Category Archives: Health

Thor, Groceries Lists, & Hanging with My Sweetie!

Good evening!

I am having such a GREAT Friday!! Work was good, but I am mostly referring to my evening hanging out with my sweetie! It is Friday, which means it is date night! Tonight Jason took me to Northern Lights for dinner and a movie, and tonight’s movie was Thor. I had really been hemming and hawing about going – it seemed like such a guy-movie, but I am glad he talked me into it, because it was so good! Anyone else see it??? Tell me your thoughts!! 😉

Anyways, Thor was hot – OBVIOUSLY, but his hair color was a little distracting! After I blog tonight I will have to look that actor up and see who he is! That is, if I finish what I am working on now!! I am creating our menu for this upcoming week so that I can go grocery shopping tomorrow while my love is working! Jason and I have been doing a GREAT job eating waaaaay more fruits and vegetables, and our energy levels are showing the effects of eating healthy, so I want to keep that going!!

Grocery list:

  • apples
  • pears
  • strawberries
  • blackberries
  • spring mix lettuce
  • russet potatoes
  • sweet potatoes
  • baby red potatoes
  • garlic
  • celery
  • broccoli
  • bell peppers
  • onion
  • boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ground chicken breast
  • unsweetened apple sauce
  • prunes
  • black beans
  • red beans
  • chili seasoning
  • frozen berries
  • light Cool whip
  • whole wheat bread
  • eggs
  • skim milk
  • light chocolate silk
  • light sour cream
  • mozzarella
  • whole wheat hamburger buns
  • Rice milk

Well, I am sure I can something with all of that!! 😉 I have a bunch of recipe books out all around me, I am wanting to expand our normal repertoire! So, I am having fun looking through all of these books – I am sure Jason thinks I must have lost my mind, but that is alright! 😉 He will enjoy the new foods!! 😉

Anyways, this post is taking much longer than I had planned, so I am going to wrap this up so that I can go spend more time with my sweetie this evening!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

A Thursday of Randomness!

Good evening!

I am so tired! It has been a long day! Well, where do I start?

I got up this morning, late, because I had stayed up too long last night, trying to cram a little more time with my sister! Shocking, right?? Anyway, I finally got myself out to work this morning and even managed to surprise myself by getting there on time. WHOO! HOO!!

I had a pretty darn good day at work today! I just love working with my girlfriend, Chris. She always has a way of explaining things to me that makes either understand them, or makes me feel better! It is important to work with friends!! 😉

When I got home this afternoon, it was to a too quiet empty house. Jennifer and Austin went home today, after stopping by my work place so we could all have lunch together, which is part of why I was having such a good day at work! Ok, so maybe a BIG part of it! 😉 But is was very quiet when I got home this afternoon, and my sweetie came home and made a fabulous – and healthy dinner this evening for us! That was so fabulous!!! I got to cuddle with him on the couch a bit this evening, before he headed out to his truck to do some final errands of the evening! 😉

I am excited that tomorrow is Friday! I can’t wait!! Our house is clean, and after some organizing in the dining room tomorrow night, I will be able to claim that my house is spotless, well, at least for 10 minutes!! 😉 But, when the house is clean, I have a MUCH EASIER time of relaxing, and I know that makes both Jason and I happy!! 😉

Oh, I wanted to tell you that I signed up for a 5 week, 2xs a week Zumba class down at my place of work! It only cost me $25, because I am an employee – I can not wait to start!! I know that Zumba is supposed to be really tough, but I am falling in love with dancing – the ultimate un-exercise feeling exercise for me!! 😉 Plus I start my intermediate belly dancing class next week. I am scared and nervous at the same time, but I know I will have a blast!!

Anyway, I am going to close up shop here, and get my booty into bed for the night!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

A Gorgeous Day!

Good evening!

It has been an absolutely gorgeous day here in Oregon. It was a bit on the toasty side today, but I just got back from  nice long swim in our chilly pool, which was absolutely refreshing, and we have air conditioning in our little place, so I think I should be able to nod off to sleep quite nicely this evening. It also probably helps that I am beyond tired, from having so much fun with my sister, Jennifer, while she is still in town.

