Sacred Valley, Peru

I hope you enjoyed the first installment of our trip (even with the many grammatical errors I noticed after rereading it). We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We were gone for 8 days and it was awesome!

Our third day had us wake up bright and early for an hour and a half, in-country flight from Lima to Cusco, where we would spend the rest of our days.

Lima's elevation was about 5,000 feet and we were flying to 10,800 feet in Cusco to end up in the Sacred Valley which is about 9,100 feet. To give you a perspective of the altitude difference, it is about 1,300 feet here where we live in the states. It was a huge difference and this took a toll on us the first day we arrived in the Sacred Valley.

When we arrived, we were picked up from the airport, which is really small, and was taken to our hotel. The hotel and its grounds were beautiful. We had rearranged our itinerary to get the room with an outdoor pool and waterfall shower, but the hotel messed up and gave it to someone else. They comped us $400 USD for the mistake as this was the difference between a normal room and the one we reserved originally. They had also given us a better room that still had an outdoor waterfall shower, a huge tub, a king bed and an patio set with a lovely view of a mountain.

 On our way to the hotel, we finally got a glimpse of what it was like to live in this area. It is very cheap to live here, as you must depend on the earth to provide what you need. The people here are hard workers and very resilient. I mean, they had gardens on the sides of the mountains and hiked there to plant, care, and harvest their crops. Crops ranged from potatoes, quinoa, corn, and others. Most were dressed in traditional garb and all the women, no matter the age, had dark, black hair. We found out later that they wash their hair with the same root that they use to clean alpaca fur (which is a white root that suds up).

So, after checking into our hotel, we were off on another tour. This time of the Maras Salt Flats and Moray which is the largest horticultural site in the world (not in use any longer). Before we headed to Moray, our guide took us to a place where they served us our first cups of coca tea with mint and showed us how they cleaned alpaca fur, dyed it, made it into usable threading material and how they created garments using home-made hand looms.

They used different plants, minerals, and animals to dye the alpaca.

 First, they shear the alpaca, then they use a white root, which they grated into some hot water, then strained it and washed it in the soapy water (this is the same root I mentioned above-each guide we had mentioned that there is no gray in the women and men because of using this root to wash their hair). Once the alpaca fur was washed down to a nice, soft white, it was hung to dry. Once dry, they would dye it using hand-made clay pots over a hand-made clay oven with a fire within. The concentrated color depended on how long it boiled and how much of the dying ingredient they put in the pot.

Once it was dyed and dried they began to hand spool it onto a spinning spool that they carry around while maintaining other chores. It is a technique that is second nature to them. It is a pretty thin thread, but probably not as thin as sewing thread. To make thicker thread, they would twist two or more together. Once thing that we thought was pretty neat, while others (Im sure you too) was that one of the dying ingredients was a white bug that was found on the cacti. It was used to dye the alpaca fur red, but it was also a beautiful shade of red for the lips. Yes, we saw a demonstration.

 Those bigger white chunks are the white bugs.

Also, driving through the area was just absolutely stunning! Rolling hills with snow-capped mountain peaks with glaciers in the background. It was much lovelier to behold than the beach and I love going to the beach.

Once we were finished with the demonstration on the process of making garments from alpaca fur, we went to Moray. It was enormous. The people at the bottom were very small; the same can be said when we visited Maras. There was also a smaller area that was created to do the same thing beside the original. The tiers were created because the Incas realized that crops grow better at different elevations. Hence the many varieties of potatoes. All the sites we visited were protected by the government, but you could still walk around and see parts, if not most of the historic sites. Can you image the digging and piling of big rocks in an ornate way as to keep from eroding without the use of wheels? Well, this is just a small part of the vast building the Incas did in their time.

We also saw what we termed the, 'Dr. Seuss Tree'

Next up were the Maras Salt Flats; used by the Incas and still in use today. The salt water comes from the mountains and it is by far saltier than ocean water. Each section is a bit longer than a mans height and each section also has its own tributary feeding it the salt water. It is about six inches deep and once it dries, people come in and begin 'shaving' off salt and selling it. This is where we bought some pink salt and fried corn and banana snacks. They were yummy, especially the banana. My MIL said it was an instant 'dry your mouth out' snack, but a very nice drinking snack none-the-less.

Can you spot the family working on their salt flat? This is zoomed in as far as my camera will allow.

