The Happy Gnone

a wink and a smile

2010-04-22T12:32:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I received the gift of a wink and smile :) Granted, the wink was somewhat involuntary, but the smile was in response to me smiling at my sweet boy! Nothing warms my heart more than seeing Jackson smile back at me! I know that he recognizes his mama, and that he is connecting with me. He blesses me more than I could have ever imagined! It's so hard to believe that he is already 5 1/2 weeks old...he rolls, scoots, smiles, and makes all sorts of precious noises :) He seems to have a new sound every day! It's amazing to watch this tiny little person learn and grow and change!

bright lights, big city

2009-11-18T09:10:00.010-06:00

Last weekend I had the chance to see the bright lights of Las Vegas! While I decided it is completely and utterly NOT my scene, it was really fun to see the strip and all the beautiful casinos! My favorites were the Venetian and the Paris, which appear very true to their names. You'd swear you had stepped into Venice or Paris when you enter the casinos!

I met a group of girls from work there for the weekend, and we really had a great time! A few highlights from the weekend were Madame Tussaud's wax museum, the view from the House of Blues Foundation Room (a highly exclusive Vegas hot spot) on the 60th floor of Mandalay Bay,and dining at Emeril's Delmonico Restaurant. The food and atmosphere were phenomenal, and I'm not sure I've ever been quite that stuffed after a meal! As though I was going to leave even a morsel on my plate from Emeril's kitchen! Fat chance...

our little acrobat

2009-10-29T14:09:00.003-05:00

I have been feeling little flutters in my belly for a couple weeks now, but usually only if I'm laying in the fetal position, or scrunching my stomach somehow so that baby has less room to move about. However, today is the first day when I have felt all sorts of movement and fluttering without changing positions or anything! It is SO exciting and splendidly wonderful to feel our little baby swimming around and doing sumersaults in my belly! I am loving each stage of pregnancy, and it seems like each week brings about some new and exciting thing! The next change will be feeling the movement on the outside of my belly, which Daddy is very excited about! I'm excited too, because then he will feel like he is more a part of what is happening with my body! Every day it is becoming more and more real and more and more evident that we are having a baby in just over 4 months! I have my little bump now, I feel movement, and we are starting to get the house ready for baby! It is getting more exciting everyday, but I'm thankful we have some time, because we have SO much more to do :) And so much more to look forward to! I am determined to not wish my pregnancy away just because of how excited I am to meet our baby! Pregnancy is so fun, and so wonderful, so I am going to slow down, and enjoy it, because it will be over before I know it!

2009-09-10T08:49:00.001-05:00

oh baby

2009-09-09T07:28:00.004-05:00

Lately I have struggled with some concentration issues at work...I think about the baby in my belly with extreme anticipation, and sometimes I can't think about much else...What will my baby look like? What will its sex be? Will it have mommy's eyes? Daddy's nose? Oh I simply can't wait! 179 days to go! It will fly by, so I'm attemping to slow my life down a little bit so that I can enjoy pregnancy and get everything done in the seemingly short (yet forever long) time we have left! There are so many things to figure out, and think about, and plan for, but it's such an exciting time :) I sometimes still can't believe that God has given us this little miracle, but I sure am thankful for our little peanut! Today is the official 15 week point, which just blows my mind because that is only 5 weeks from putting me at the halfway point! In some ways, I feel like we just found out yesterday even though it has been 2 months. Time really does fly when you're enjoying life! I'm hopefully entering the "feel good" portion of my pregnancy. This is a very welcomed thought! I have definitely had my share of symptoms with this baby, but I am thankful that everything has been tolerable...I never felt like I was on my deathbed, which is a blessing :) And no matter what this pregnancy throws at me, i'm still (God willing) going to have a baby at the end of it :) And that completely outweighs anything that could plague me during this short 9 months! Thank you Lord for this precious precious baby! Grow him or her healthy and strong and prepare Jamaal and I to be the loving, godly parents you desire us to be!

cute cute

2009-08-13T11:15:00.005-05:00

We had a fun filled weekend with our nieces :) They are hilarious, and so sweet! Samantha is talking up a storm, using full sentences, and Lizzie is giggling and sitting up on her own. It's amazing how much they change between visits! I wish we could see them so much more often!

We had a wonderful time with Jeremy & Kirsten too, as usual! Unfortunately we didn't have nice weather, so we spent a lot of time inside, but at least it was relaxing! We did end up going to the farmers market despite the rain. We got lots of yummy fruits and veggies, and had fun watching people admire how beautiful the girls are! As usual, the visit went quickly, but it was nice to not have to share our time with them...usually they come over for a few afternoons or evenings, but this time they stayed with us Friday through Monday, which was a really nice change! It's so much fun to have little ones in the house! We are so blessed to have two beautiful, sweet, fun nieces! It will be so much fun to continue watching them grow and blossom into little girls, and then young women! It will happen before we know it, so I do my best to not wish their little lives away! We won't see them again until Christmas, but it will be a very happy reunion! Everyone will be home at Mom & Dad's, and it will be a real treat! :)

random facts about kissing...

2009-08-12T08:32:00.004-05:00

Who knows why this is my post for today...I just stumbled across this on the internet and found it interesting...who knew?

Approximately two-thirds of people tip their head to the right when they kiss. Some scholars speculate this preference starts in the womb.

