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Drive in the Country!

Good afternoon!

My sweetie and I had the very fun excursion out today!

Well, where to begin? I woke up early this morning, and I spent some quiet time reading my favorite blogger magazine. It got me inspired to go out and take some pictures, and so I talked to my sweetie and we rounded up the girls, and we all went out for a ride out through the countryside.

I thought it would be fun to share some pictures of our outing with you!

The first thing we did was that we decided to head out towards farmland so that we could day dream about our little farm that we hope to have someday!! I think Jason is thinking actual farm, and I am thinking a large cottage with a small plot of land to go with it, but this drive helped use verbalize some of each of our dreams and wishes for our dream home!

This farm was my absolute FAVORITE of the day! I could completely see us refurbishing this one and moving right in. Well, minus the two bulls that were in the front yard – EEK!! 😉 If we ever have any animals, besides dogs, we agree that we could handle chickens – WE THINK! 😉

One of my favorite things about the country is all of the different textures that nature has to offer! It is like an amazingly intricate quilt! I am just in awe of God’s amazing-ness!!

I love that these homes are all tucked far from the road, and a distance from each other! I bet you could run around naked outside here in the evening, and no one would even know it. Ok, maybe not me, I am neon white after all. I am sure that I would look like a crazy, fat beacon running like a crazy-person in the night!!! Wouldn’t that be a sight??? LOL! 😉

Isn’t this vineyard just lovely? The Pacific Northwest is becoming known for their wineries!! and even though this isn’t the berry orchard that Jason and I dream of, there is a small part of us that think a little vineyard would be very romantic too!! 😉

Aren’t the cherries just picture perfect??? I picked these up at a little farmer’s market while we were out on our drive!

Here is one of those bulls I was telling you about earlier. My sweetie was brave enough to take a picture of for me. (I ran back and locked myself into the car!!) I was sure that if I got too close to the fence that it would somehow break through the fence and bite me or something!! LOL!! Jason and I both got a good laugh over that one!!! (but secretly I’m still a little sacred!) 😉 I didn’t want the bulls to get angry, thinking we were stalker-paparazzi or something!! 😉

This wheat wasn’t swaying in the breeze AT ALL!! I have never seen wheat hold SO STILL before!! I had a moment of, “Wouldn’t it be fun to run through this wheat field?” Until Jason reminded me of snakes. “Hmmmmm….no thank you!!” (How exactly am I going to make it out in the country??? 😉

The day was hot, clear, and absolutely BEAUTIFUL! 😉 These small purple flowers practically sparkled under the noon-day sky! I just HAD to stop and snap a picture!! 🙂

Here was my second favorite farm house of the day!! It looks like it needs some love, and I am sure it is haunted!! My friend, Chris, swears that all old buildings are haunted, and I am SURE she MUST be right about this one!!! 😉 Even though, it is still a very pretty haunted house!!! 😉

These colors are just so vivid, this rich, lush green against this deep blue sky. It was quite spectacular!!

Oh, and to top of our lovely drive, Jason took me to this little farmer’s market, that I had never been to before, and they had the most delectable strawberry shortcakes! They were sinfully delicious, made with ice cream. I had never had a strawberry shortcake made with ice cream before! and the fresh strawberries just finished this perfect desert off! They were pure goodness!! YUM!!

Man, what a GREAT day!! I had so much fun visiting with my sweetie, seeing the great outdoors, all while hanging with my girls!! I can’t wait to see what we do tomorrow to beat the heat!! I will keep you posted!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

So Long Borders!

Part of the LOOOONG line at Borders!

Good evening!

Well, it is official! Jason and I went to Borders this evening, and it already is nothing like the safe haven that we had come to know and love. The coffee shop, Seattle’s Best, is already closed, the chairs are all stacked and put away, and the books are just an ever-loving mess!!! You had better have known what you were looking for and where in the general area you were going to find it, because staff people were hard to come by. Then when it was time to finally check out, the line wrapped all through the store  it was QUITE INSANE!!! You would think that people would NEVER be able to purchase a book again!! The “sale” prices that we thought would be coming out today, really never materialized. Most everything had a mere 10% off, which meant that I am going to be doing some waiting before I go there looking for some great end of business deals. The staff did say that they were hoping that they would be open through September, but really, whenever the merchandise runs out, that’s about it!