See the top of the mountain? We drive from way up there, to way down here and we still had to walk some to get to the salt flats. This picture does not do it justice on the depth and height we drove.

As for driving there; Oh My! It is basically a winding, dirt road that is passable, but only slightly so. There are no guard rails and Peruvians honk or flash their lights before going around a turn to make on coming traffic aware. It is intense.

I also did not take as well of notes because the altitude difference had taken its toll on me and I was exhausted. I even cat napped in the back of the car and my hubs got a picture of me snoozing and couldn't believe I could do that.

That night, we went to the hotel restaurant and we ordered two appetizers and for the main course I tried alpaca and hubs tried guinea pig. The alpaca was a mix between pork and steak and I wasnt a fan of the taste. The guinea pig was not fired on a stick, which we saw later in our trip, but was a nice texture that tasted smooth and delicious like rib meat. That was the only time I tried either. We also had a glass of local merlot and I am not a fan of merlot, but it was smooth and enjoyed two glasses.

Then we went back and prepared for our next big adventure. That meant we had to pack backpacks for two nights, three days of clothes and essentials and have the rest taken to our last hotel in the city of Cusco.

Lima, Peru

It is really interesting to see how other countries are different from our own. I have been to two very different countries and each has given me a greater appreciation for how the United States operates.

How it all began: 

I wanted to go back to Japan and visit some friends and was going to travel a bit (about a week by trains) to see northern Japan), but my dear friend found out she was pregnant and the time I was going would be about a month until her due date, so we thought it best to wait (Congratulations my Japan friends!). So, I remembered that one of my husbands top places to ever visit was Machu Picchu and began doing research on how to get there. I found a company called Latin America/Peru for less (PFL) and began to chat with a travel agent. After many back and forth emails, I settled on an itinerary and received a quote; it was a nice chunk of money, but I already knew it would be and had saved for such an adventure. I was going to keep it a surprise for my husband and just tell him to pack and he will see, but after much debate within I decided to tell him and let him also have a choice on where to stay and things to see. So, the emails to my agent began again asking about a Galapagos tour and two Incan treks. One trek was hiking four days or so from one spot and ending at Machu Picchu. The other was hiking from lodge to lodge with the same ending point. All were a bit out of our budget, but our biological minds really wanted to see the Galapagos and my husband really wants to go back and hike the Inca trail. My husband chose two different hotels from what I had chosen, a five star in the Sacred Valley and a five star in Machu Picchu. They were phenomenal hotels, but more on those later. The itinerary even needed to be changed so that we could get our preferred hotels, but that worked out to our benefit anyway considering the altitude differences. So, we made plan, bought our plane tickets and prepared for an amazing adventure. This would be the second time I have ever flown (the first being to Japan, but my husband is a seasoned flyer) and this would be the first time both parents would be leaving their beautiful daughter back in the States, but in capable and trustworthy hands. I was a bit stressed, as one could imagine, but I prayed and asked for prayers and in the end, all was happy and healthy. 

On April 5th, early in the morning, we prepared to leave. Our flight left around 9:30am and arrived in our first location of Lima, Peru around 7pm. We were met by a PFL representative and the driver, who would take us from the airport to our first hotel in Mira Flores, Lima. The different areas are considered neighborhoods in Peru, where we would consider them different counties. 

Some facts about Lima, Peru:

• Lima is the capital of Peru.
• It is the largest city in Peru.
• Population is almost 9 million people.
• There are no skyscrapers.
• The tallest building is 34 floors. 120 meters - Westin. That is as tall as they will make them because of the earthquakes that occur.
• Driving in Peru is scary!!! I mean, bumper to bumper, driving over lines, passing all the time, people fighting to be first - very aggressive driving. This may sound like here or in big cities, but multiply by 10. Seriously, no joke.
• Lima reaches from the mountains to the sea cliffs.
• It is relatively clean (at least where we stayed).
• People jump off the cliffs and para glide with motors attached. 
• The beach is not really for hanging out and relaxing in this area. People drive to another beach an hr or so away for beachy activities. 
• Surfing is a big thing.
• Their tsunami evacuation routes are right next to the ocean :/
• There are ruins within the city.
• There is a 'Cat Park' - seriously, there are cats everywhere. Probably the only place they can feel safe because the country has a huge community dog population.
• Service at restaurants is not as quick or thoughtful as in America
• Water is not drinkable from the tap.

