Category Archives: Community

Treasure Hunting!

Good evening!
The other day, I had the opportunity to go treasure hunting, and I thought today that I would share two of my finds with you!

I found these two spectacular pieces at Aunt Bee’s here in town! I was absolutely flabbergasted when I first laid eyes on them, I just KNEW they had to come home with me! They were a little spendier than I am used to spending on a whim, but I knew that they would be a great investment and a great addition to my ever growing art collection. That sounds so cool to me! 😉

These pictures make me long to visit Europe. I dream of what it would be like if I could live there someday. Maybe live in the countryside of France, or the hustle and bustle of an Italian Villa, or maybe even live on a remote and isolated  emerald isle of Ireland. DREAMY!

I can imagine myself walking endlessly, just enjoying the scenery, or holding hands with my sweetie as we enjoy the sights of Europe together. Reading on a blanket under a shady tree, or sloshing in puddles while wearing my wellies, and the rain is coming down pitter-patting on my umbrella, that of course I would have right on hand! I would love to see the magnificent architecture, and learn about the vast history, and I would be proficient in every language – ok that may be pushing it, but I think you get what I mean. I would love to be blend in with the locals, and live the culture the way that they really live it. Living life, loving life, enjoying my friends and family! That would be AMAZING!!!

Someday, you will see. I am not sure how, and I am not sure when, but it will happen!! And when it does maybe I will be able to see these actual scenes first hand. For now, I will settle with enjoying my European view through these small paintings that I will truly treasure! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

Sharing The Birthday Boy’s Pics!

Good evening!

My sweetie and I are having a lovely, quiet evening at home and I wanted to make sure that I shared with you his pictures from his birthday dinner last evening!! 🙂

We went to my sweetie’s favorite restaurant for dinner, Annette’s!

The birthday boy got a movie gift card, and a Starbuck’s card!

We celebrated with our good friends, Kevin, Rachel, and Errin.

We ate our fill of food, and then because it was Jason’s birthday they gave him a free dessert of 3 scoops of ice, with 2 brownies, hot fudge, whipped cream, and 5 spoons!! It was delicious!! 😉

They had live music, which was really cool!! It was very blues-ey/jazzy, which Jason and I just LOVE!!! 😉

Errin being silly! 😉

Kevin and Rachel – aren’t they just adorable?? 😉

and last but not least, my sweet AKA The Birthday Boy, and myself!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

Happy Birthday, Baby!!

Good evening!

I have let the evening get away from me, so, needless to say that this is going to be another short post. I am very sorry about that!!

Today is my sweetie’s birthday, and this evening we had fun celebrating his birthday over at Annette’s in West Salem! Our friends, Errin, Kevin, and Rachel were able to join in the celebration!! We all had HUGE portions of DELICIOUS food!! It was fun to catch up with friends, and get to know a little more about what is happening in each of their lives! Then came dessert. YUM!! The waitress brought out a LARGE bowl of brownies, ice cream, fudge, and whip cream with 5 spoons!! It was delicious, but even with all 5 of us there, we could not finish it!!

Jason was like a kid on Christmas morning, as he opened his gifts!! He received a gift card to the movie theatre, a gift card to Starbucks, The Big Bang Theory Season 4 DVD set, and the Paolini Book “Inheritance”.

After we left our friends to return home, Jason got a phone call from our sister, Jennifer, and she sang to him Happy Birthday, Marylin Monroe-style, and he looked like he was going to burst with happiness!!! Jennifer is notorious for her Marylin impression, and Jason was just stoked that she was doing it JUST FOR HIM!!! That is a special treat – for sure!!!

So, before we head to bed this evening we are going to watch at least one more episode of The Big Bang Theory season 3, and then we are off to bed!! It really has been a great day, and I am just so thankful that my sweetie had a GREAT birthday!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

 

 

OH, I do have a bunch of pictures that I am going to post of this evening, but because of time constraints I am going to wait until tomorrow’s post!!! 😉

Shopping! Shopping!

Good evening!

This is going to be a short post, I am tired, and wanting to call it a night!!

My sweetie and I got up this morning, had a lovely breakfast together, and headed out for a day of shopping. and I don’t mean run to the corner market to pick up a few things, I mean marathon shopping with a HUGE list!! I have to tell you that we really did have such a fun day!! Jason doesn’t usually like shopping, but he was such a trooper today, helping with making choices, and being extremely patient as I worked on trying to figure out who got what! I would love to tell you that I got all of my Christmas shopping done, but no, I still have a couple of people to get for, and THEN I will be done! WHEW!! 😉

OK, that is enough for tonight! I promise I will take more time to write tomorrow!

