Okay, this is another one that might not be the most exciting, but it is going to make life so much better. Sounds silly? Well, let me explain:

All of the wrapping paper paraphernalia is jammed in the closet in my studio/craft room. It’s a small closet and this stuff takes up way too much space. Wrapping paper rolls, gift bagels, etc. explode out every time I open the door. Super annoying. I also have storage bins shoved in every corner or the room because I can’t fit them into the closet not to mention various piles of half finished projects, mending, and craft ephemera floating about. I feel like I’m trying to work in the clearance section of Michael’s instead of the clean, creative space I originally planned.

After much research and debate, I finally decided to order the Stanton Wrapping Cart from Home Decorators. It’s a bit pricier than some, but I liked that it has a ton of room for everything, is sturdy, fits in the closet, and is on casters so I can roll it out and back when needed. Plus, they had it on sale and with free shipping! Isn’t is a beauty? My plan was to corral and organize the closet, so I can then make room for everything. Basically, starting a chain reaction for cleanliness!

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While on vacation, Shawn surprised me by scheduling a massage at  Heavenly Spa by Westin. (This might have had something to do with him going off to golf a couple times earlier in the week.) I’ve been wanting a hot-stone massage for years and I finally got one. Yes, it lived up to all my expectations.

It. Was. Heaven.

I’ve been wanting to put in a vegetable garden for so long. We had one at our old house in Columbus before we moved to Madison and I absolutely loved it. Then we moved to Madison and we were so busy with building our house and getting the landscaping in that I never got a chance to put in a plot before we moved back. I struck a deal with Shawn last Fall that if we were to have the sprinkler system installed, I would get my garden put in that following Spring.

I decided to have it put in our side yard next to the end of the driveway and the side/mudroom entrance to the house. It will get all day sun here and will be conveniently close to the garage and mud room entrance for grabbing tools and cleaning up.

Here’s what I put in for our first crop:

• Tomatoes: one grape tomato plant, two roma for canning, and one heirloom.
• Peppers: two sweet banana peppers, one jalapeño, and one green pepper.
• One zucchini plant
• Bush beans

I’ll probably do a second season of beans once these are done and then maybe throw in some cauliflower and broccoli for late season. I also put in marigolds around the border to help with any unwanted bugs, plus it gives it a little color.

I’m so happy to have a garden again! I love the memories I have of my and my sister helping my mom in her HUGE garden growing up and I can’t wait to make new memories with Joe. I’ll update you on how things grow as the season progresses!

Shawn and I recently went to a Columbus Clippers game for one of our Date Nights. I’ve been wanting to go to one ever since we moved back to town.

The Clippers are the local Minor League team affiliated with the Indians. (Previously, with the loathsome Yankees.) They started to build a new ball park just when we moved away and completed it while we were living in Madison. It’s a beauty, a small intimate park nestled right downtown – a stone’s throw from Nationwide Area where the Columbus Blue Jackets play.

We had great seats and the weather was perfect. We had a blast and are definitely planning to go again this summer. Maybe next time we’ll hit “Dime a Dog Night.”

Hallelujah! I cannot explain to you the agony and torture that I’ve been going through sleeping on our current mattress. I’d prefer to sleep in a bag of sawdust on top of a pile of empty beer cans. Shawn and I went last weekend and picked out the new one and it’s being delivered today!

As part of finding some balance, Shawn and I are committed to having a date night at least twice a month. This meant finding a reliable sitter for Joseph.

For those of you who have close relatives or friends you can rely on to watch your kiddos for you-count your blessings and be ever so thankful! With no family in town -my MIL is the closest at 2.5 hours away- and friends that have enormously busy lives of their own, I was really stuck on how to find someone to watch Joseph for us on occasion.

Luckily, some friends of ours suggested their sitter. A lovely girl who works at their daughter’s daycare and also sits for them on the weekends. I was a bit hesitant at first, but I met her before and saw her interact with Joe and their daughter as well. She is also certified in child CPR and has major experience from her day job. Win! She actually introduced us to one of her friends that also works at the daycare and she has watched Joseph as well.

I cannot tell you how big of a difference this has made in for us. Shawn and I are able to get some much-needed adult time together and I’m not worrying about the little guy because I know he’s in good hands.

Now, if I could only find someone reliable who could watch Joseph during the day so I could schedule doctor appointments, run non-baby friendly errands, etc. during the week. It’s hard to get things accomplished like this without Shawn having to take time off from work. Hopefully, we’ll figure something out some day. Until then, I’ll be schlepping Joe around whether he likes it or not.

My library card from when we lived here previously was cancelled when we moved and I’ve been meaning to get a replacement since we got back. I was so excited to find out that I could apply for one online!

The Columbus Metropolitan Library is a treasure. It was named National Library of The Year in 2010. So many great programs and events for the whole family. I’m excited to take Joseph to the story time that is at our local branch. Hope you all are supporting your local library!

Not very exciting for you guys, but I’m pretty thrilled. We were able to pay off that last bit of credit card debt. Hurray!

Knocking two off the list! I’ve been wanting to go to the zoo all summer. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of the best zoos in the country. I don’t forget   it’s world famous zoo keeper, Jack Hannah.

I decide that we’d sign up for a family membership, since it’s only 30 minutes away and a good place to go “strollering” and something we can do all year long. Shawn and I decided to make an afternoon of it with our nephew, Luke, and Joseph. We packed up lunch and the Bugaboo and made a day of it. I haven’t been to The zoo in years, it was a ton of fun seeing the animals and doing some people watching.

Joe was not that impressed with the tiger.