Merry Christmas 2009

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and an even happier New Year!

(PS- To see the above card super sized, don't forget to click on the image!)

Happy Halloween 2009

Have a great time everybody!!

Pizza chef extraordinaire

Ever since visiting my relatives that are in the Pizza business, my husband has been perfecting his own homemade pizza. All through the summer we got to sample his delicious pizza creations. He is a man that loves to cook and Emma and I have been reaping the benefits of having such a talented cook in the house! And he's just so darn cute, I really got a kick out of watching his new found excitement over homemade pizza : ) That last line will probably embarrass him. Oh well.

Keane

I had a date night with my husband this week. We had such a great time! It was a date that is definitely up there on my list of favorite dates! You may be wondering what made this date so wonderful? If you know me at all then you know how much I LOVE music. A couple months ago we purchased concert tickets for one of my favorite bands, KEANE. They are not a very well known band here in the U.S. Like a lot of my favorite bands, they happen to be British. You would probably recognize the song Somewhere Only We Know. That is one of their big hits. It is also song #3 on my playlist if you want to click on it and check it out. The concert was held at the Roseland theater in downtown Portland. It is a GREAT place to see a concert due to it's small size and intimacy. Mike and I were about 3 rows back, center stage. You can imagine how exciting it was for me to see one of my favorite bands this up-close and personal! It was FANTASTIC!! They were only a few feet away from where I stood. Unlike huge stadiums where you often times are simply an observer somewhere in the nosebleed section looking at the band on stage through binoculars, at the Roseland you get to experience the band fully, if you so desire!! There is a small upper balcony for those that like to watch from slightly afar. Even those seats are great though! Anyway, the concert was amazing! The opening band, Lights, was very impressive and a pleasant surprise! Opening bands are usually groups I've never heard of and are just another thing to endure until the main event starts. Well, this band lead by a young girl with a great voice was very entertaining. I really enjoyed her music. Soon after that, KEANE took the stage opening with my favorite song, The Lovers Are Losing, from their new album (it's #1 on my playlist right now). It was a perfect song to open up a show with! The crowd went wild, everyone sang, everyone danced- it was a full out KEANE party! I enjoyed every minute of it! It had been a really long time since we had been to a concert. I had forgotten just how fun they are! We hope to attend more in the upcoming year!! I am so glad Mike took me to this concert even though he is not as passionate about this band as I am. He did enjoy the experience however, and it was a great break for us both. We felt like kids again! Young, in love, fancy free, and cool. Sometimes you just need to take a break from the seriousness of life! If ever you get a chance to see a band play at the Roseland, I'm sure you will agree that it is a very fun, unique experience! My playlist, for however long I feel like it, is devoted to KEANE songs. Enjoy!!

Go Ducks!

WE'VE GOT SPIRIT! YES WE DO! WE'VE GOT SPIRIT, HOW BOUT YOU?!

Yesterday my family kicked off Duck Football season with a party at my parent's house. We had all sorts of yummy football watching foods including custom homemade sugar cookies. Man, those sugar cookies were good and boy were they beautiful, if I do say so myself (Mom and Chelsea were co-designers/decorators)! Everyone had a good time eating and watching the game. I enjoyed the social aspect of getting to hang out with my family and visit with them. A Duck football game is an excuse as good as any to get together for some fun! In fact, I think I had more fun preparing for the game and visiting with family during the game than I did watching the actual game! In the end, things did not turn out well for the Ducks. Oh well. We'll get 'em next time! Happy Duck Football season everyone!!

Even Bigger Big Girl Bed

Hello all. I have been stuck in a rut! A rut of not updating my blog, that is. I love reading all your blogs but I just kind of lost the desire to blog about myself. I even thought about deleting my blog but then my husband and number one fan of this here blog told me that the blog must go on! I didn't realize he liked it so much! How sweet! So here goes! I thought it only natural to continue where I left off from my last post. This summer I got a hold of my old twin bed frame from when I was a young gal and decided to paint it and put it in Emma's room. The darn thing took about 50 million cans of spray paint! Not really, it only took about 10 but that is A LOT of spray paint! I'm not really sure why it took so much and honestly, I felt like it needed a coat or more at least but I just got so darn tired of spraying and my poor fingers got so sore! I was going for the Shabby Chic look anyway, so its good enough! So without further ado, here it is folks:

I realize these aren't the best photos to display my handy work but you get the idea! Emma likes it and its a step up from having the mattresses just on the floor without a frame! Her room is a work in progress and its been fun to decorate! The white furniture would totally pop out if there was a nice colorful shade of paint on the wall. I wonder if my landlord would allow that?! Hmm. Emma is getting so big! She turned 3 this summer, if you can believe it. I will slowly but surely be adding some more posts to this blog so that you can see what we've been up to this summer! I must admit, it feels good to be back sharing with you in this crazy blogging world that we call Blogger : ) Hasta luego.

