Category Archives: Friends

Auntie Night!!

Yesterday was the day that my niece came over to hang out with Jason and I!! I would LOVE to say that we had fun all day, UNFORTUNATELY since I had to work a large portion of the day, we haven’t had as much fun as we usually do when we get together!!! HOWEVER I did make sure to take some time to get away – we went to the park to play on all of the equipment, had some yummy pizza for dinner, and then went swimming, where we ALWAYS have fun playing!! I AM SOOOOO BEAT RIGHT NOW!!! So, in lieu of more words, I am going to share some of our time at the park with pictures.

Enjoy!!

I think that about sums it up!! 😉

Well, we are off to go eat Uncle Jay-Jay’s FAMOUS pankcakes!!! and then off to more fun!!!

Have a FABULOUS day!! 😉

A Leisurely Morning!

Good morning!

You know that leisurely morning I was hoping or yesterday? Well, I have finally found it this morning!!! YEAH!!! 😉

I have gotten up early, showered, dressed, worked a little on decorating my journal (glitter-glue may be my NEW OBSESSION!), and now I get to spend some of my morning with you, before heading off to work!! 😉

I was thinking last night as I was in bed ready to fall asleep about something that I have been running across a lot lately, and that is forts. Do you remember making those in your house when you were little?? Forts were a BIG part of my childhood!! I remember stealing my dad’s wool blankets, (he was in the Navy, and we had TONS of these!!!), and my mom and I would rearrange all of the living room furniture and we would build a fort out of those blankets that seemed to cover E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!! We would fill the thing with every pillow we could find, and if it were too dark inside, my mom would even set a small lamp inside so we could see. I remember her letting me read in there, and she would always bring me some kind of snack or something (sliced apples and peanut butter were a fave!) I FELT LIKE SUCH A GROWNUP!!!! LOL! 😉 This was a tradition we continued until I was about 10 or 11 – I just LOVED small snuggly spaces – I still do, matter of fact!! 😉

In honor of those memories, I thought I would peruse the internet and see what pics of forts that might be FABULOUS to hang out in now as an adult!!!

I think I am inspired to create a fort in my house this weekend! If I am feeling froggy and REALLY do it – I will take pics and post what I was able to come up with, with the assistance of my sidekick!! 😉 What kind of fort could you create in your house now? Will you?

Have a FABULOUS day! 😉

That’s More Like It!

Got home from work not too long ago, and I am happy to report that, TODAY WAS SOOO MUCH BETTER THAN YESTERDAY!!! WHOO!!! HOO!!!!!

Less stress!
Less yelling!
Less anxiety!
Less headache!
More work done!
More smiling!
More laughing!!

That makes me a very HAPPY GIRL this evening!!! My sweetie and I stopped off and picked up some made-to-order salads, which were quite delicious. Then we made a b-line for home so we could have our dinner, and get started with our evening!!!

I am going to do some more crafting on my journal this evening, and maybe do a little reading, although I am having some trouble getting into a new book. That is one of the dilemmas of having so many books – especially when almost half of them are yours because you inherited them. Their genres are TOTALLY different than what I am used to reading, which I know could be a REALLY GOOD thing, but I am having a hard time falling into a story.

Does anyone have any good books that they have read lately??? Talking about books, that reminds me – I have been talking with my sweetie about starting a book club, but I am not exactly sure how to go about finding book lovers like me! I had recruited one person, but now she is moving back to Arizona, *SNIFF*, so I am going to have to start over!! I LOVE reading, and I ESPECIALLY love reading books that have adventure, mystery, intrigue, some action, a lusty romance is always good, you know – kind of like one-stop-shopping!!

Some of my favorite reads are:

The Harry Potter Series
The Vampire Diaries Series
The Twilight Series
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
The Mortal Instruments Series
The Percy Jackson Series

But, what I would REALLY LOVE to read with a book club is all of the Jane Austen books! Jane Austen has written some of THE BEST heroes and heroines EVER!! They are complex, tortured, and ABSOLUTELY LOVEABLE!!!! Has anyone ever started a book club before??? How do you go about doing it?? How do you find people to join you?? If anyone has any ideas, or if anyone is in the Salem area and would like to join me – THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!!! 😉

Anyway, I am off to go get get crafty for a little while before bed this evening! I am hoping to have a picture of my new journal to share with you by Friday!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

A Sleepy Tuesday!