Her and her husband, Austin, are only in town in until tomorrow, at which time they will return home! I have tried, for years to talk them into moving here, but Salem is just too big for them, which is ironic because it is just too small for us!! 😉 Anyway, we have squeezed in some quality time after work this evening, going to their favorite place in Salem to eat, and that is at Mongolian Grill. They make it a point to eat there at least once during every visit, and this time was no different. 😉

I must interject here, I have been part of a support group called Chunky Dunkers. This is basically a get healthy & fit support group that I started with the help of my sisters, Alex, Jennifer, oh, and I can’t forget my sweetie, Jason. Well, Alex has lost almost 60 pounds, and Jennifer has lost almost 40. I am soooo ABSOLUTELY PROUD OF BOTH OF THEM (and a little jealous, if truth be told), and it has caused me to have a feeling of a renewed sense of,

“Ok girl, you have got to get your butt into gear and make this happen for yourself!!”

So, I have eaten extra fruits and veggies today, avoided all calorie-laden drinks, and tracked all of my food that I have eaten, walked the stairs at work, and even got an extra half an hour of vigorous swimming in this evening! Whew!!! Only one day down, and possibly hundreds more to go, which is ok, seeing that it took me literally 16 years to get to the size that I am. I have never really been overly self-conscious of the weight, but I am noticing that the older I am getting the more aches and pains in my joints I am getting, and I am just TOO YOUNG to feel this DAMN OLD!! 😉 So, instead of just pissing and moaning about it, I am going to step up to the plate and take some action – little, by little – baby steps!!

If any of you reading have any hints/tips/ideas/yummy recipe ideas, or even just some motivational support for me and my get fit actions, I would be more than happy to hear from you. Please leave me a message in the comment section above!

Thank you SOOOO MUCH, in advance!!

With that said, I am going to head off to bed for the evening!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

P.S. These pictures were taken in my mom, Linda’s, garden. Aren’t they just lovely? Thanks, Mom!! 😉

My Sistah’s In Town!

Good evening!

My sister, Jennifer, got here early this evening, oh and of course her hubbie Austin too!! 😉 What this means is, there is no way that I am getting to bed on time tonight! I know, she is a GREAT influence on me!! 😉

OH, I know what I wanted to talk about this evening! This morning, I had received a quote of the day on my cell phone and I wanted to share it with you!

“What can you do right now to begin to turn your life around? The very first thing is to start making a list of things to be grateful for.”
~Joe Vitale

So, that is what I wanted to share with you this evening, a list of things that I am grateful for!

  1. God loves me more than I can ever imagine
  2. I have a hubby that absolutely makes me a happy girl
  3. One of my sisters are here for a visit
  4. I have family who love me
  5. I have friends who love me
  6. I have two puppies who make me feel sooooo loved
  7. I am healthy
  8. I am happy
  9. I am free
  10. I have a well paying job
  11. All of my needs are being met
  12. I am creative
  13. I have a lot of books
  14. I have a comfortable roof over my head
  15. I have a reliable car
  16. I love living in the Pacific Northwest
  17. I am loving my walk-in closet
  18. I love my art studio

What this adds up to is one VERY BLESSED girl!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

A Late Evening with Veronica Mars!

Good evening!

Today is day two of being full-on-sickie!! I know that this is rather late, but I have been watching Veronica Mars all evening! We have been frantically soaking up the first season story line, and just finished season one’s finale. PRETTY DARN GOOD!! How sad is that?? Ok, apparently, I don’t have much of a life right now!!

I don’t think I really have much to talk about this evening, although I did just get off the phone with one of my little sisters!! She is doing so well, and I am very proud of her!

I was out of work today, because I’ve been sick. I am scheduled to have the next 5 days off, for the holidays, but I am contemplating going in tomorrow just to make up a little bit of time, but I am not sure if I am going to go in yet. What would you do? Hmmm…yeah something to think about.

I wish I had something more poignant to talk about this evening, but unfortunately, I am coming up blank! I promise, I will get out into the world tomorrow and come back with something a little juicier!! LOL! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!

Day Two Camping at the Oregon Coast!

Good evening!

We have had such a lovely day today. This morning, at about 4 in the morning, I am only guessing at the time seeing that we have no clocks or actual knowledge of time while we are out here, I hear a light pitter pat on the outside of our tent , and then it gets increasingly faster and faster until I realize what I am hearing, it is raining. I LOVE it!! It is not the oh-my-gosh-we-are-going-to-be-soaked kind of raining, but a nice light rain that just makes everything nice and damp when you wake up in the morning! It was very pleasant!