We arrived at our hotel after an astonishing drive through the city, checked in, and walked to a cliff/sea-side shopping and dining area that sold anything from Prada and Ugg to local shops and food that consisted of American dining such as TGI Fridays, to more local fares. We chose TGI, for comfort food. 

The next day we had our first tour. Someone met us at the hotel to take us to a larger bus to begin our tour. 

These ruins are 900 years older than Machu Picchu. 

The second tallest building in Lima.

This was once a palace, which has now been turned into apartments occupied by lawyers.

 This is Jose de San Martin the Liberator was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire.

The United Nations building.

 Most of the above were taken as we were driving to the Plaza de Armas. Once on site at the location, we were able to see a huge Catholic church, a mountain in the background with a cross on it, the presidential building in which the president can hold the office for five years. Beside the church is a red and cream building which houses the arch bishops and others. The fountain in the middle was made completely out of bronze in 1861. 

While we were at the Plaza de Armas, there was a type of catholic parade going on, where they carried a tall float with what looked to be a mourning Mary, mother of Jesus. The church bells were also going off. 

Once we had a nice half hour to walk around and then boarded the bus again to head to another area that contained a church with some of the oldest known catacombs. The church was built in 1674, which also had a monastery attached to it. In the monastery, the ceiling has had to be replaced three times because of earthquakes and the fact that they were made of wood. The entire second floor was open to the elements, so that also contributed to the refinishing of the ceiling. The second floor also accommodated friars and monks, a total of about 33-35 monks. 

Out of the entire place, there was one area that had me in awe; and of course there were not pictures allowed. There was a library, the San Francisco, with two, small spiral staircases one either side with old, I mean old, books. It was blocked off from entering, but in the front they has two big, old Bibles and a Gregorian chant choir book. It was lit by natural light coming from the ceiling and the side windows and was just beautiful. Something from a movie or story. My husband bought me a magnet that showed the room, but it does it no justice. Follow the link to see it: 

http://www.karikuy.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/library-in-san-francisco-monastery-lima-peru+1152_12787453402-tpfil02aw-29343.jpg

Once we were done with the monastery and church, we headed down to the catacombs. Dum, dum, dummm.

The catacombs consisted of roughly 25,000 bodies; we did not only see bones layed in an array, but they were also buried underneath our feet. There were gated off rooms where bones of the less important were just thrown in. When the catacombs were found, the important ones were enshrouded with 3-4 bodies per wrap. There were wells with skulls set in the sides of the wells and the rest of the bones set in a circular pattern. These were the most important. As I mentioned before, we were not allowed to take pictures, but we had an awesome tour guide who told us, that "you are not allowed to take pictures, but if you were going to, this would be the time and place to do it." I jumped on the opportunity and here are two:

Once we arrived into the above air, we continued to tour the church where there were carvings and paintings of all the saints. There were carvings of Saints Andrews, Thomas, Simon, Peter, James the Elder, Paulo, Bartholomew, Matthew, Philip, Thaddeus and the paintings consisted of Saints Peter, Paul, Matthew, James the Youngest, Matthias, Thomas, John, James the Elder, Judas Thaddeus, Bartholomew, Pedro, Augustine, Ambrose, Andrew, Anthony from Padua, Diego from Alcala, Simon and Philip. 

There was also a garden, which we could not enter that consisted of tiled pillars brought over from Spain. There were also paintings on the walls that had been covered up, but are being restored as much as possible. 

Once the tour was over, we headed back to our hotel, but we met a very nice Canadian couple who traveled with us for about four or five days, though through a different travel agency. We found that she was a travel agent herself and had bid on the trip they were on for a much better price and more things to see. I will refer to them as Miss Travel and Mr 'Eh' (seriously, he said it a lot and it was awesome). We thoroughly enjoyed their company and will work together to share pictures that we took of each other during our times together. Me and hubs look forward to staying in contact. 

As we neared our final destination to get back to the hotel, our Canadian friends and us decided to be dropped off at the shopping area near the ocean to grab a bite to eat and a few pisco sours (a popular alcoholic drink in Peru). We took our first photo together and shared many fun stories. 

Then we walked around, ending at the Cat Park, serioulsy cats everywhere, and then was kindly and forcefully dragged to a club which contained maybe 6 other people and danced for about an hr and then headed back.
So ends our first two days in Peru; Lima to be exact and the next post will be about flying to Cusco for the rest of our trip! 

Best Sunscreens?