Big Girl Bed

My baby's growing up! We finally got around to getting a big girl bed for Emma. She was very excited to try it out! I about cried, both tears of pride for my big girl and tears of sadness for how fast she is growing up! This is a milestone in her life. She only fell out once during her first night. I helped her get back in and she went back to sleep. Night 2 went smoothly, as far as I know! Pretty soon (with fingers crossed) she will be potty trained!

TV Season Finales

I have been REALLY BUSY lately. It's Grading time and I have been busy everyday trying to grade as much as I can during Emma's naps and when I have my husband's help! I'm sure I have better things to share than this post about TV but I just can't think right now. Besides, this is a good way for me to relax and think about something other than grading Spanish tests and trying to keep up with everything else! I have actually cut my TV viewing time drastically in the last couple years but there are still a few shows I love! **Warning- Spoiler alert for Lost, The Office, Grey's and Survivor** I realize this is not a super exciting post, but I really do enjoy talking about my shows with people! I'd love to hear your thoughts on these Season Finales!

Lost: Can you believe Lost is only going to have one more season?! Well, actually I can. I love the show but it can't go on forever! All good things must come to an end. I have really enjoyed this series and can't wait to see what happens come Fall! I am curious to learn more about Jacob and find out what the deal is with Locke and his body! What do you think? And what about Juliet? Do you think she is really gone?!

The Office: Ok, Michael Scott has got to pursue Holly, the love of his life. It was fun seeing her again in the season finale! If there is anyone out there for Michael, it is her. I think something is going to happen with Dwight and Angela this next season. Hooray for Pam and Jim! They've got to be pregnant! Guess we'll have to wait to find out for sure!

Grey's: I only started watching this again the last couple shows. The previews sucked me in! Are George and Izzy really gone?! That was a sad way to end a season! ugh!

Survivor: Yay for JT! He deserved it! I thought he and Steven made a good team. I really did not care for Tyson. He is not the type of person I want representing my religion! He was so mean to Sierra and really seemed to think too highly of himself! What a punk! And Coach, what a character! He did tell some good stories! I've got to wonder if everything is ok mentally with this guy, though! But he was entertaining and maybe it was just an act for tv! I love watching all the different personality types interacting with each other. There have been 18 seasons of this show and I'm still a fan.

What shows do you like?!

Got a Will?

Here is a shameless plug for my husband who has been busy lately preparing Wills and Trusts for friends and family. If you are interested, he can prepare a Will or Trust for you at a discounted price. I just thought I'd let you know! It's a good thing to have in case anything should happen to you or your spouse.

Hooray for Spring

I am loving the nice weather we're having! Right now it is 72 degrees! This past weekend we worked in our yard. We pulled a bunch of weeds and I've gotta tell ya, it looks a lot better. If I had been thinking I would have taken some "before and after" photos but I wasn't. But I did take some photos of my two cuties after we had finished the work! Hope you all are enjoying the weather as much as we are!

Music/ U2

I love music. It can be so uplifting. I love the energy I feel from it. It can help me get the job done or distract me, depending. The tone it sets can make or brake a situation. For example, good music = a good night of dancing. When my emotions are strong, I love how listening to the perfect song can validate what I'm feeling. Most the time I love the memories linked with certain songs. Each decade of my life has its own set of unique memories and songs intertwined together. I have loved music as far back as I can remember. It is definitely an important part of my life. My favorite band U2 just released a new album. This band has been with me since childhood. They are probably the most played band on my play list. I think I have purchased most of their cd's. I LOVE their music. Not only that but they try hard to use their power for good. I respect 'em. I hope you enjoy the Homage to U2 play list that I posted on my blog and may you take joy in your music as much as I take joy in mine!

8 years

Sometimes life just happens and you don't get to celebrate your wedding anniversary just as you'd like but that doesn't change the fact that all day on Tuesday I kept thinking about what a great husband I have. He is by my side every step of the way, through both good and bad. I am so thankful to have this guy with me! Marriage is a wonderful institution. I definitely recommend it. I posted a couple photos from our wedding day, 8 years ago. Whenever I see daffodils, I am reminded of that day. Aren't they just the happiest flowers ever?! I think so. Here's to 8 years, Mike. I am so glad we are in this together! I love you!

