selling their house and moving to a new town in South Florida. It will be strange to visit them in their new home, one that is unfamiliar to us.

These pretty flowers just started blooming in front of our house!

As I titled this post, the weekend was filled with a final good-byes. First we said good-bye to our in-laws who left today for vacation. We said a final good-bye to our local pet store. I said one last good-bye to the Boca Town Center, Whole Foods and Publix. I took our cats to the vet for the final time. I picked up our clothing at the dry cleaners one last time. I even paid a visit to our favorite car wash because our cars need to be clean before they're shipped. With every stop, there was the awful ache...the one inside saying, "This will be the last time I'll be here."

Doughie at the vet, trying to hide in the sink.

Of all the things I will miss, I have to say that hands-down it will be our pool. While it's pretty much your average pool, it's been a savior during our time in Boca. When I was working, I made a point of spending weekend time at the pool, even if just for an hour. When I was laid off, the pool became more of a getaway for me. Oddly enough, I can recall only one time in the four years we've lived here when the pool was crowded. Rarely do you see many people out there--it's just too dang hot, I suppose. There's nothing like sitting with the sun pouring over your face, the sound of the water lapping against the walls and the neighbors' AC's running in unison. The sounds cancel out all other noises and it becomes the perfect place to read, nap, or just swim a few relaxing laps. I loved that time to myself.

My little slice of heaven.

I always sit in the same place at the pool and I
I always end up staring at these palm trees.

We are about to embark on a few hectic days ahead of us. On Monday, I'll be busy doing last minute things around our house and packing our suitcases. On Tuesday the movers arrive to pack up the house. They come back on Wednesday to load the moving truck, and then we fly out on Thursday for good. Then, I start my job on June 29th. I know the time is going to move quickly...I still can't believe I start working a week from Monday!

I hope to update my blog this coming weekend. We'll be cooped up in a hotel until the weekend of July 4th, so I should have plenty of time to spend on my laptop. I'm sure I'll have quite a story to tell about how we're traveling with our two cats on Southwest Airlines, and then driving three hours from Chicago Midway to our destination. Oh yes, it's going to be A LOT of fun. Ugh.

Until then, a final good-bye from Boca Raton. Next week I will officially be a Midwesterner again!

I couldn't end this post without saying Happy Father's Day, Dad. I love you!

Haircut Inspiration and My New "Do"

I am embarrassed to admit that, occasionally, I like to watch the Home Shopping Network and QVC.

Normally I'm just a viewer --it's sort of like window shopping. Rarely do I buy something. I have to be really inspired.

Well, inspiration struck late one night last year as QVC aired a segment on Honora pearls. It was perfect timing because I needed a very specific color of brown pearls to give as a gift for my bridesmaids. The night I tuned in, they were selling this set of brown pearls, with the necklace AND a bracelet AND earrings. What a deal!

I realize this set of pearls has nothing to do with my hair. But, I suppose I needed to explain my HSN/QVC habit that so you understand why I'm a fan of HSN host, Colleen Lopez.


I don't know what it is about her...she has that sort of mesmerizing quality that never fails to pull me into whatever she's selling. The other day when she announced an upcoming special showcase {such an HSN word} on sunglasses, I refused to allow my husband to change the channel. He is seriously starting to question my sanity.

Anyway, as I awaited the sunglasses segment, Colleen was busy selling CoQ-10 vitamins and I fell in love with her haircut. I love the look!

Yes, I snapped these pictures off the TV with my iPhone.

Not bad, huh?

Today I had my last haircut before we move with my gay hair stylist Joe. I showed him these snapshots of Colleen. I asked him to cut my bangs like hers, but to please keep the length since I am preoccupied with growing my hair long like the Real Housewives of New Jersey. Sort of like Jacqueline and Teresa:

And here's the final result:

I've been out of the sun for TWO days and already I'm pale!
BTW, this is a DIY color...Perfect 10 by Clairol

Thanks, Colleen, for the haircut inspiration!
{I just noticed that her bangs sweep the opposite direction of mine...I will have to try that tomorrow!}

Forecast: Hot, Hot, Hot {Or, I'm Sweating My A** Off}

From today's South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

"Expect another sweltering day with heat index readings in the 100s. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 70s. There is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. On Tuesday, inland areas west of Florida's Turnpike saw heat index readings in the low 100s."

I know I shouldn't complain, but, damn. It is really freaking hot out there.

Oh, and the photo that accompanied this story? All I can say is...soooo Miami!