I was reading the July issue of Consumer Reports called Shop Smart and I came to realize that many of my friends probably don’t read this magazine or know about it’s amazing benefits. Consumer Reports always promises to tell you the truth and they do their own tests by buying products we all buy and testing them in any of their 50 labs or at their 327-acre Auto Test Center. They also state that they don’t just test the products, they “work for change in the marketplace to protect you from dangerous products and unfair sales and advertising practices”. Their mission: “To help you make the best choice every time”. Now, I like how they are non-profit and don’t take ads or free samples and I also like that they do all their own testing and they have been around for quite some time. You can get a year subscription online for $30.00 and you can also buy the Magazine for about $27.00 or combine the both and its cheaper. I have always found their magazines helpful and informational. This specific magazine was all about the ways to shop smart, stay safe on Facebook, find freebies and the sun screens. I want to write this blog on the sunscreens first. It wasn’t a big article in the magazine, but the study tested 18 sunscreens and they picked 7 as their ‘Smart Picks’. They tested natural sunscreens such as Alba Botanical and Eco Organics to brand names such as Aveeno, Neutrogena, and Banana Boat. There were two categories, Best Sprays and Best Lotions and to make the ‘Smart Pick’ list the sunscreen had to protect against UVA and UVB, whether it stained or not, had to work well after testers applied and soaked in a tub, and how the sunscreen felt and smelled. All their picks stained as with most sunscreens, so use caution. Their best spray list was Banana Boat Sport Performance SPF 30, Coppertone Sport High Performance SPF 30, Walgreens Continuous Spray Sport SPF 50, and Coppertone Oil Free Foaming SPF 75. There were three runner ups; Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist with Helioplex SPF 45, Coppertone Ultroguard Continuous Spray SPF 70 and Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Clear SPF 30. They were picked because they provided excellent UVA and UVB coverage and they kept working even after the tester soaked in the tub of water for 80 minutes and you can buy them for between $8 and $10 dollars. The best lotion picks were All Terrain Aquasport SPF 30, No-ad with Aloe and Vit E SPF 45, and Eco All Natural Sunscreen Body SPF 30. They liked these lotions because they also gave great UVA and UVB protection and met SPF claims after testers soaked for 80 minutes in water. Although they provided good protection, testers thought they smelled a bit like paint and it wasn’t easy to squeeze out of the tubes, but the later could be from already slippery hands from applying and they are more expensive, the Eco All Natural being $25 for a 5.3 oz tube. The runners up were Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50, La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 with Mexoryl SX Spf 40 (never heard of this one) and Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Regular SPF 30. Also, you should probably not use sprays on children because of the possibility of inhalation and when you use them as an adult, try not to inhale the fumes. If you want more information on whether your current sunscreen provides the right coverage with minimal chemicals, you can always check www.ewg.org and see what your sunscreen rates. A 1 is great, a 10 is bad. When I search the sprays to see their numbers this is how they correspond; Banana Boat – 7, Coppertone – 5, Walgreens – 7, and Coppertone Oil Free – 7. As you can see, even though you will be covered well from UVA and UVB rays, there are a medium amount of chemicals you are putting on your body and some may be absorbing to get that protection. But, in contrast, if you are one who is not diligent about putting on your sunscreen every two hours of after each swim, then this should be a must for you as well as a cover-up ,hat and sunglasses. Lets see how the lotions stacked up; All Terrain Aquasport SPF 30 – 2, No-ad Aloe and Vitamin E SPF 45 – Couldn’t find, and Eco All Natural – couldn’t find that one either. Ive always heard lotions were better for use because they have to be rubbed in whereas people may believe sprays don’t need to be rubbed in, but they do, especially if you want to right coverage. In the end, if you like a more natural sunscreen with less chemicals, play around with the website and choose one that is right for you and remember you will have to apply more often. If you are not as diligent, then I would go with one of the sprays listed above. Did you know that sunscreen containers are changing the way they advertise because of new regulations brought about by the FDA? Sunscreens can no longer claim they are a sunblock, waterproof, or sweatproof. The companies can still use water resistant, but they have to also state how long the sunscreen will be effective, either for 40 or 80 minutes of swimming or sweating. They also will not claim that they are All-day or provide instant protection (all sunscreen should be applied deliberately before heading out in the sun). If the company want to claim ‘broad spectrum’ they have to prove it to the FDA before throwing that label on and sunscreens will only go as high as SPF 50 because above that, there is not enough evidence that shows that a higher SPF protects more. The sun has become no joking matter. When you get a tan, you are killing your skin cells and causing free radical damage, premature aging and an increase in age spots and sunspots. You are increasing your chances of cancer and from what Ive read from a friend of mine who is a Melanoma Warrior who still travels to New York for tests. Read her blog and see if it changes the way you view your tan - http://adventurewithmelanoma.blogspot.com/

Today, I AM Loved!

