Category Archives: Lifestyle

Chunky Dunkers!

Good evening!

I know I am running behind this evening! I had an appointment at with Lauren, my lovely hairdresser this evening! So, yes, I have gotten a haircut! I am not sure if I like it yet or not – I will know after I wash it and let it go curly!! However, I am REALLY LOVING my bangs!! I am a girl that REALLY NEEDS HER BANGS!!! 🙂

Anyway, 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!!

After a few weeks of not doing so hot on my own personal fitness goals, this week I have done much better. I have been eating more fruits, veggies, and whole grained foods – a special thank you to my sweetie who has been doing a TERRIFIC job packing my food for work every day again!! THANK YOU!!  😉

Also, now that I am not having any more foot pain, I have even started walking again, and as winded as I am now getting when I start to walk, I REALLY NEED IT!! I am starting to dream of the day that I can ride my bike through the street, while all of the Fall leaves are starting to change their colors!! MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR! 😉

Since I am so late this evening, I usually post at 7pm-ish, so without further ado! I will see you in the comments section! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening! ;-)

An Homage to My Past!

Good evening!

Saturday evening, my dad, his wife Trudi, my sweetie, and myself all went over to the Salvation Army’s Kroc Center to watch the Seattle Temple Brass Band and Songsters perform.

The band was really terrific. They reminded me of my youth growing up in the Salvation Army myself. Some of you may not know this, but I grew up going to the Salvation Army. One of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE part of all those years was singing, and playing cornet in the brass band.

I remember picking up a cornet to play for the very first time in Portland, Oregon, when I was something like 6 years old. It was very slow going, with a lot of squeaks, squawks,and blats, but little by little, I got a little better, and a little better, and pretty soon I was having the time of my life trying like the dicken’s to play with the big guys!!

I played all through middle school, junior high, high school, and I played until I was about 23 years old. I ended up playing in marching bands, symphonic bands, pep bands, and brass bands alike. We traveled all over the west coast doing performances just like the one we were watching! That was quite a while now, but listening to this band play made me think about picking up my cornet and start playing again!!

Oh the memories!!

I still have my cornet, bright, shiny, and ready to play at a moments notice sitting in my closet. Not to say that I WOULD be able to play again at a moments’ notice, that would take quite a bit of practicing, and possibly some relearning too!

You know I have been busy these past few months searching for my new art medium?? Well, it sometimes amazes me to know that I had an “art medium” all that time, and never once went looking for it, it just seemed to find me! Music is something that had always seemed to come naturally to me, although I am sure that it really helped being born into a musical family. Most everyone in my family either played a brass instrument, or could sing.

I wish I could do that all over again, knowing what I know now!! I am not sure I would have ever given it up!!

Anyway, we really did have a fun time, both the band and the songsters were amazingly talented and extremely fun to listed to – and Jason even impressed himself by not even remotely falling asleep once!! LOL! 😉 I was just dissapointed that we couldn’t purchase a music CD of them playing – that would have been GREAT!! and I am sure I would be busy driving Jason crazy with it playing over and over again in the car!! GOOD TIMES!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! ;-)

Do You Have a Dream?

Good evening!

I have had an Ah-Ha moment this evening. A couple of weeks ago I had picked up a copy of a book called The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. It was one of those purchases that was unplanned and kind of random, but I had read one of his other books called The Prayer of Jabez, and loved it so thought, why not? Well, for some reason, I decided to carry it around with me today. I just had this strange feeling that I really needed to read this book, and NOW!! Well, as I got home from work today, I sat right down and started to read.

WHAT AN AMAZING LITTLE BOOK!!

It is basically a little story about a very big idea. This modern-day parable tells the story of a man named Ordinary, who dares to leave the Land of Familiar to pursue his BIG DREAM.

This book, in a very interesting, and compelling way shows you how, with Faith, and some truths that you learn along the way,  you too can leave your own Land of Familiar and pursue your big dream, the one that God had made you for, too!!