Have a a FABULOUS evening!!

A Chunky Dunker’s Information Session!

Good evening!

Well, as you may be able to tell by now that we did not have a typical Chunky Dunker’s session this evening. Instead, my sweetie and I went to a 2 hour bariatric surgery information session down at the hospital. The physicians and staff of the bariatric clinic told us all about the differences between lap band and the different kind of gastric bypass surgeries, all of the risks, preperations, pre- and after care!! It was very informative!

I am not sure how I feel about it for myself yet, but I know that Jason is close to making up his mind and I am more than happy to support him in whatever decision he makes. As for myself, I will keep you posted! 😉

I am tired, it is getting late, and I have a lot to think about this evening, so I am going to cut this post short, and say G’night!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! ;-)

Chunky Dunker’s Night!

Good evening!
Tonight is Chunky Dunker’s night here on Christinaville. Chunky Dunkers is an open and informal support group for anyone who has any kind of health and fitness goals. We are here to cheer each other on, share advice, ideas, hints, tips, recipes, and just be an all around encouragement to help each other in achieving our goals.  So, please feel free to grab a cup of coffee, and meet us in the comment section! The more the merrier!

With that said, I am very happy to report that I have lost 10.4 pounds!!! Which, when I think about it is kind of surprising, because even though it has been slow going, it has been 3 months, I was sure that it was going to be much harder than it actually has been. My sweetie has been very supportive in putting together healthy breakfast, lunch, and snacks every day, and I have been working at being mindful to watch my portion sizes, and to take my time in eating. Baby steps! Baby steps!

I can’t wait to hear how all of you are doing, I will see you in the comments section! 🙂

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! ;-)

Creating a Look!

Good evening!

I am in the market for a new look. My sweetie and I went out with my bestie and her fiance,  this evening. My girlfriend, Dawn, always looks like she just stepped right off of the latest fashion magazine. Well, tonight, her hair was looking extra especially cute and it has inspired me to stop on the way home to pick up some fashion magazines, and look into some new hairstyles, makeup techniques, and some new fashion looks.

I am not looking for anything super dramatic, but just a few minor tweaks and options for the me that I am right now. I find that I have gotten myself in a bit of a fashion rut, and have been really playing it safe. Super-safe – almost frump girl at times!! I figure if no one notices me, why does it even matter? But, the reality is, is that it matters because I notice!! now that I have started to lose weight, I really want to make sure that my outside is looking as good as my inside is feeling!

Who are some of my dream style icons?

  • Audrey Hepburn
  • Adele
  • Sophia Loren
  • Diane von Furstenberg
  • Kelly Osbourne
  • Katherine Hepburn
  • Diane Keaton

I think my style is feminine, classic, romantic, tailored. When I am not careful, it can run into safe, boring, ho-hum, so I need to make sure to do a good job to keep some life in my look, so that my spirit is truly represented in my overall style look. I am a firm believer that you really do have just moments to make a good first impression!! Besides, what woman doesn’t LOVE feeling FABULOUS??? 😉

What is your style, and who are you style icons? I would love to hear from you in the comments section.

Have a FABULOUS evening! ;-)

 

Chunky Dunkers!

Good evening!

Tonight is Chunky Dunker night, an online fitness/weight loss support group. We are always happy to have visitors so please feel free to stop by the comments section and let us know how you are doing with you weight loss/fitness goals, and please feel free to share any hints/tips/ideas that you have found helpful in getting closer to your goals!! The more the merrier!!

I am very happy to report that I am finally losing weight, 8.4 pounds so far. It is coming off slowly but surely, but as long as it is coming off, I will take it!!! YEAH!! I am still not up to exercising too regularly yet, but I have been dealing with a minor health issue that has been leaving me feeling run down and not exactly like my normal self! However, I have been really trying to work around that and make a point to get more movement throughout my day!

Anyway, this week’s topic is: The Importance of Hydration

The following was borrowed from Golds Gym’s Newsletter:

You’ve heard the rule before: Drink eight glasses (or 64 ounces) of water each day. But when you work out, your body’s demand for fluids increases even more, especially if you’re exercising outdoors — or even warming up on the way to the gym — during warm summer months.