After dozing back to sleep, until the sun finally made an appearance, I got to do some nice quiet reading while my sweetie toodled around our campsite, setting up this, whittling that, and pretty much just have a good ol’ time!! After our respective quiet time activities, we decided to leash the girls up and take them for a walk around the camp grounds. That was fun, and the girls are getting better and better at being leashed, and not freaking out when strangers walk by! I can tell that they are having fun too!!

For lunch today, since Jason and I have had some trouble with our wood being too green to burn, we decided that we would head into Newport for some lunch, and we made it to the Chalet Restaurant. They have THE BEST fried chicken sandwich with sweet and sour sauce that is just DELICOUS!! My mom and I used to love sneaking away for some quality conversation together and we would go and partake in this delightful, but albeit sinful sandwich creation! I have been telling Jason about it for years, but this is the first time that he has ever had the opportunity to eat one, and his verdict is that, “it was excellent”. He can be a man of few words, but how right he is!

Ok, so back to the camping! Beverly Beach has some of the most intriguing trees I have ever seen. I am not sure what kind they are, buy their trunks are all gnarled, and mangle-ey! They look like something out of a Grimm’s Fairytale or something. They are quite breathe-takingly beautiful. I have live in Oregon for more than half of my life, and I have never seen anything quite like them before. That is what the majority of the pictures that I am sharing with you today are of!

Well, my sister, Alice and her family, all got here later this afternoon! I wasn’t sure they were going to make it, and I am like a worried mother-hen when they are on the road, I just want everyone to get here safely and soundly so we can start having fun together!!! It was so good to see everyone, and especially to see how big our nephews have gotten since last we’ve seen them, which was last Christmas!

We spent the evening playing at the park, roasting our hotdogs over the open flame, while the kids all kept playing musical chairs while trying to avoid the campfire smoke in their faces!! LOL! 😉 Then my sissy , Alice, and I ended up making a trip into town so that she could pick up some last minute, forgotten items for their campsite. Sounds familiar, I did the same thing yesterday – there must be something in our genes that make us similar that way!!!

Anyway, I am off to go have some more and s’more fun with my family – HAHAHAHA! Get it?? Ok, no worries! I have no plans to quit my day job!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

We Are Officially Camping!

Good evening!

Well, we have made it to Beverly Beach, and after a couple of hours futzing around, we finally made camp! WHEW!!! I love our version of roughing it!! We have two queen size air mattresses, fully loaded with all the trimmings!! Comforters, fuzzy blankets, high thread count sheets, and goose down feather pillows. The works!!! Does that make me spoiled??? 😉

That is alright, I will take spoiled any day!! I work hard for this mini vacation!!! 😉 Anyway, Jason is totally in his element, being my outdoorsy man and all, and our two girls are shivering and not really sure what to do with themselves yet, but as soon as they saw that the tent was up, they knew EXACTLY where they wanted to be (they have camped with us enough times)! They want to be snuggled up in bed!! That’s my girls!! 😉

I just LOVE camping with Jason!! He is such a hoot! He is constantly making me laugh, and he lives to be of help, so he likes babying me, and I like letting him! He is pretty much in charge while we are camping, which is almost a complete role reversal from our normal, everyday lives. Maybe THAT is why I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! Thank you, Honey, for taking such good care of me!! 😉

We weren’t planning on it, since I did bring so much reading material from home anyway, but Jason decided that since we WERE AT THE COAST AFTER ALL, that we just had no choice but to go to our favorite little used book store in Lincoln City. It is Robert’s books, and to say it is little?? Well, not so much! It is actually HUGE, and I could literally spend all day there looking for all sorts of reading treasures!!! So when he suggested it, I had a fleeting moment of but, honey, I already have all of these books, and then stopped myself mid-thought and said, “Sure! Why not?” and so we stopped!! Thank you, Love, for knowing what mamma really needs!!! 😉

Anyway, we are out camping, but forgot a “few” things, of course, and so we have driven the 15 or so miles to the nearest Wal-Mart to pick up those “needed” supplies! I am sitting in the car, keeping the girls company, or are they keeping me company? It is hard to say! It is starting to drizzle outside, which is fine – we knew it would, so we are absolutely prepared, being true Oregonians and all!! You have to be ready for any and all chances of rain!!