You know the feeling of overwhelming love where your heart feels as though it has grown three sizes too big and it causes tears to well up in your eyes? I felt that today and realized that I AM loved! As my daughter was waking up from a late nap, she was crying. I had just put down my book in my bed and rolled to my side to try and get a few min of shut eye myself when she awoke. I found her staring at the wall with a head of hair in a sweaty mess. She must have had a bad dream and was overly warm, obviously and if she was sleeping on her back and if she is anything like momma, that is when dreams become most prominent. I sat on the foot of her bed (she is currently napping in a twin size bed on the floor) and picked her up and hug-cradled her. I leaned back on the big body pillow that’s props up against the wall with her big Tigger pillow under my back. It was not the most comfortable position with Tigger’s massive heard poking me in the back, but moments like these are fleeting and get shorter and less frequent as she ages so I was not going to move; I would endure the uncomfortable position for a little while. She had her head on my left shoulder and reached with her left hand to have a handful of her ‘blankey’ and fell asleep. My daughter was never one to fall asleep in strange places (not my arms or her bed) when she was an infant and even a baby. She didn’t fall asleep in her walker, her high chair, her bumbo chair or anything else. The only place she fell asleep that was neither my husbands nor my arms was the floor in front of her playpen. I have that picture because it was such a shock. As I was laying there relishing the moment, eyes closed in thought, I was glad she is content to know that mommy is always there to calm her fears. I also wondered if she was listening to my beating heart and hat helped soothe her back to sleep. Did she remember doing the same thing when she was an infant? I told her right before she fell asleep on my chest that I loved her and she told me she loved me too in a whisper. I knew I should be waking her up because it was almost 4 in the afternoon and she would be getting ready for bed in four to five hours, but I could not make myself move her. As I was sitting there, relaxing and thinking my dog left the comfort of her bed in my husbands and my bedroom to come lay at my feet. All I had to do was barely life a foot and she was right there. Then she laid her head on my right foot. At that moment, I felt such unconditional, innocent and freely given love. When it comes to my daughter and my dog, they do not care what I look like, how much money I make, or what brand of clothes I wear. They love me because I care, I understand, I provide, I listen and I love them just as much as they love me! All this from a 2 year old falling asleep on my shoulder. It’s a magical moment and I welcome it when it comes and I pray I never miss a beat!

Avon

Avon-Foundation for Women; Improving the Lives of Women Globally
Biggest supporter of Breast Cancer Research


I became an Avon representative about a month ago. So far I have had five orders. I think that's pretty good since I started such a short time ago. The reason I wanted to become an Avon representative was for a few reasons: I wanted to make some income while also being a stay at home mom (I sometimes can't believe I get to stay home and hang out with my daughter!), I wanted to meet people and make friends, and I really like their products. I've ordered from Avon few times and have had absolutely no complaints. Their prices are fantastic and easily comparable to store brands (if not better, they have been around for 125 years), the products are up to date and they have an outstanding return or exchange program if you're not satisfied!

I will say that some of the people I have met have been really awesome and helpful and full of smiles and wanting to help in any way they can. Ive also come to realize there are some who (sorry for my initial judgement) I would have never suspected they sell (and are apparently very good at it) Avon. I know one woman who is older who does a great job selling, is kind and helpful, has amazing ideas and even has a mini Avon store in her garage. The guy who recruited me does great in sales, recruits well, but is a rather big gentleman and doesn't get back to my emails as I think he should consider how new I am to the world of being in business for myself. The district lady is quite amazing. She's extremely knowledgeable and goes above and beyond helping everyone she can. She's probable in her early 40's and very pretty and well spoken. I've met a younger girl who has been selling since September of last year. She seems younger than me, but answers my questions with a smile. I believe her mom is her guinea pig when it comes to using a product and then she can yay or nay it. I think its a great idea. She's very nice too. Regardless, everyone I have met is very nice and has great ideas. It's hard not to compare yourself with those you see around you selling and representing for the same company. I do hope that I can definitely make something of this pursuit. I may even pick up the My-Thirty-One after six months or so of selling Avon. My thoughts is that they would compliment each other well.

