330/366: Better Late Than Never

The word of the day.
Was LATE.

The moving truck was late.
The movers were late.
We made acquaintance with a neighbor.
A little too late.
To really strike up a friendship.

We had supper late.
Made a last minute 11pm late night trip.
To Target.
For locks.

It is a late night.
But Day 1 is done.
And the apartment.
Is almost empty.

Day 2 starts.
In 6.5 hours.
Here we go...

329/366: This Is Not A Test

We are officially.
A refrigerator defrosting.
Cooler dependent.
Household.

The trucks get loaded tomorrow.
We leave on Thursday.

Oh my gosh.
This is really happening.
I can't believe it is actually here.
We. Are. Moving.

328/366: Dinner With Friends

I can't begin to say.
How much we accomplished today.

Packing.
Painting.
Preparing.

All day long.
As we worked.
In the back of my mind.
I wasn't thinking about my photo.

I knew.
We would be having dinner with dear friends.
I would just bring the camera along.
Perfect photo op.

However.
I didn't take any photos during dinner.
Didn't even pull the camera out once.
I was having too much fun.

Talking.
Listening.
Eating.
Catching up.
Enjoying my surroundings.
Relishing the wonderful people around me.

I didn't want to miss a minute.
I wanted to savor it.
Remember.
These people.
In this place.
That I will miss so much.

So I didn't take any pictures at dinner.
I took a few.
Of the PCH.
At night time.
On the drive home.

I'm happy with that.

327/366: Together

His bag.
His hat.
Him.
HERE.
With me.

Best day.
In six long weeks.
So happy that we are together again.

326/366: Bittersweet

So amazed and humbled.
By all of the kind letters.
Notes.
Messages.
Cards.
Emails.
From friends wishing us all the best.
On our next adventure.

We have such a wonderful support system.
And we have made some amazing friends.
Here in California.
It definitely makes leaving bittersweet.

We truly are blessed.
Thank you.

325/366: Grandpa's Suitcase

One of my favorite.

Material possessions.

Is my Grandfather's old suitcase.

That he brought back with him.

When he returned from Guam in the Fifties.

It still has the arrival tag.

From the bus depot in Lexington, KY.

As a girl, I remember.

My grandparents keeping Christmas ornaments.

In the old suitcase.

When I left Ohio.

To be with my love in California.

My Grandpa said I could have it.

I have cherished it.

We use it for our Christmas ornaments.

It was part of our wedding.

Now.

It is packed.

Ready to make the journey.

Back across the country.

To it's new home.

Carrying with it.

As much love.

Hope.

Promise.

As it did.

So many years ago.

When a young soldier.

Arrived home.

324/366: Pushing Through

Only a few days left.
Until I get to see S..

Only a week.
Until we leave for North Carolina.

Only 6 weeks.
Until I complete my 366 project.

Each day gets more challenging.
I'm almost there.
So close to so many things.

In the meantime...
Ice cream.
Makes.
Everything.
Better.

323/366: Sell Out

I don't want a Kindle.

I like books.

The texture of them.

The smell of them.

The substance of them.

                     

This was me for two years.

Then today. 

I bought a Kindle.

I have officially given in.

To convenience.

To technology.

To not stuffing a bag.

Full of books and magazines.

When I travel.

I still love books.

However, I must confess.

This is one super cool.

Little gadget.

322/366: Lost and Found

The highlight of my day?

Finding the garage door opener.
I thought that I had mistakenly packed.

That was a really great feeling.

321/366: Scenes From a Move

Almost there.

Ten days until we set off.
For our great adventure.

Our mattresses went down.
For the garbage to collect this weekend.
I am officially.
Living in limbo.

Cupboard of paper and plastic.
Room full of boxes.
Bed on the couch.

Check. Check. Check.

320/366: Spackle

Not sure if it is coincidence.
Or some creepy subliminal messaging.
That in the chaos of today.
I left the tube of spackle.
Next to my make-up.
On the bathroom counter.

Whichever the case.
It certainly made me laugh.

319/366: Just Another Friday Night

My.
How my Friday nights have changed.

Instead of hanging at the bar.
I spent the evening.
Hanging a new bar in the closet.

Followed with a chaser.
Of priming the red hallway.
With the first coat of white.

Finished off.
With leftovers and a Diet Coke.

Very responsible grown up of me.

318/366: Toothpaste Etiquette

I have a confession.
I mangle the toothpaste.

I am not.
One of those.
Start at the bottom.
Squeeze and roll.
Until you have a nice.
Neat tube of toothpaste.
Kind of people.

Oh no.
I generally squeeze from the middle.
Or the top.
Or the bottom.
Depending where I grab when I pick it up.