This book starts out with Ordinary living his life day in and day out going to work, coming home, watching the tele, going to bed, going to work, coming home, watching the tele, going to bed, etc. Sound familiar to anyone out there? Well, Ordinary starts to become sad as he realizes that there has to be more than life to this. Sure it is comfortable, but he is not content to live the same life he has been living for so long. So he embarks on a journey to go towards his big dream. What an awesome little book. I truly believe that it was serendipitous that it almost literally landed in my hands that day!!

Anyway, before I leave you for this evening, I thought I would share some of the pics that I had taken from my dad and his wife’s visit with us this past weekend!

This is my sweetie and my dad “cooperating” to have their pictures taken!! I couldn’t get them to look at the camera, and when I told them to scootch closer together, they literally just leaned there upper bodies towards each other while hiding behind their menus! Thanks guys!! 😉

Here is a book set that Trudi found at a large antique store we were in, she said she had this set as a kid. I want this set as an adult!! 😉

Here is Jason’s dream find of the day! It is a Dutch cast iron Aebelskiver pan. Aebelskivers are like Dutch pancake balls – they are truly very DELICIOUS!! Here is a recipe in case you are interested! 😉

Here is a Shriner’s tunic my dad found. Is what really cool! I love the colors and the designs of this!!

We went to a brass band concert on Saturday night, and I will share pics of that with you tomorrow!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening! ;-)

Oh Em Gee!

Good evening!

I have had such a GREAT day!!! My time is so short this evening to get my blog posted before midnight tonight!! So, here is the VERY abbreviated version of my day with my dad and Trudi!!!

  • Got up early!
  • Rallied the troops late!
  • Went to The Original Pancake House for a yummy lunch!
  • Then back to JoAnn fabrics – just to return something from last night!
  • Made a stop over at Pier One Imports for a new scented candle – had so much fun there, even my sweetie picked out a scent for himself called Spiced Cake, which he said made him want Christmas early this year! I am ALWAYS game for that!! 😉
  • Went over to Catherine’s to see if I could find something I have been looking for – no luck
  • Went to sports store to find a pair of tennies for my dad – luck! 😉
  • Next off to downtown Salem to go antiquing, and had a BLAST searching for treasures!! DO YOU KNOW THAT PLACE IS HAUNTED??? I have it on good authority that any old building is haunted, and if there is any place in Salem that qualified as old, was the place we ended up at!! 😉
  • We headed back to our place for the world’s shortest mini/nap/break/pause before we headed out again to go to a brass band concert – SO MUCH FUN!!! (Made me want to start playing again!!!!)
  • Then Jason and I stopped – super late – to pick up dinner and then off to meet Dad and Trudi over at Cold Stone Creamery by our place.
  • At Cold Stone Creamery the owner came in, who Jason happens to know, and I ended up having the BEST chat with their 6-year old daughter, who is just as cute as a bug in a rug!!! SERIOUSLY!!! 😉
  • Then maybe the MOST AWESOME part of our day, we stood outside of the Cold Stone for over an hour just talking, and getting to know the Cold Stone owner and her husband!! I just LOVE her and her family!! I know that I have just met her for the first time this evening, but I feel we have known each other FOR EVER!!! I will most definitely be getting in touch with her again soon!!! OOH!! Maybe she would like to join me and my girlfriends for our next Girls’ Night In!!! That would be FANTASTIC!!!

Anyway, I have a whole BUNCH of pics to share with you but since my time is sooooo short this evening, I am going to make sure to take some serious time to get them posted tomorrow!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

A Night Out!

Good evening!

Let me warn you that this is going to be a short post. This is for a few reasons:

  1. I have family here and I want to keep visiting with them
  2. I am busy crocheting while I am visiting with them
  3. I am so blinking tired, I am not sure if I could even think of what to talk about this evening! 😉

So, let me at least tell you how my day has gone.

Work was pretty good. I am so in love how work is going right now!! My team is AMAZING! Boss is very supportive!! and my work load is slowly but surely getting done, but much faster than how it had been going in the past!! So all of that is good!! 😉 One of my new co-workers, Emily, very generously gave me a ride home this evening! She is as sweet as can be!! I am so glad that she has joined our team!!