Work went pretty well today! I had gotten a HUGE assignment done and off to my end user today, which made me feel good. It has also given me the freedom not to worry about the office so that I can just relax, stay in the moment, and just enjoy our trip!

My sister, Alice, and her family will be joining us tomorrow a little after 4 pm. I can’t wait!! I really miss seeing my adorable little nephews!! They know all about their crazy Aunty Chrissy and her ever-present camera. It is something that my family just pretty much humors me with, because I am almost constantly taking their pictures!!! I think they secretly like it…I’m just sayin’! 😉

Anyway, we are going to head back to the campgrounds, and take our girls for a nice walk, before crawling into bed so we can get up nice and early in the morning!! That is one of the BEST perks about camping – it is perfectly acceptable to live without the presence of clocks of any kind. Time is an illusion, one that quickly becomes a non-factor when we are on vacation together!! Oh, SWEET BLISS!!!

Until I chat with you again tomorrow…

Have a FABULOUS evening!!

A Thankful Friday!

Good evening!

I am sorry I am getting around to posting so late, but I have busily, and happily “arting” as we now call my art studio time in my house!! I have made quite the mess this evening, and I am going to have to make sure it all gets cleaned up before I go to bed this evening, otherwise, I will have some difficulty doing my morning pages in the morning, if there is no room at the inn, so to speak!!

Jason is still away, camping with the guys, and I am sure that they must be having a lot of fun!! He will be back sometime tomorrow, in the meantime I am just busy toodling around then house, running errands, and “arting” my life away!! I just LOVE that!! You know, arting, as in to art!?!

Anyway, we have had some questions in my department at work about our organization structure, teams, and who is going to land where doing what. Well, this morning was the meeting where we all FINALLY found out what was going on, and to sum it up, the CIO said, that “Most everyone has had their cheese moved”, and when he put up the org chart – he wasn’t kidding!! We are almost all moved around! My team has been split and I am moving, along with two other of my teammates, to another team! Whew!! I think, after thinking about it all day, that these are going to be good changes, and no matter what happens God always puts me where he wants me!! So, I am not going to worry about it, and continue to do my best, WHEREVER THEY WANT ME!! 😉

Let’s see, what else? Oh, my morning pages! I realized this morning that I have been doing morning pages for 11 weeks!! it feels like I just started doing them yesterday! So, what that means is that week 12 is my last week in this journal, which I will have COMPLETELY FILLED UP! (one of my life list goals) YEAH!! and I will have finished going through the entire Artist’s Way program!! I have the 2nd book ready, of the 3 book series, and I have another journal already on standby for being able to continue charting my course!!

I am so absolutely lucky to have stumbled on that morning pages book on the clearance rack, and for having a sissy who so very graciously, not only sought it out, but found, purchased, and sent me a copy of the Artist Way book in the mail!!!

WOW!!

WHAT A LUCKY GIRL I AM!!! 😉

Anyway, on that note, and the fact that my puppies are ready for bed, my little fat one is on the floor snoring at my feet even as I speak!!! It is time for me to call it a night!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

A Confession & The Night Off!

Good evening!

I have a confession to make! I am tired, I have no idea what to talk about tonight, and I don’t wanna blog tonight!!

PLEASE TELL ME YOU HAVE FELT THAT WAY BEFORE!!!

Man, I really am sooo pooped!! (What an AWFUL expression!)

Work has been extremely stressful, and I am just trying to get as much work as I can humanly do, before the “big news” happens on Friday – I don’t know what that big news is yet, but I will share when I find out!!! Not that I don’t have some kind of idea in my own head about what it can be, but I will feel more comfortable telling after the official news has been announced – IF it is ANYTHING like what I am thinking it will be!!

So, I am not going to post much, but what I will tell you that my official plan for tonight is to close up shop, climb into my jammies, snuggle with my sweetie, while reading a REALLY good book!! Who knows, maybe I will actually let myself fall to sleep early! NOW THAT sounds like a REALLY DIVINE idea!! 😉

I will make sure to be back to peppy self tomorrow, and I will try and plan on having some new pictures taken while I am on my solo artist day tomorrow evening!!

Until then…

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