I could make a lame excuse.
Say that I do this because.
Our toothpaste is the kind that stands on end.
Rather than laying on it's side.

However.
That would be false.
That actually makes things worse.
As my mangled toothpaste roll.
Usually ends up resembling.
A flag blowing in the wind.

Sorry, honey.

317/366: Paper or Plastic

I find it odd.
The little things.
That make me happy.

Like paper bags from Trader Joes.
Best.
Grocery Bags.
Ever.

It's the handles.
Completely functional.
Completely reusable.
They make sense.

I know I should be toting.
My own resusable canvas bags.

For the most part.
I do.

However, Trader Joes is the exception.
As I use these bags.
Over and over.

I know.
I get dorkier by the day.
I'm good with it.

316/366: De Ja Vu

Tonight I worked late.
Picked up a pizza on the way home.
Caught a Criminal Minds marathon on tv.
Talked to Scott on the phone for an hour.

I am pretty sure I just went back in time.
Like 3 years or so.

315/366: Variety

My name is Holly.
And I am addicted.
To pretty nail polish colors.

314/366: Instant Mood Lift

I came back to Cali today.
A little heartbroken.
To be leaving S behind.

After 9 hours of traveling.
I arrived at our apartment.
To a package I had forgotten about.

My new cell phone case came.

In all of the chaos.
I had completely forgot I ordered it.
I love it when that happens.

The bright little surprises.
On a bleak day.

313/366: Well Deserved

My reward.
After day one.
Of working on the house.

A hot shower.
A clean bed at a hotel.
A carpetless family room in my new house.
And last but not least...
Steak and Shake.

I'm good with that.

312/366: Home

Today.
We became homeowners.

Tomorrow.
We rip out carpet.

And so it begins...

311/366: Best Face Ever

The best thing.
I have seen.
In a month.

310/366: Design

It is always.
So intriguing to me.
When I like.
Or in this case love.
Items I see.
In a hotel.
In a restaurant.
In someone's home.
That I would NEVER.
Pick out in a store.
If I saw them on their own.

It gives me a whole new appreciation.
For those.
With a sharp eye.
For design.

I wish I had.
One of those sharp eyes.
And one of these lamps.
I like it a lot.

309/366: Beveled Edges and Disheveled Bangs

Not sure.
If I should describe tonight's photos.

As the result.
Of me refusing to leave the hotel room.
After a long day.

Or as the outcome.
Of experimenting.
With my reflection.
In a beveled mirror.

I think I'll go with the latter.
Although both.
Are quite accurate.

308/366: You're The One

My hotel room.
Came with all the best amenities.
Including.
A rubber ducky.

I'm totally fond of him.

307/366: The Swap Meet

I promised myself.
That before we left California.
I would go to the swap meet.
To stock up on fabric.

I scored yards and yards.
Of beautiful prints.
Bright colors.
Jerseys.
Knits.
Cottons.

All for $1 or less a yard.
I even.
Grabbed a churro.
And a new headband.
Before calling it a day.

Mission accomplished.

306/366: The Farmer's Market

Adding to my list.
Of things I will miss in California...

The fresh strawberries and avocados.
From the farmer's market.

So ripe.
Juicy.
Wonderful.

305/366: Bougainvillea

I was all set.
To do a series.
For the next 25 days or so.
On the little things.
I will miss most.
About California.

Then I realized.
I will be in Dallas.
And Charlotte.
All next week.
And I can't very well.
Take pics of California.
From there.

So I decided I will just post.
The things I will miss.
As I see them.

While I will not necessarily miss.
The view seen here.
From our balcony.
I will miss.
The gorgeous.
Bougainvillea.

The thick beautiful draping vines.
That you find here in So Cal.
Cannot grow in North Carolina.
I checked.

So I'll enjoy them while I'm here.
And find something else.
Beautiful and native to NC.
To put in my yard.

304/366: A Dilemma

Four weeks.

Until we move.

The wine racks. 

Are empty.

I'm not sure. 

If I should pack them.

Or refill them.

303/366: An Apple

It is almost.
Too pretty.
To eat.

Almost...

302/366: Making a House a Home

Lately I've been thinking quite a bit.
About making a home.

We are buying our first house.
Packing our life.
Moving to North Carolina.

I am so excited.
A bit intimidated.
With all home ownership entails.

Mostly.
I just want our home to be cozy.
To be welcoming.
To be a home.

The other day.
My friend Christina.
Who also moved recently.
Blogged about some of her favorite things.
That made her house.
A home.

With that in mind.
I looked around my kitchen tonight.
I challenged myself.
To pick out three.
Of my favorite things.
That are special to us.
That will be special in our new place.

Here are a few.
Of my favorite things.