So, this is it. No more Borders. There seem to have been a lot of people running around feeling a lot like I am:

“Now what?”

“What do I do now?”

“I can’t believe this place is closing!”

You see, in Salem, Borders is more like a community center. People stop there, of course, to read and purchase books, magazines, music, and DVDS, but there are also groups that meet there every evening, and to come enjoy the live music during the weekends. People stop by to grab a coffee and catch up with friends, do some studying, spend some time people watching, or to come practice some sign language with other like-minded individuals, not to mention some of our most memorable times of midnight release parties of special books like and of the books from the Harry Potter series, or the Twilight Saga DVD releases.

Good times!! 😉

I heard one woman say,

“Now what am I supposed to do with my weekends?”

That was pretty sad, but she is kind of right. Besides going out to eat, or going to the movie theater there really isn’t much in the way of entertainment in this community. It is going to take this small city some time to recover. Who ever thought that the one and only true book store in Salem would EVER close???

It might be time to look for a new stomping ground. It’s something I am going to have to seriously consider.

Anyway, I am going to go spend some quiet time with my sweetie!! Until tomorrow…

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

An Evening of Organizing!

Good evening!

I am going to try and make this a quick post this evening! I am in the middle of getting some organizing done and I don’t want to take too long, but I thought I would just quickly stop and tell you how my day has gone.

Work? Well, it was alright! I am doing some research right now, and every time I think I am getting close to figuring out what I am looking for, I realize I am stumped again, and almost feeling as if I am back to square one!! So, tomorrow, I will just roll up my sleeves and start again, and if I don’t figure it out by lunch, I will put this assignment away and work on something else for a while!! 😉

I had another Zumba class today, and it is official, I love Zumba, I don’t love this class. I know myself, and if I feel like I am not having fun then I don’t want to do it, and it makes it harder to get to the next class. Well, this instructor, although a fabulously nice person, doesn’t know anything about being plus-size. So, I am trying to do stuff that God had never meant for a body of this size to be doing just yet!!! If we could just stick to all of the fun-crazy dancing, and skip all of the crunches, squats, and yoga/pilate moves, that would be cool – at least for now!! My knees, ankes, elbows, and wrists just aren’t faring so well. Even with two days between classes, I am finding that I am still hurting so badly!! So, with all of that said, I am not sure if I am going to quit yet, or if I am going to stick it out and just modify more!! We will see, and I will keep you posted!!

Oh, I wanted to give a shout out to my sweetie this evening! When I got home, I had the most pleasant surprise, not only did he wash my car today, but I was completely amazed that the house had been cleaned while I was at work too!! Isn’t that just the sweetest thing??? Well, let’s just say that his brownie points meter was busy racking up points tonight!! Thank you, Love! I appreciate all you do for us!! 😉

Anyway, one last thing before I get back to what I was doing. I just received this letter in my e-mail from the Borders CEO, Mike Edwards. Borders happens to be my husband’s and my favorite bookstore and we have spent many hours there reading books, magazines, enjoying a coffee, people watching, visiting with each other, and with all of their stores closing it is going to be quite the culture shock in Jason’s and my world – truly. I thought this letter was sweet, and I wanted to make sure to keep it, kind of as a memento of this great company who I have been a loyal, and frequent customer of for so long.

 

With that, I bid you good night, and…

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

An Evening at the Arbor!

Good evening!

I am in the middle of a very lovely weekend, and instead of spending too much time telling you all about it so far, since I can tell you about my weekend in it’s entirety, with tomorrow’s post. I thought I would just share some pictures of this little shop that I visited today in downtown Salem. This place is called The Arbor.

When I walked in they were playing some of my favorite music that just makes you want to be all things Parisian!! After listening to the music for a few minutes, I finally realized why it sounded so familiar, it was the soundtrack to Somethings Gotta Give – I just love that movie!!