5 Easy Ways
To Stay Hydrated

  1. 1. Drink eight glasses of water every day.
  2. 2. Can’t remember the last time you had a glass of water? Go get one now.
  3. 3. Drink 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes during a workout.
  4. 4. Drink 12 to 24 ounces of water before and after your workout.
  5. 5. Grab a low-calorie sports drink at Gold’s Gym.

According to Dr. Sam J. Romeo, CEO of Romeo Medical Clinic, Inc., in Turlock, Calif., half the population is at least mildly dehydrated all the time. These people don’t even know what a day feels like when they’re fully hydrated. Drinking the right amount of water daily can lead to better decision-making skills and concentration, elevated moods and improved coordination. So just imagine how the benefits of proper hydration might affect your workout.

“Dehydration can decrease your strength, endurance and sports performance significantly,” says Romeo. “If we have inadequate fluid intake, every cell and organ system in our body has to work harder. We have less blood volume, so the cardiovascular system has to increase our heart rate.”

Plus, the more you sweat, the more fluid your body loses. To learn specifically how much water your body releases during a workout, weigh yourself without clothes before and after. Every half-pound of weight loss is equivalent to eight ounces of water lost, explains Romeo. Generally, to maintain a healthy hydration level it’s important to drink 12 to 24 ounces before and after as well as about eight ounces every 20 minutes during the workout.

For shorter workouts — those lasting less than one hour — sports drinks are not necessary says Romeo. Longer, more intense workouts, though, require a combination of water and sports drinks to replace lost electrolytes and provide sugar for energy. To avoid the added calories, pick up any of the low-calorie sports drinks offered at Gold’s Gym.

Don’t worry about drinking too much; it’s difficult for a healthy individual to over-hydrate. Those cramps that sometimes creep up during a workout are not generally caused by too much fluid consumption. In fact, they can sometimes be a sign of early dehydration, explains Mary Arnold, a USA Track & Field-certified running coach and two-time national qualifier in long-course triathlon. But most often the dreaded side stitch actually comes from undigested food or an irregular breathing pattern. “I have my athletes slow down or walk for 30 to 60 seconds to alleviate the cramp,” says Arnold. “Walking with your hands stretched over your head — to stretch your diaphragm — and breathing deeply will get rid of the side stitch.”

To beat the summer heat, maximize your workouts and get all the benefits of proper hydration on a daily basis. “Good hydration is not just a part of a workout: It is integral to a healthy lifestyle,” Arnold says. “If you can’t remember when you last had a glass of water, you should stop what you’re doing and get one.”

Have a FABULOUS evening! ;-)

Finally Home!

Good evening!

I am so happy to report that I am finally home!! WHOO! HOO!!

Yesterday was the last day of my computer training in Wisconsin, so naturally I started the journey home yesterday afternoon. Who knew it would be such a LOOOOONG journey!! 😉

The original plan was that I would leave my class at four to catch the shuttle to the airport in Madison, which would take about an hour to get there. Then I would have about a 2 and a half hour wait before my flight to Chicago. Once to Chicago, I would have one hour to catch that plane, and then my plane to Portland, Oregon would get in at about midnight, and my sweetie would pick me up and drive us home, which would get us home about 1 am. I would get some much needed sleep and then go to work from noon to 5, and life would officially be back to “normal”.

What really happened though, was this:

I left my class at 4 to take the hour long drive to the airport on the shuttle. Got to the airport, as expected, and when I got there found out my flight to Chicago had been delayed by an extra hour, because there was a really bad wind storm in Chicago. This would also mean that if I was going to make my connecting flight, I was going to have to SERIOUSLY run, which, at that point, I was sooooo tired, and sooooo ready to be home, I was more than willing to do.

At a little after 8 pm, they finally gave the a-ok to board our plane, but when we taxi’d out, we found out we had that we were grounded and had to wait on the Tarmac until air traffic control gave us the green light to go. It was quite a wait, but at this point, in my mind, it was still all good because it was a small plane, with even less passengers, so they let us sit wherever we wanted, and by that time there were about 4 of us who were really getting to know each other,nervously  laughing and joking, and three of us four, were all heading to Portland on the same flights. Come rain or come shine, I knew I wasn’t going to be alone!! What a blessing!! 😉

Well, I am not sure what time we actually got to take off, but we all knew we were going to miss our connecting flights! and boy, did we ever!

