Yey I start work Monday, my Manager Christie just called to arrange training and orientation for me. I'll be working 2-5pm a nice 3hr shift. I don't think I got the Receptionist position at the Financial plan place, they didn't call back, I don't really mind much though. I think I'll stick with Bath & Body works for a while, I think it'll be best to start off slow.

Clayton was out yesterday at a Real Estate meeting, he picked up some open house signs off another real estate agent. As we are planning on doing an open house at a house near by us over the weekend, I'm planning on baking some cookies to bring a long. Hopefully some people will stop by for Clayton to rake in more clients for us to make more money. Thing's are looking up for us, there's hope for us yet.

Clayton and I started a really strict diet on Monday, we've also been out walking for about 45mins each night. We both need to start and lose some weight, Clayton's starting to get a beer belly, even his dad and uncle had noticed, they told me that I'm feeding him too well. So we are both determined as ever to get back into shape.

Been a while since I last posted, I thought I better post before you all think I've disappeared. Things have been going good here, my Interview last week went well they liked the fact that I had a lot of computer experience. But I just had a feeling they weren't gonna hire me though, there were a lot more mature women there in a sense of their appearance, and the men who were interviewing seemed to like them a whole lot. Well they said if I don't hear anything by today then I probably wouldn't have been successful. I'm still posting my resumes to receptionist jobs, even if it's part time it'll be good. As for the Bath & Body Works job, I'm still waiting on a date for orientation. I stopped by on Friday to see her, and she said that I'm still hired it's just that she's waiting on a few other women to get back to her. She'd like to do an orientation with a group of us, instead of just one or two. I should be starting by the beginning of May.

I'm a little peeved at the moment, as I was just looking through the jobs in the paper and found that the Curves I was working for is hiring again. I decided to call and see what's going on, and the boss said yes they were hiring. I said I was still available, and she said well we kinda need someone close by, you live so far away we need someone flexible. I'm annoyed because from day 1 when I started there, I always was on time for my shifts, infact I was always 20mins early. Hmph oh well, there's also another one in town that's hiring and I'm debating on whether I should call.

Onto other thing's the weather here in Washington has been so nice the last few days, it really feels like summer. On Friday afternoon I took the bus up to the Mall and met Clayton after work, and then we went and had a picnic at Silver Lake Park. Saturday was also a lovely day, we went to the local dairy and had a nice ice cream. We also bought our groceries up there, as it's quite cheap. Yesterday Clayton's uncle and dad were cutting down trees in the back yard, Clayton ended up mowing the lawn. Then we had a nice BBQ outside in the evening.

Today Clayton has a day off, so we are heading to Lynden a cute little Dutch town. I'm hoping to do a bit of shopping for Mother's day, as well as my dad's Birthday.

I got the job at Bath & Body Works I called yesterday and the manager said my reference checked out and she'd be happy to give me the job. She said she'd call towards the end of the week to arrange orientation and such. I also have an interview for a part time reception position at a financial company tomorrow morning, I'm kinda hoping I get this job too, as it's only 2 days a week Thursday and Friday. The manager from Bath & Body Works was very flexible and said if I wanted a second job she'd arrange my scheduling around that.

So things are looking up, not much else going on I'm trying to give the Cottage a large spring clean as I won't be here much once I start work. I have to say, I really admire those type of women that have really busy work schedules, look after their husband and children as well as the housework and such.

I started back at my original Curves location yesterday, it was nice to be back. I missed everyone I had made friends with, a lot of the women had asked where I went too. As soon as I walked in everyone was like it's 'Natalie' the one with the cute accent.

Wow been a long while since I last posted, we've had quite a good weekend. On Friday we went to the movies to see The Amityville Horror, which was very good quite scary. Clayton normally wouldn't go for them types of movies, but he likes the true story behind them.

On Saturday we were thinking of taking a drive out to see the Tulip fields but it was raining all day and so we didn't go. In the evening we went out with Clayton's parent's and uncle along with a family member that was in town. We went to a very nice expensive restaurant by the harbor, and of course it was a sea food restaurant. Everything was very nice, after our meal we all took a nice stroll along the harbor, we ended up spotting Seals for about 30mins which was fun.

On Sunday the weather was a little bit nicer so after Clayton finished work in the afternoon we took a drive out. We were a little disappointed as a lot of the Tulips had already gone, they came out early this year, they only have about a week left in full bloom. Next year we'll go out ealier, and even hit the festival, here's a little about The Tulip Festival.

And below are some pictures I took....


A Field of Yellow Tulips


A Field of Daffodils.