Anyway, this shop is a feast for the senses, and although I can’t share the scents, or sounds to you, I can share some of the beautifully imagery!

Enjoy!

I told you this place was FANTASTIC!!! If you are ever in the area, feel free to visit. You will be so glad you did!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 🙂

Working Out & Feelin’ Groovy!!

Good evening!

I have had a very busy, but very satisfying day today!!

First of all, dare I say it??? but work is actually getting better! I am not sure why, but the vibe in the office is really lightening up and it is making easier to want to be there day in and day out!! I think we can all finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and so far – IT’S NOT A TRAIN!! WHEW!! 😉

At the end of work today, I had another Zumba class, and I must tell you – I am still pretty sore from Tuesday’s class, so mamma was modifying LIKE CRAZY today!!! 😉 Still left sweaty, sore, exhausted, and so glad that I done it!!! This is a six week class, and I can see that as the weeks go on it is going to get easier because I am going to have learned all of the dances. But, let me just tell you about an amazing moment that happened in class this afternoon. Those of us who were new, were learning moves to a new song. Well, one of the moves in this dance is something I have seen actual dancers do. I am not sure I know how to describe what it was, but it is basically where you plie, and your entire upper body sways left and right as your arms follow along – kind of like you are pretending to be a field of wheat in a nice breeze, It is a great stretching move, and in that moment, it was almost as if time had stood still, and I was graceful. I felt the motion from my abs all the way up to my fingertips, and it was right there, in the middle of crazy Zumba class that I felt real peace. Is that just crazy??? It was quite the divine moment for me. I am going to try and look it up on YouTube and see if I can find that dance move so that you can see what I am talking about.

Anyway, class ended and I came home and had a really healthy dinner with my sweetie; baked potato with fat free vegetarian chili – so DELICIOUS!! YUM!!

After sneaking in an episode of Bones – yes, we are STILL trying to get caught up!! It was time to go swimming!! I love swimming. I have loved swimming for as long as I can remember. I can remember swimming in my grandfather’s pool with my mom, dad and sisters and just having soooo much fun! Well, this evening, being as sore and tired as I am, I still managed to squeak almost an hour in!! My sweetie makes swimming fun, now!! We just talk, and play, and chase each other, kind of like little kids!!

Well, we have just gotten back to the house, I am sitting in his bathrobe, that smells just like him – I just LOVE that smell, and we are enjoying our dessert, which is a bowl of fresh strawberries, some light cool whip, and two graham crackers. I mean, seriously, what could be better than that???

After I am done for the night, I am going to head upstairs and get a little reading done – I am reading all about southern women, and southern culture/lifestyle! I think I have somehow tapped into a part of my heritage or something! I am just CAPTIVATED!! Anyway, more on that in another post!!!

One last thing before I go…I was reading an article this morning, and it was basically 3 friends stating 5 things that they do that make them happy. It made me think about that all day. So before I share my 5 Happy Things with you, I want to ask you to share with me in the comments section above, Dad, I am talking to you too!! 😉 What are 5 things that make you happy!! I know 5 might seem like a lot, but you can do it!!

My 5 Happy Things are:

  1. Car rides in the country (My daddy used to take my mamma out for drives in the country, and I have ALWAYS thought that was just SOOOO ROMANTIC!! Good job, Dad!!!)
  2. Sitting in a comfy corner, snuggled under a fuzzy blanket, reading a great book with my girls sleeping in my lap!!
  3. Sipping sweet tea out on the back porch while enjoying the sounds of nature, and of course that is always better with someone you love!
  4. Finishing something I never knew I would ever get the opportunity to start – like belly dancing, a collage class, or Zumba!!
  5. Helping someone just for the sake of seeing the expression of happiness, and gratitude on their faces.

I can’t wait to see your lists!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

The Best Kind of Naked Sunday!

Good afternoon!

