I love you gift!

Today Michael and I went out shopping for new tennis shoes for him. He got the same pair that he has gotten 4 years in a row, he's a creature of habit. We also went by the Lafayette electronic supply store so Michael could get some necessities for his current project, I think it has something to do with his ham radio :-)

We went by the mall so I could have some kitty time. After that he took me to target. I suppose I had been talking quite a bit about a necklace that I saw while I was in town. He had me show him the necklace and he got it for me! I don't normally want anything at full price, but I couldn't risk not getting this one. Here is my FAVORITE necklace. I know to most this is gaudy looking, but it is soooooo me!

After that we went to a local Restaurant called Dog n Suds. The root beer that they have is sold nationwide in convenience stores, and we decided that while we had the opportunity to eat at an actual dog n suds we should. It is kinda like a mixture of Sonic and A&W. Michael loved his coney dog and it was only $1.30!! I loved the root beer. It was so cheap and good that we may just become Dog n Suds regulars!

Work Christmas Party & Extra Special date night

Wednesday morning was our work Christmas party. We had a fancy lunch with salmon, shrimp, and a bunch of other things that I don't like. We each had a secret santa gift. My secret santa got me a $10 starbucks giftcard! Just what I had been wanting (I guess that is why I put it on my list and underlined it 2x). I was also nominated for employee of the month! I didn't win, but still it is nice to know I am doing well. Then the hotel gave us our Christmas gift a $15 Walmart giftcard,

They also gave everyone a number when they came in. They drew numbers and when your number was called you got to go up to the table and pick a gift. There were some really nice gifts, like there were several 1 night stay gift certificates at various places in Indiana. I wasn't drawn early enough to get one of those, but I did get something that made last night extra special! There is a restaraunt, La Scala, that Michael had been wanting to try since we first started dating. However, this restaraunt is about $20 per person, which is a little high for us. I got a $20 gift certificate for La Scala. Which brings us to last night...

Yesterday was kind of a hard day for me. My mom was hosting the Smith family dinner last night, and I was unable to attend. I don't get to see that side of the family very often and I really missed getting to see all of them. But Michael was so adorable in trying to cheer me up. He put on a santa hat, and we danced, and sang Christmas songs, maybe that will be our new tradition!

Then, I got all dressed up, and so did Michael. We went out to La Scala and Michael had a dinner with veal and other stuff. He really loved it. I on the other hand...didn't see anything that I wanted. Well, other than dessert. We had a fantastic time at dinner and we opted for tiramisu for dessert, which happens to be my favorite of all time. Michael also was such a gentleman last night. When we first started dating he always opened doors and offered me a hand when getting out of the car. Since we have been married that hasn't been happening as much. It was really great to have a date night out and to feel so special!

Now, if you are wondering what I ate for dinner other than Tiramisu, I didn't eat dinner at La Scala. After Michael ate, and I had dessert, Michael took ME out for a special treat. I have been dying to have some Papa Johns cheestix. That is exactly what I had for dinner last night. We are an unconventional pair, but we sure do have fun!

Michael and I get to come home on Wednesday and I am off until that following Tuesday! We will spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with my parents and Hammond family, and then we will celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas day with the Carusos on the 26th and 27th. I have pre-planned lunch with Megan Birke, and I cannot wait to see her baby bump! We are going to church at CIC YAY!!!!!!! I can't wait!

Date & Debate Night

Michael rolling out the dough.

Our candle lit table.

My calzone before it went into the oven.

Dinner is served!

Yesterday morning I decided that I would begin making some tomato sauce for last night. I began making it and thinking that it would be super fun for us to make Calzones. When Michael got home from class we started making the dough for our calzones. This meal was done "Caruso style" aka homemade.

While the dough was rising, and the sauce was simmering Michael and I relaxed and watched one of my favorite tv shows.

Around 5:30 we were ready to start putting together our dinner. However, we had run out of pepperoni for his calzone. I agreed to go to the grocery store, and looked at the ad to see what else we needed. I asked Michael if it would be ok if I got some candy corn, because it was on sale. He said that would be fine.

Well I went in and picked up the candy corn and some pepperoni. I called Michael to see if a certain brand of pepperoni was ok, he said yes but sounded dissappointed with the quality. I got off the phone with him and wandered over to the deli to see if they had anything better. Well they did but it was all expensive. I went to the deli counter and saw that they had one of Michael's favorite calzone fillings, Prosciutto, it is like a very thin Italian ham. We normally don't buy it because it is $11.00lb. I put my candy corn down, and decided that I should buy him enough for a calzone.

Meanwhile, while I was at the grocery store thinking of him, he was at home thinking of a way he could make the night special for me. When I got back he had found some classical-italian restaraunt style music, and it was playing softly in the background. He had pulled out four candles and lit them, so we could have a candle light dinner.

When I showed him the Prosciutto he got excited and it was immediately worth not buying the candy corn! We had a wonderfully romantic dinner at home, and then we ventured out to watch Purdue's improvisation club. It was soo funny and free! After the show we took a stroll through campus (one of my favorite things to do).

We came back home and watched the presidential debate until I couldn't take the sound of Barack Obama's voice any longer. Then we watched the 1975 version of the Stepford Wives.

What a perfect evening!