After getting home, and getting some more house chores done my dad, and his wife Trudi showed up, which made me very happy! My sweetie got home not to long after they got here, and he helped me finish up with the chores, and then he went off to hang out with the guys for a birthday party, and I went off with Dad and Trudi to go have some fun of our own!

Dad, Trudi, and I ended up going out for a really yummy home-style meal of chicken fried steak with gravy and baked potatoes, and peas! The servings were sooooo huge that I immediately knew I was going to have to get a to-go box, and man was I right!! I brought enough home that Jason and I could both share it for lunch tomorrow!! 😉

After our super dinner, we all headed over to JoAnn Crafts and Fabrics, and I ended up picking up some more skeins of yarn for the HUGE blanket that I am crocheting for Jason!! I am really soooo excited to get it finished!! I know Jason is really looking forward to sleeping under it for the first time!!

Alright, I did warn you that this was going to be a short post this evening, and apparently I wasn’t kidding, because I am too pooped to type any more tonight!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! ;-)

A Night of Frantic Cleaning!

Good evening!

Well, all of my house cleaning procrastination is now catching up to me and trying to kick my booty!! My dad and his wife, Trudi are coming up for the weekend, and they will be here tomorrow! After telling myself I would get started on the art studio every day this week, I am FINALLY cleaning like a fiend!! I really want to make sure that they a nice comfortable place to sleep!! 😉 As you may remember, our guest room was previously converted to an art studio quite some time ago, and I had told myself that I would make sure that I always have enough for a queen sized air mattress on the floor for guests – not the best accommodations, but waaaay better than sleeping on the floor! Anyway, it became VERY apparent that I had forgotten about my deal with myself about keeping room for a bed, because not only is my art studio, and art studio, but it, unfortunately, became a catch all for miscellaneous blankets, magazines, empty boxes – you know, a typical junk-room!!

SAD!

Anyway, I am making amazing headway, and I am happy to announce that dad and Trudi will have a nice place to sleep!!

Whew!! 😉

Now, that just makes me have to wonder, what the heck are we going to do this weekend??

Hmmm…

Saturday Market? Maybe!

Go the movies? Possibly!

Spend a day at the coast? That could be fun!

We are going to a church band concert on Saturday evening, so that will be something fun!

In addition to that, I am sure that between 4 grown adults, we can figure SOMETHING out!! 😉 I will try to remember to take a ton of pictures, and share them with you all weekend!! 😉

Anyway, I have GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! ;-)

PS. Watching the new tele show called “Whitney” and I have to tell you I’m LOOOOOVING IT!!! I’m just sayin’!!!  😉

Chunky Dunkers!

Good evening!

Welcome to the Chunky Dunker’s Club! Chunky Dunker’s is an online get-fit/healthy support group that meets every Wednesday around 7PM Pacific Standard Time. The purpose of this group is to support and cheer each other on as we work our way towards our get fit and healthy goals, whether that is to lose 5 pounds, run a mile, or to cut caffiene from our diets – whatever your health and fitness goals are for you – we are here to support you. Every week I post a little something to help motivate you, or cheer you on, and we all get together in the comments section to chat.

This is not a closed group, so if you would like to join us, please feel free to do so, the more the merrier.

Anyway, this week’s topic is: Is there a correlation between clutter and weight?

I have been hearing a lot about how clutter may be directly related to your weight.

Hmmm…that could explain a lot!! LOL!

There is a message that says that there is a direct correlation between how much clutter you have in your life and how out of shape you are. I am a firm believer that your external is a true representation of your internal, so maybe that makes some sense. I think that if this is true, it is because without having to deal with a cluttery house/life you have more time/attention to plan and prepare your meals, you have more time to exercise. More order in our living environment makes us calmer inside our minds.

Could all of the  stuff  be like a protective security blanket in the same way that excess weight provides protection? It is enough to make a girl want to go take another load of miscellaneous stuff over to my local Goodwill! 😉

What are your thoughts on clutter and weight? I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

A Night of Vision Boarding!