Well, at least he's not burning his cute little paws off.

Hi, My Name is Missy and I'm a Vera Bradley Addict

Oh, stop the madness!!

It all started with this bag that I purchased for my honeymoon Caribbean cruise:

This is the Vera bag in Java Blue.

Then, of, course, I had to have the matching make-up bag:


This past week, I've been obsessing over Vera's laptop bags. Of all things.

I'll take one of each, please.

I'm also obsessed over finding the *perfect* gym bag. I need all the work-out inspiration I can get.

For some reason I seem to favor these last two patterns above, called Puccini {left} and Pinwheel Pink {right}. The pink one is soooo Florida, but I still love it.

Oh, so, I should mention that my husband and I went shopping last weekend for laptop bags. Neither of us own bags for our laptops and therefore we have nothing to store them in when we go through the airport next week. I made Jeff stop at a local Hallmark store so I could scope out the Vera laptop bag situation. No luck.

Alas, this is what I ended up purchasing. I sooo wanted a Vera Bradley bag, but without seeing it in person, I was leery about ordering the bag online. This is a safe choice, I suppose, since we are talking about protecting my laptop and not looking pretty, right?

Boo.

This Has Missy Written All Over It

Thanks to Lis at Lis Loves for blogging today about a monogrammed water bottle giveaway at Sew Girlie Embroidery -- hello, cuteeeee stufff!!!

I am a huge, huge fan of water bottles. You'll usually find me leaving the house with my plastic tumbler in hand, matching straw, and some kind of cool beverage like Crystal Lite iced tea or just plain water.

What is it about pink and green that I love so much??

Sew Girlie is giving away three of these cute monogrammed bottles this week! Hurry on over to their blog to enter the giveaway and the Sew Girlie site to check out the bottles and all their cute products!

Gearing Up for My Last Week in Boca

Well, reality has finally settled in. We're moving.

Yesterday we spent a good chunk of the afternoon moving my stepson's things from our house to his Mom's house. Boy does that kid have a lot of stuff! It seemed like his XBox games kept multiplying as we tried to clean out his room. Thankfully we got everything done before the daily afternoon downpour hit the Boca area. Now I have one less room to worry about as we get the house ready for moving.

One of the things I love about living in Florida is the sun. It hit me like a ton of bricks this past week how different the weather will be in Illinois, and I am trying to prepare myself for it. During the last few years I was living in the Chicago area, my doctor diagnosed me as having a mild case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The winters did a real number on me...I had zero motivation, felt very blue, and wanted to stay inside all day and eat salty and sweet foods. The lack of sunlight and Vitamin D had a major impact on me.

Knowing what might be in store for me this winter, I've spent the last week going to our pool and being outside nearly every day. This morning as I put on my swimsuit, a familiar smell that I love wafted though the air...suntan lotion! My clean swimsuit still lingers with the smell of Coppertone Sport spray lotion, and oh how I love that smell. It immediately reminds me of the sun, the beach, and our pool. I may resort to sniffing suntan lotion this winter when I need to be reminded of our days living in Florida.

This week will be filled with menial tasks and preparing for the move. I am so thankful that I don't have to pack a single box -- my company pays for our moving expenses. I know it sounds like I don't need to lift a finger but it's quite the opposite...I still need to gather things together, go through closets, throw away things, etc. Also, did I mention we're putting our house on the market? That's the other thing weighing heavily on us...not to mention that we need to leave the house in top condition the day we move out.

Once we get moved and the dust settles, I am looking forward to getting back into the blogging routine. The past few weeks have been difficult to stay afloat with everything going on, and I hope you'll hang in there with me over the next month. I can't wait to share stories about our new town and the different lifestyle we'll be living. It's totally different from Boca, but it's different in a real good way...like, small town, local produce, no traffic...ah, yes. It's going to be a good change.

Here's the house we're renting!

It's just screaming for landscaping...where are the
lush plants and palm trees??

What Did You Think of "Pretty in Plaid"?

I will start this post by saying that I'm a huge fan of Jen Lancaster's. Rarely do I laugh out loud when I read a book, much less laugh out loud in public while reading a book {hello, embrassing!}. She absolutely kills me and often I find myself nodding my head, comparing situations in her books to my life.