Good evening!!

I am SOOOO TIRED this evening!!! The past few days of staying up too late, and getting up crazy early has finally caught up with me!! SOOO, tomorrow, I am planning on practicing some EXTREME SELF-CARE!!! What I mean by extreme self care, is that I am going to treat myself like my own best friend tomorrow!! Taking some much need time and effort to take care of myself and treat myself with the same kind of care that I want my best friends and loved ones to be treated with.

Some of those Extreme Self-Care things are:

Get up early and have a leisurely morning getting ready for work
Pack some calming tea and take a break mid-morning to get away from the office and have a nice cuppa
Take some time to go for a walk, maybe take some pictures of some beautiful things while I am out
Take a much-loved fiction book to work, and spend my lunch reading something fun that takes my mind off of work
Keep telling myself over and over that it is alright, I am doing a great job, and this will be soooo worth it
When I get home, have a simple, but candlelit dinner with my husband, while we listen to some calming music
Spend the evening, reading, or walking outside, or playing with my sweetie and the girls – STEP AWAY FROM THE TELEVISION!
Slip into a well made bed, early, maybe read a little, snuggle with my honey, and fall asleep peacefully!!!
HEAVEN! HEAVEN! HEAVEN!!!

Basically anything, ANYTHING that makes my health, and happiness a priority!!! I really need that, because I have been treating myself a little rough lately!!! Maybe some of you might need that too – what kinds of things would be on your extreme self-care list? Tell me in the comments above!! 😉

I did pick up something tonight, that really MADE MY DAY!! I picked up the latest copy of the magazine ‘Where Women Work’. I am not sure how many of you have seen that, but it is SOOOO INSPIRING!!! It has made me start thinking about getting back on the ball and keep working on getting my office/craftroom beautiful!!! I have made the decision that wherever my career ends up, I know it is going to have something to with computers, creativity, improving people’s lives and beaing surrounded by beauty!!! I KNOW, sounds DIVINE, doesn’t it????

Anyway, I do have a big day ahead of me tomorrow, including a super-early am meeting, which means I have to get up a little early tomorrow morning to get my booty out the door!!! So, that means I have to dash and get a few more items checked off of the to-do list before I hit the hay!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

A Morning of Thanks!!

Good morning!!!

I wanted to stop and tell you that blogging, for me, was an activity that started out as a hobby and has quickly morphed into a PASSION!!! Because of this blog, I am now constantly searching and thinking of new things to share with you, which in and of itself has really forced me to ‘think outside the box’ on a daily basis! I also LOVE having a venue to express myself, no matter what mood I am in on any given day. Whether I am feeling ecstatic or blue, creative or literary, introverted or social, blogging has been a forum where I can just be my true self!!

What a GREAT FEELING!!

My hope for this blog is that it may inspire you to try something new, look at the world in a new way, or simply bring a smile to your day. If I have been able to do that for even one of you, then all of my hard work has been TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!

AND for whatever reason, my readership has been going up, up, up, which just JAZZES MY DAY!!! The number of ‘hits’ on my blog for January 2011 was more than double my previous BEST month – and that was August 2010!!! WOW!!! Thank you, to all of you who stop by and read my posts every day!! YOU inspire me, and keep me going!! I pray, even if it is in only a very small way, that I am able to do the same for you!!

THANK YOU, and have a FABULOUS day!! 😉

Hanging with My Peeps!

OK, actually, I hung out with one peep, not plural – like the title of this post implies! 😉 My girlfriend, Dawn and I met this morning to get together for coffee so we can spend some time catching up! We have a lot going on right now, and we don’t always get the chance to keep in touch like we want to, so our coffee dates are IMPERATIVE to our friendship!!!

After coffee we did some walking around downtown and did some window shopping – one of our FAVORITE NATIONAL PASTIMES!!! 😉 She has THE BEST fashion sense so I always have fun perusing the latest clothing wares with her! Of the two of us, I am the decorator, and she is the fashion stylist – that just works for us! She helps me, I help her, and that makes us the most stylish girls on the block – ok, maybe in our minds, but we love each other and have a TON OF FUN!!!