If you read my posts, please take the time to visit my website. Shop for yourself, for your mom, for friends or even the fragrances for men. And even of you dont want to shop, please remember me and would love referrals!

www.avonrepresentative.com/kirahouse

Boredom's Attention

You would think that being a mother of a toddler, boredom would be gracious gift. Mwehh...not really. I mean, being with my toddler is great on many levels, but when I actually get some me time while she's napping or finally playing by herself, I dont know what to do with myself. I love reading, but that can get boring too, especially when I read so fast (three books in one week). I suppose it can only engage my attention only long enough. Im reading the Game of Thrones Series now after finishing the Hunger Games Series, but I need something else to give me something to think about and do. Ive been trying to find what my niche is in the world and I have only come down to realizing Im good with children and I feel I would be a good teacher, but that comes down to spending more money to get a degree or certification (whatever the case may be in VA) and who knows if I would even get a job. Besides, I really dont want to work until my DD is in school anyway and I would really only like to do part-time. Ive thought about writing a book, but where and how do I start. I have such an amazingly vivid imagination and my dreams can hold amazing keys to giving me stories. What about selling Avon, Mary Kay or Pampered Chef or another one of those kinds of jobs?
I am starting a garden this year so that will give me something to do. I am learning more and more about sewing and hopefully I will get good enough to make my own skirts and clothes for DD. What about making my own jewelry? would it be worth selling?
I suppose my biggest issue is I need to just do it, but I believe Im worried about failure, but then again, I do know that it could happen, so maybe Im more worried about wasting the money. I suppose I need more justification....(writing a book would be fun, anyone know how I would even begin this?)
Until next time...

First House

We have moved to our first 'real' home. It only took me 12 years to get to this point and quite honestly, it's really all thanks to an amzing husband who is such a wonderful provider. Compared to where we were living, this is 1000 times better. Granted, there were really no 'house' bills to pay, we were blessed in having that kind of opportunity to get to where we are now. From a 'cave' to a home that has so much natural light that I only need to turn on the lights in the evening. We have a two car garage and a full un-finished basement, which also has a set of french doors AND a full size double window! The kitchen is nice and functional and we have a dishwasher! I wash pots and pans and my daughters dishes by hand still, but Oh My, we can use more than two plates and bowls and just put them in the dishwasher and still have more to use. We dont have a formal dining room, but more of like a dining area or eat-in kitchen and it's spacious. The living room is small compared to the rest of the house, like the builder was focusing on a large kitchen instead, but I honestly cant wait until we get at least the den complete downstairs, because this is just the right size for a living room/sitting room without a tv; just for conversating with friends and family.
We even have a small view of broadway and surrounding area, not grande, but its nice.
The three bedrooms are all a good size, two rooms have queen size beds with room to definately spare and my daughters room has two twin size beds, plus a playpen she is currently sleeping in until her 2nd birthday. The hall/guest/my daughters bathroom is huge with a double sink with lots of space. Its a long bathroom. The master bathroom is kinda small, but hey, we have two bathrooms and one is all our own.
The front porch is small, but its our small front porch and did I mention all the sun the front of the house gets?
Moving is very stressful for me. Ive done it quite a bit in the last 12 years. I think living in our previous place for 2 1/2 years was the longest Ive ever stayed in one place. Luckily, this time around, I didnt get as stressed as I normally do and we have accumulated many more things. I like the unpacking part and packing certain things, but all the rest is just...so...anoying...thank goodness we wont have to do that again for a very, very long time.
Ive debated on painting, but I think it can wait until I get tired of all white walls. I already have a color palet in mind and on paper, I just dont feel its necessary and I like the clean fresh feeling of white walls in a brand new home.
Most things have been unpacked and we are slowly getting pictures and such on the walls. I made the curtains for the living room, dining area and my duaghters room and the only room that still needs some work is the spare room, which may become a baby room sooner than later :)
The town we live in is small. It seems like its kinda 'country ghetto' if that makes sense. When I got to the Food Lion, people a bit younger than I are dressed in what looks like loungewear or just not put together well (sweat pants and sweat shirt that doesnt match). If you have ever living in a small town, you know where Im getting. Its alright, I just need to get used to it coming from near a big city, bigger than Harrisonburg, VA.
Anyway, I think I will really enjoy living here. I think it will grow on me :)