I have had the BEST kind of naked Sunday ever!! One hanging out and playing with my sweetie, Jason!! We have spent the day so far, cooking, reading, writing, playing in the pool, and pretty much just having a PHENOMENAL day!! 😉

This evening, we are planning on having a special, healthy, grilled dinner that we are going to make together. He is begging to have a Eureka marathon – the tv show? I may have to give in, eventually! 😉 and I may give him the satisfaction of kicking my booty at a game of chess tonight – that is usually how that goes, and then I wipe him out at Bananagrams…well ok, almost. 😉

My goal is to practice extreme-self-care today: Eating healthy, exercise, rest, relaxation, play, and to bed on time, all the while enjoying some quality time with my sweetie!! THAT is my definition of the BEST kind of naked Sunday!! 😉

AND, Have I told you that I have my first intermediate belly dancing class tomorrow evening? I have officially graduated my beginner’s class and will be in this class for at least the next 8 weeks. I can’t wait!! I will keep you posted! 🙂

Well, I am getting back to my sweetie and our day!!

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!! 😉

Happy Anniversary!!

Good evening!

Today is Jason and my 16th wedding anniversary!! Whoo! Hoo!!!

I knew that Jason and I were meant to be together, almost 17 years ago. It was the day that we were both volunteering with a large group of young adults at a young adult fundraiser, where we were raking seemingly thousands, and thousands of leaves from a giagantic farm out in Independence.

We had just finished up for the evening, and Jason had accompanied me on a walk  around the farm. We stopped at this gate, and look across the land, and admiring the view of this little lake that was a ways away. It was a spectacular scene. I realize that I was gazing at the landscape, and Jason was gazing at me. When he caught my eye, I remember not being able to take my eyes off of him. In that moment, I had this jolt of electricity run up my spine, making all of the hairs on the back of my neck rise, and I just knew that somehow, I was going to spend the rest of my life with this man. That moment was like magic! Needless to say, Jason and I were engaged two weeks later. We were married at the age of 19, a little less than 8 months later in a small ceremony attended by our family members, at the church that I had grown up in!! Whew!!

No one was sure we would make it, being so young and all, sometimes we had our doubts too. Marriage is quite literally the toughest job we have ever had, but one that ultimately has brought us both so much love and joy!! I would marry him again in a heartbeat! I really ADORE that man of mine – I know I say that a lot, but I just can’t help it!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MY LOVE!

I thank God for you more and more every day!!!!

😉

Anyway, last night I told you I was going to “go out into the world and find something juicy” to share with you this evening! I am not sure I found anything juicy, exactly, but I did get out into the world for a little while today! I am still not back to 100% yet, having been sick for the past few days, but I am doing my best to just walk it off!!

This morning, I got up early, did my morning pages, which I had been putting off. I then spend a couple of hours on a piece of art work, that is almost done, and my goal is that I will be able to share that finished piece with you tomorrow.

After being cooped up in the house for so long (being home bound for the past 3 1/2 days), I convinced Jason to take me out, even though he knew I wasn’t feeling completely better yet. So, we headed out to Borders where I found a new book series that I dove right into and am now totally hooked on!! It it The Immortals series, by Alyson Noel. The first book is called Evermore, and I am over halfway done with that book this evening! I made sure to pick up the first 3, of the, as of right now, 6 book series, so that way I will be able to keep on reading!!

The premise of this book is that there is this girl named Ever, and  her family has died in a car accident. Ever since that fateful day she can read minds, see dead people, and she can see peoples’ auras. Well, there is this new kid in school that comes along, name Damen, and for some reason she feels this instant, magical kind of connection to him. We are not sure who or what exactly he is yet, but so far we know that there is a definite connection between the two of them!!

I JUST LOVE THESE KINDS OF STORIES!!!

Anyway, I am not going to give any more of the story away, but so far, the book is delightful, and intriguing!! I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Jason and I ended our evening with a nice quiet dinner out, and we are now having a peaceful evening at home, which I must admit is rather GREAT!! Him reading at one end of the couch, me writing on the other end with my feet in his lap, and our girls sleeping cozily on both of us!! *SIGH!* The good life!!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