I remember, when we just 12 years old, I would spend the night at her house as often as possible, and would play dress up and I would beg her to do my hair and makeup!! SHE IS JUST A NATURAL!!! 😉

We did happen to go to one of my favorite home accessories shops downtown, Olivia’s. The owner there was very gracious to let me take some pictures of her goods! I could take almost literally one of EVERYTHING and they would fit BEAUTIFULLY in our place!!! I would LOVE it, Jason might go a little into sugar-shock, but I am sure he would let me decorate however makes me happy!!! What a lucky girl I am!!! 😉

Here are those pictures I took at Olivia’s:

Isn’t her place just divine??? I really do LOVE ALL THINGS FRENCH!!! 😉

Anyway, I had so much fun going out with Dawn today, and ALWAYS look forward to the next time!!! I love you, Dawn!!! You are DA BEST!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

My Vision Board

Good evening!

Tonight I had the opportunity to spend some more time with my sister, Alex! We spent the evening finishing up our design boards. Last Thursday, I promised you that as soon as I was done with it, I would take a picture of my design board and share it with you.

So, here it is…

Ok, so I am not sure how well you can see this, but I can explain the gist of what I am dreaming of for 2011.

If I had to narrow this vision board down to one word, it would be PEOPLE. More specifically friends and family. I want a small tight-knit-group of girlfriends that I can let down my guard with and just be myself while going out making memories, and having a blast doing things that girlfriends do!!! I would love to have a baby, or at least get the ball rolling in that direction. I would love to travel with my sweetie to Europe. I want to have my own business dealing in beautiful home furnishings, to take a ton of photographs to share, and I want to go hiking, camping, and get out and be all around more athletic. I know, I live in the Pacific Northwest, and I have never had an outdoorsy bone in body, UNTIL NOW that is!!! Oh, yeah – how could I almost forget – I want my little farm, with it’s gardens and walking trails, and memories – you know, I WANT TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!! 😉 Ok, no – too much responsibility, but I am sure you get the idea!! LOL!! 😉

I want to do everything and anything that feeds my soul.
I want to be the me that I was put on this earth to be,
in the time that I have been gifted.
Now is the perfect time!! 😉

Do any of you have vision boards that you would be willing to share?? I would love to see some!! Let me know in the comments above! 🙂

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

Friday of Action!!!

Good evening!

Do you ever have one of those days??? Of course you do, we all do! Well, I have had one of those days!! I am still in the mix of doing my 10 hour work days (give or take an hour or so), and I am sooo thankful to be home!! WHEW!! I am actually sitting for soooo long each day (I work as a computer programmer), that I can almost feel my spine compressing on itself. It is such am unpleasant feeling, and painful. I don’t know how people with serious back problems make it through ever day. It has made me realize that if I don’t take my physical health more of a priority, I am going to be very sorry!

You know what they say,

“If you don’t take care of your health, you will take care of sickness.”

So, I have to get with the program – SERIOUSLY!! I must lose at least 100 pounds, but I would be happy with losing 20 pounds to start, just to get the ball rolling! I must lose weight, get strong, fit, flexible, and healthy, and I want to do it in a fun, healthy, and permanent way!!

I want to:

Swim
Hike
Twirl
Tap dance
Kayak
Travel
Canoe
Kiss
Snorkel
Belly dance
Strip aerobics
Zumba
Yoga
Pilates
Tai chi
Chase
Climb trees
Rock wall climbing
SingTake a trapeze class
Make love – frequently
Trampoline
Jump rope
Tag
Hopscotch
Run
Jog
Play
Laugh
Jump
Swing on a swing set

Well, I am sure you get the idea!!!

There is this young, fit, healthy, vivacious, young woman hidden inside of this body, and she is just screaming to get out!!!

Come on, Baby!! It is YOUR TIME!!!! 🙂

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

Carpe Diem!!

Good morning!!

The first thing I heard on the radio this morning was “Carpe Diem!” What a FABULOUS sentiment!! Seize the day!!!! It got me to thinking, what can I do today to seize the day???

I have a long day at work ahead of me, so at work I can seize the day by deciding to have a good day, or deciding to look for the fun in my job, or maybe I can hum a happy tune all day, just so I feel happy, in the moment!!