Before I tell you what happened next, I think I had better tell you about our AMAZING flight crew from Madison to Chicago! We flew United, and I have never really had any problems with them, so I knew we were going to be in good hands! That might have been the UNDERSTATEMENT of the whole trip!!! Seeing that they were forecasting cross winds of up to 50 miles an hour, we had a relatively smooth, and comfortable ride – considering the weather. There were times that I was sure we would NEVER get off of that Tarmac, but once we did the professionalism and skill of our crew was extremely self-evident! You  could tell that the plane was trying hard to roll, and the pilots did a lot of compensating to make sure we made it to Chicago safely! I am not saying that I was completely worry free during our flight. It was a lot bumpier than normal after all, but I had decided to just pray about it, and let God take care of getting us there. one way or the other, I knew I would be in His hands.

We did finally get there safely, and we had an AMAZINGLY smooth landing, which was a feat unto itself because it was SO RAINY and SO WINDY!! WHEW!!! but, I knew God was helping fly that little plane. When we finally got off the plane, I headed right to the gate to ask the person at the counter if our connecting flight had taken off, well, let’s just say he practically laughed his confirmation at me, as if I were some silly dreamer, which I guess I am, but a girl could hope that it had been delayed too can’t she?

So, the three of us Portland bound ladies, myself, Eartha, and KJ (short for Kathy Jo)  had decided that we were all in this together, and made the trek to find out how to go about getting ourselves set up with new flights so we could FINALLY get to Portland. After finding where we were supposed to go to get help, we found ourselves in the LOOOOOONGEST line and if we had any doubts before that this was going to be a long night, we knew for SURE now!! 😉 Thankfully, by the time I finally made it to the associate, she was still smiling – bless her heart!!  I had been watching and she had people yelling at her, and being downright rude, and I was just soooo impressed that she had kept her cool, and not only that, but to do it all with a SMILE?? She was VERY IMPRESSIVE!! So, when I go to her window, I had decided to tell her so, and thank her for what a GREAT job she was doing!!  She reserved me a seat on the next flight back to the Pacific Northwest, which was going to be going to Seattle, and we would be on the plane by about  8 am the next morning! WHOO! HOO!! as long as we were on our way! (Yes, all three of us girls ended up on the same flights, thankfully!!)

By this time it was a little past 11 at night, the airport had practically closed down for the evening and I was hungry because I had missed dinner that evening, and the young lady who had helped us reschedule our flights, I believe her name was Mary Jane, was just getting off of her shift, and had by then, made it her mission to make sure that the three of us had ANYTHING that we needed, food, drinks, etc!!! She kept offering to drive and get us some food, and bring it back. 🙂 We kept thanking her and telling her that wasn’t going to be necessary! She then said she was willing to go home, and bring us back some apples from an orchard that she had just picked these fresh apples from, she was VERY SWEET, but we assured her that we would be fine, and she headed home for the evening! Well, Eartha, KJ and myself had found our hunkering down spots in the airport and were busy chatting and getting to know each other a little better, when lo and behold, Mary Jane came back!!! She said that she had searched all over the airport and found that there was a Starbuck’s not to far away that would be open all night! She let us know that they had fruit, veggies, sandwiches, etc, on top of there coffee selections!!  We were soooo very appreciative!! I know that she was a walking angel, and that when I had prayed for God to take care of us getting us home, he had gone above and beyond, by sending us this AMAZING lady to help make us comfortable!!!

Well, it was waaay past midnight by now, someone from the airport had come around and given all of us stranded travelers fleece blankets to help keep us warm. I was convinced that God had placed people as angels all around us!! 😉 We knew it was going to be a long night trying to get any kind of sleep in those hard chairs, but we all took turns trying to catch some shut eye, while one of the other of us watched all of our bags, and belongings. I really couldn’t have asked for better company!!

So long story short, none of us really got much in the way of sleep, but we weren’t alone and by about 2-ish I was finally, and GRATEFULLY home!! When my sweetie got to the airport to pick me up, I almost cried with joy to see him!!! His twinkling blue eyes, smiling at me, was just almost more than my happy to be home self could bear!!

Looking back on this trip, I am sure that this will be one I will NEVER forget!! and KJ and Eartha, wherever you are – I do have your contact information, I want to say thank you to you both, you made a very scary situation, a fun, and memorable adventure, and I will forever be grateful to you both!!!

With my story told, it is time for me to go back to bed (I literally climbed in as soon as we got home, and I only got up because I ALMOST forgot to blog today!!)

Have a FABULOUS evening!!