My little busy body

Emma talks a mile a minute these days! She is always busy doing something. The other day we were waiting in line at the post office and Emma is going on and on about the Mickey Mouse stamps she sees, just talk talking away. And while she's talking she's moving. Even if we're standing in one place, her body is in motion- jumping, twirling, waving her hands, whatever! The older gentleman in line behind me says to me, "What do you do? Just wind her up in the morning and let her go?!!" I laughed and said, "Yep, pretty much! She's just full of energy! Never a dull moment at our house!" Every time I think of what that man said to me, it just makes me chuckle! She is like a wind up toy, constantly moving, except I don't even have to wind her up! She will still take a nap but then its busy, busy as soon as she gets up! I am so glad I have this cute girl in my life :) She is a little ray of sunshine, full of energy!

Sistas weekend

A couple weekends ago, my two sisters, me and my mother got together in Portland for a "Sistas Weekend"! We stayed in a hotel, went shopping, saw a movie and ate at fun restaurants! We even got makeovers one day. It was lots of fun and we all really needed the break! We laughed a lot and really enjoyed being together. I am so thankful for my family. I am also really grateful for a supportive husband that encourages me to take breaks! He's awesome! We didn't want to bother bringing our cameras with us on our outings each day so these are the only photos we took. I am the one holding the camera trying to get us all in the frame! I like how they turned out- kinda looks like we were in one of those little photo booths!

Why I haven't been blogging

Well, I just haven't felt like it! I have enjoyed reading yours though. I am going to try to blog more though. Stay tuned!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day Everybody

Extreme Makeover: Closet Edition

I decided to surprise my husband by cleaning and organizing his closet. It was a big job as you will see from the before and after photos. In this duplex we are renting, we have been blessed with big closets. Since Mike's closet is downstairs by our office, we store a few office type things in his closet as well as a few other odds and ends. As a result, it can get a little messy and disorganized as we add or take away stuff! But now, it looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. Before(above): Overall messy closet

After (above): Overall clean closet

Before (above): Messy floor of closet

After (above): clean floor of closet. I even vacumed.

Before (above): Clothes not organized on hangers and mess on shelf above. And below, After: Clothes organized by color and type with more organized piles of clothes on the shelf above. It won't stay like that forever but at least I have photos to prove that at one time, it was organized!

Man Tag

Here are some facts about the man I love:

Mike's 5 favorite things:

1. Me and Emma (family)

2. Meat

3. Books on tape (for the drive to and from work)

4. Iron Chef on the Food Network

5. Traveling

5 things on his to do list:

1. Replace rear windshield wiper on van

2. Wash the van

3. Straighten up the garage

4. Help wife organize closet below the stairs

5. Take wife and daughter to Newport Aquarium

5 snacks he loves:

1. Chips and dip

2. Pork Rhine's (this frightened me when we first got married but I've tried them and they're not so bad!)

3. Nuts

4. Meat

5. Everlasting Gobstoppers

5 facts you may not know about him:

1. He is an excellent cook.

2. During high school, he went to Russia as an exchange student for a year. Before he left, he worked at the city dump to earn money for it. He really wanted to go!

3. He has both an MBA and Law Degree.

4. He is one of the most hardworking and smartest men I know.

5. Once you get to know him and become friends with him he is one of the most faithful friends you'll ever have.

5 places he has lived:

1. Portland

2. Russia

3. Korea

4. New York

5. Grants Pass

5 quirky things about him:

1. Sometimes he signs while watching TV (he learned Korean sign language on his mission).

2. He likes it to be as dark as possible when he sleeps- he'll use one of those night eye mask thingies if necessary!

3. Doesn't really like a lot of sweets.

4. Doesn't like a lot of praise or attention focused on him.

5. Until just this past year, he did not like green olives. Now he likes 'em.

5 things I love about him:

1. I love that we are a team. I appreciate the support he gives me.

2. He's very patient.

3. He has a good sense of humor. We love to laugh together.

4. He is a very attentive father and husband. He takes good care of us.

5. He knows what's really important in life.

I tag anyone who wants to be tagged.

www.pandora.com

I'm loving this new website that my husband introduced me to! Its basically a radio station personalized for you. I typed in U2 (you can pick anyone) and not only will it play U2 songs but it also brings up songs that are similar to U2's style. You can give the song a thumbs up or down. If you give it a thumbs up, it saves it and will search for more music similar to that song. Pretty cool, huh?! Here's a link: Pandora Enjoy!!

I won!

"I won a major award! I won, I won, I won! Hot damn, I won!" (Christmas Story movie reference). Ok, so maybe it wasn't a major award, not even a leg lamp. But I did win some free digital scrap booking products! My Unique Christmas layout, the one in the post below where Emma is in her grass skirt, won! Yay! Just wanted to share my happy news!