Thanks for all the kind messages in my last post, I needed a boost of confidence. Anyway today I had an Interview at "Bath & Body Works" in the mall, and it went quite well. I think I've got the job, the lady was pretty confident about it. I won't know for sure until Monday, as she needs to check my references out and do a background check on me. So I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but it looks pretty good at the moment. I think I'd really enjoy the position, as my hobby is Aromatherapy and essential oils. I hope I find out sooner than Monday.

The last couple of days I've been going out with Clayton to check out houses for his clients. It's been interesting to see what type of houses are for offer, it get's me all excited for the future when we eventually get a home of our own. I noticed that there aren't many 2 storey houses out here, they are all 'bungalows' or as the Americans call them a "ranch". To me that makes me think of a big farm house with a lot of land and horses. Clayton explained that it's also a 1 storey house, a bungalow to me. I don't really like the look of them that much, although Clayton likes them, but then again I think he's just being lazy and doesn't want to walk up the stairs to the bedroom.

I don't know if any of you noticed the new links, last week I updated my 100 things page, with new graphics and such. I also made a new Link Me page with buttons and blinkies. I made a page of my past layouts too, I'm still working on that a little.

I also found this cool blogger quiz online...

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What kind of blogger are you?

Wow I'm posting late, I'm just so bored so I thought I'd type here. I watched the Royal Wedding on BBC America this afternoon. Made me quite homesick, Camilla looked lovely, very elegant her outfit at the blessing was so beautiful. Speaking of Wedding's Congratulations to Stefanie and Collin who got married today too. Hey Stef you realize you got married the same day as the Royal Wedding.

Not much else is going on really, still looking for a job. Picked up my last paycheck from Curves on Friday, didn't even get a reference. The so called manager wouldn't give me one, she said "I hadn't been there long enough" hello you hired me and you fired me too, at least you could be a nice human being about it. Ah well their loss, although I did get a couple of the girls numbers as they still want to Scrapbook with me. At least I made a few friends in the process of being there.

Talked to my Grandparents this morning, so that was nice to chat to them. Clayton talked longer to my Grandad than I did to both of them. They get on so well, it's nice to see them chatting and they say women can talk hehe. Talked to my mum & dad too, need to catch up with my sisters though I don't get to chat to them very often. My mum pretty much calls me every couple of days, which is nice.

Clayton didn't get that job, he had a letter from them this morning, he was pretty disappointed. I really hope our luck turns around soon, it just feels like where in a rut. I know a lot of Clayton's family member's are saying "I told you so". I know they all think we should have waited till we were better financially stable, and Clayton was in a better job. But we both don't have any regrets, things might be hard now but we both know things can only get better. As I said before at least we are together and not thousands of miles apart.

The finger is now a lot better, still a little sore but well on the way to recovery. Thanks for all the well wishes, really helped my poor little finger.

The job hunt is going okay, send my resume to a number of places. Called most of the mall, and came up with 3 stores that are hiring, going to send my application and resume there shortly. That's all I've been doing this morning is printing out my resumes. Clayton hasn't heard back from the job he had an Interview at, looks like he didn't get it. He's going to call them to find out why, as then at least he'll know.

Tomorrow I'm going to a Temp agency, to see if I can get something there. Something has to come up sooner or later, I'd prefer sooner though.

Oh a little bit of good news, Clayton just got a call from his Real Estate clients. Looks like they are all set to look for a house. Yey so things are looking good there, he'll be able to sell a house in the next month or two.

Note to self : Never slam the car door on your middle finger, and not realize it. Then walk away from the car pulling your finger from the door. It hurts!!!!

Yes you read that right, how stupid can one person be huh. This incident happened Saturday afternoon, when I decided I wanted to spend money, which we didn't have. Walking out of the car, I slammed the car door shut with apparently my finger in the door. Stupidly enough I didn't realize my finger was caught and started to walk away from the car, pulling my finger from the door. Next thing I was screaming bloody murder, 2 ice packs and 3 pills later, we went home to rest my poor finger.

The following morning and no signs of improvement, my poor finger was black and blue. Called the doctor on call, and was told to apply ice packs and elevate finger. No problem, subsequently resulting in Clayton's uncle and father phoning to ask why was I flicking them the finger through our Kitchen window. Nevertheless issue was resolved by the end of the night, after much persuading.

Monday morning, finger still in a lot of pain was dragged to the Doctors by my loving husband. Sat in a waiting room for an hour, was seen by a very nice Nurse and Doctor, in which I had to tell my embarrassing story both laughed and asked "Didn't you feel the door close on your finger?" More waiting and an X-Ray later, nothing broken. Was told I'd have to drain my nail, as I had a hematoma (Blood Clot) this resulted in a very painful procedure where the Doctor drilled a small hole in my nail to release the pressure. Left the Doctors at 10:15am, with more pain in my finger than when I went in.

If anyone would like to pay their respects and wish my finger well, please leave a comment under this post. Thank you.