Good evening!

I have spent the past hour gathering pics from Polyvore to create an electronic Vision Board!!

The things that I am dreaming of is a passionate marriage, traveling, yoga, dancing, France, faith, family, friends, farm-living, photography, books, and a crystal chandelier for good measure!!

Anyway, I am getting back to journaling and time/goal management, which I realize are two different things, but I have found that since having not being consistent with these 2 things I have not been as happy as I normally am – not that I am sad, just not as happily as I could be! Nor am I getting as much done as I usually do! So, tomorrow morning, I am back to spending some time writing my morning pages, and I will have my to-do list written before I head to bed this evening!

Matter of fact, here it is:

  • At least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise
  • Drink at least 2 liters of water
  • Take iron pill
  • Eat a healthy breakfast
  • Eat a healthy lunch
  • Eat a healthy home-cooked dinner
  • Write morning pages
  • Morning skin care routine
  • Recycle at least 10 magazines
  • Do a load of dishes
  • 1/2 hour art studio clean
  • Put laundry away
  • Sweep floors
  • Spend at least 10 minutes meditating
  • Get in bed by9 pm

Ok, I think that list is long enough! 😉

Oh, I wanted to share some micro goals that I have come up with:

  1. Lose 7.6 pounds
  2. Finish cleaning art studio
  3. Make sure all books in this house have a place to “live”

These are small enough that they will get me closer to a few of my big goals, and they are small enough as to not be overwhelming! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

PS. I will “see” you Chunky Dunkers tomorrow evening, at about 7-ish!! 😉

Dreaming of Fall!

Good evening!

I am dreaming of Fall! Scrumptious grey rainy days, sloshing around in puddles with the kiddies, hot cocoa and mini-marshmallows with friends, thick feather comforters and a lovely good book, fuzzy-warm slippers on a crisp and cold morning, snuggling with the ones you love on the sofa after a long brisk walk in the chilly afternoon.

Sounds absolutely fabulous!!

While I continue my evening of dreaming about Fall, I would LOVE to hear your favorite thoughts about Fall.

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

Sunday Evening Update!

Good evening!

What a lovely day today was here in rainy Oregon! I just LOVE the rain! I love that it is cool, wet, and that a really good rainy day makes you want to stay inside all snuggled up reading a good book! Today, I did just that, amongst other things!!

The book I read today was the Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder! I have the whole set, and I actually had just gotten to reading them today. This first book was such an enchanting peek into Laura Ingalls Wilder’s pioneer life as a child living in the woods in Wisconsin in the late 1800s. One of the things I really loved about reading this story is that they tell you how they did a lot of things that our modern culture really take for granted such as churning butter, making maple syrup, homemade cheese, how to make homemade bullets, and the dangers of living out in the wild, and off of the land.

The  Little House in the Big Woods is a great story, about love, hope, family, and all of the exciting adventures that Laura Ingalls and her family has growing up together, and it is quite a fun read – especially for a rainy day! It ALMOST makes me wish I could live the way that her family did…

ALMOST!!! 😉

Ok, maybe for a weekend!! 😉

Anyway, on this fabulously rainy day, I have also helped get some of the house chores done – you know the typical cleaning, that you have no problem helping everyone and their mother do, but you would rather chew off your own arm instead of doing it at your house – that is what we did today!! Laundry, dishes, vacuuming, making the bed, etc, etc, etc!! 😉 I have also spent a fair amount of time crocheting some more on my sweetie’s blanket!! I had discovered that I had made a mistake somewhere and not wanting to just ignore it, I ended up having to pull out 10 complete rows, which if you know anything about granny squares, that is A LOT!! To put it into perspective, when I had first discovered my mistake the blanket covered me from chin to toe, and after pulling out the 10 rows, it is once again a small lap blanket!! DARN!! But, all is good – I am glad I pulled it out, I want to be really proud of this blanket, and make it something for my sweetie that I know I did the VERY BEST that I could on it for him. He is TOTALLY worth it!!

As I get back to doing some more crocheting before bed…

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