"Pretty in Plaid" was no exception. While I didn't necessarily enjoy reliving the 80's and being reminded of my awful Brownie and Girl Scouts uniforms, I continue to be amazed by her memory and such accurate recounts of 80's pop culture. Plus? I firmly believe Jen and I must have been separated at birth. We both worked previously in corporate communications. Fletch worked in a call center (so did my husband) doing benefits administration for a consulting firm. I also worked for a consulting firm specializing in benefits administration, but I worked in corporate communications. Ok, so that was a little confusing...

Anyway, my favorite part of the entire book occurs around page 252. Jen is preparing to take the Metra {Chicago's commuter rail system} from her suburban apartment into the city for her new job. Immediately I could relate, as I did the exact same thing those first few years after college when I lived with my parents {don't laugh}. Just like Jen, I was a total wreck about taking the train. I never had a reason to take the train in my entire 20 years of existence, and my parents and friends had never taken it either. So it was all up to me to figure it out. Funny, I still recall how I was so afraid that I'd get on the wrong train...really, the trains only run north near the Wisconsin border and south into the city. You can't mess it up.

So anyway...I must share a little excerpt from the book because I do the EXACT same thing as Jen describes. I am so relieved there is someone out there just as anal as me. I busted out in laughter in the middle of Panera Bread reading this, much to the enjoyment displeasure of the Boca Raton Ladies Who Lunch crowd, if you get my drift.

"I've been driving him {Fletch} nuts for the past twenty-four hours rehashing exactly how I take the Metra commuter rail to get to the city to get to the office. I already have the train schedule memorized. I figure I live a ten-minute drive away from the station, so I plan to leave fourty-five minutes early. Can't be too careful, right? I'm so tense when I get down to my car that I'm trembling while I wipe the dew from my windshield. I adjust my mirrors and double-check everything in my Always Prepared tote bag--keys to this apartment plus the one I still have at school because I couldn't get out of my lease, two shades of lipstick, extra sunglasses, pressed powder, a tube of concealer, a book, a magazine in case I finish the book, a bagged lunch, salt and pepper in case there isn't any in the lunchroom, pepper spray, peppermints, a train schedule, a second train schedule, a third train schedule in case anything unfortunate happens to the first two train schedules, cream and black and neutral pantyhose, clear nail polish in case I run all three extra pairs, an umbrella, mittens in case of a cold snap, socks in case I lose the mittens, a sewing kit, Band-Aids, tampons, a pen, a pencil and a legal paid in case they don't have any in the office, a framed picture of my parents' dog Nixon because I love him, and one extra brass anchor button in case anything pops off my stupid navy suit. Okay, I'm ready."

Ok, this made me laugh so hard I started crying. I'm so glad I'm not 20 years old anymore! I can't believe I used to stash that much stuff in my work bag. Reading this made me think about my new job I'm starting soon and how 15 years ago I'd be worried sick if I had the "right" items in my Always Prepared tote. When I start the job in a few weeks, I'm planning to leave the house with my purse, any necessary paperwork, and that's about it.

Yes, sometimes it does feel good to be an adult!

This is Harder Than I Expected

A new job and moving out-of-state...easy-peasy, right? Well, this week has been a KILLER! I'm trying not to let all of the changes get the best of me, but man, it's really overwhelming.

House hunting Monday and Tuesday was EXHAUSTING. I'm usually a trooper but that early flight on Monday morning at 6:30, combined with non-stop action all day, followed by the same pace on Tuesday, wore us out. We managed to get stuck in Atlanta on the last leg of the flight back and we didn't get home Tuesday evening, or should I say Wednesday morning, until 2 a.m.

Thankfully we found a nearly brand-new single family home to rent about 20 minutes from my new job. I loved it from the moment I saw it, but then when I walked into the master bath and saw the soaking tub and double vanity sinks, I was sold. It's going to feel good to get a fresh start.

The downside is that we must sell our house in Florida. We met this week with a realtor {yet another overwhelming, mind-spinning experience} and wow, the news isn't good. The housing market here in Florida is particularly nasty and I could not believe the comparable sales in our neighborhood...essentially, the houses are selling for half of what we purchased our house for in 2006. It's unbelievable.

You know what I hate about this entire process? The decision-making. I am constantly questioning myself! Did I make the right decision? Are we doing the right thing? Little details like what day should the vehicle relocation company pick up and load our cars is driving me insane! What if the cars arrive early? Who will sign for them? If the house isn't ready by my start date at work, what are we going to do with our cats? What size pet carrier do we need for the airplane? On and on...it feels like it's never going to end.

I know it's going to get better. It's just getting through these next few weeks.

I'm trying.