The most important muscle in kissing is the orbicularis oris, also known as the kissing muscle, which allows the lips to “pucker.”

French kissing involves all 34 muscles in the face. A pucker kiss involves only two.

Kissing is good for teeth. The anticipation of a kiss increases the flow of saliva to the mouth, giving the teeth a plaque-dispersing bath.

Kissing at the conclusion of a wedding ceremony can be traced to ancient Roman tradition where a kiss was used to sign contract.

Under the Hays Code (1930-1968), people kissing in American films could no longer be horizontal; at least one had to be sitting or standing, not lying down. In addition, all on-screen married couples slept in twin beds...and if kissing on one of the beds occurred, at least one of the spouses had to have a foot on the floor. (my how things have changed...)

The mouth is full of bacteria. When two people kiss, they exchange between 10 million and 1 billion bacteria. (eek!)

And to end on a happier note...
Passionate kissing burns 6.4 calories a minute. A Hershey’s kiss contains 26 calories, which takes five minutes of walking–or about four minutes of kissing–to burn off.

So go pucker up :)

thankful thursday

2009-07-02T13:50:00.004-05:00

A MILLION Thank you's to everyone who has fought (or is fighting) for our beloved country and made countless sacrifices so that the rest of us can enjoy our freedom. There will never be enough words to adequately express how thankful I am to you, your families, and all of your loved ones who may even have lost you in the many tragic wars our country has been involved in.

We have so much freedom in this country, and while it sometimes seems as though the world is in disarray all the time, at least we are free to worship the God we choose to worship, and make our own decisions about the foods we eat, the things we wear and the person we choose to spend the rest of our life with, among countless other freedoms.

It seems like sometimes the only thing that causes us to take a moment and remember these freedoms is when we near the 4th of July...This is an unfortunate thing. Let's remember daily what we have to be thankful for, as it is overwhelming how good life is!

thankful thursday

2009-06-11T09:38:00.004-05:00

Today I was realizing how incredibly thankful I am for music. It has always been a part of my life, and it just makes everything better. It's amazing how much easier a day at work is when I can listen to music. I am in a better mood, and I have just enough distraction to stay focused on my work (sounds like an oxymoron, I realize...). I am fairly eclectic in my musical tastes, and a lot of what I listen to depends on what i'm doing, who i'm with, and what kind of a mood I am in. I'm thankful that there are so many brilliantly talented musicians who have given us the gift of their music...and that there is such a wide variety of styles to choose from.
There is a quote that basically epitomizes the way I feel about music...
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life" ~Berthold Auerbach (he was a German author in the 1800's) Music invokes passion, feelings, thoughts, ideas, prayers, and sometimes it speaks deeply to the soul. I appreciate music that has something to say, and sometimes that doesn't even require words.
Music is one of the ways in which I most deeply connect to God. It is evidence of an awesome Creator, and I am thankful for the daily reminder. I love beautiful scenery, and wonderful food, but there is nothing that grabs me like listening to an extremely talented singer or instrumentalist. There is just something about music that heals my soul and reminds me of God's love for me. And for that I am thankful.

woe

2009-05-14T16:01:00.001-05:00

I MISS THE BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the girls

2009-05-07T08:47:00.016-05:00

My niece is officially the cutest little round headed baby EVER! I still have yet to see her in person (*sigh*) but Jamaal and I are going to see her in a couple weeks... We are super excited to see her, along with my brother and his wife, and our other niece, who might I add is talking like a 4 year old despite being only two!

I love my nieces so much, and hate that they are so far away...Wish I could go play with them every day after work! Or at least see them more than a few times a year...They bring me so much joy, and I wish I could watch them grow up more closely...it is happening so quickly, and I don't want to miss a thing! Elizabeth will be 4 months old by the time we finally meet her, and I can't even imagine all the things we have already missed.

It's one thing to hear about all the developments and new things she is doing...I want to SEE her develop and grow and blossom into a beautiful little girl like her sister :) I know I'm biased, but I think they are the cutest little girls in the world...

I talked to Samantha last night and she said "HI Auntie Noni! I'm going to eat supper! We're having yummy soup!" She just warms my heart with her sweet spirit. I am just so excited to go and spend 4 days with them...I will soak up every minute with the girls, and then anxiously await the next visit!

thankful thursday

2009-04-30T13:30:00.003-05:00

Today I am thankful for laughter...There is truly nothing like a good, long belly laugh. The kind where you simply cannot contain yourself. When I belly laugh, I turn red, I make all kinds of different noises including snorts, and my laugh changes pitch every few seconds. My eyes well up with tears of joy, and my belly begins to hurt from convulsing violently during my bout of laughter :) The best part is, I always feel completely refreshed after laughing like that.

There are also plenty of health benefits to laughter, and it has been known to improve marriages and lengthen the lifespan of people who laugh often! You produce endorphins along with many other good hormones when you laugh, and this helps to reduce stress and give you a more positive outlook on your situation or your life.

I feel like people let their guard down a bit when they find something genuinely hilarious. I know I look, sound, and act like a fool when I am having a laugh attack, but the amazing thing is, I never care! I'm having too much fun to care! And laughter is contagious, so once the first person starts, no one can resist the urge to join in!

There are a lot of things in this world to be negative about, but there are also plenty of things to smile and laugh about! I make an effort to look for the positive, and find joy in the small things. I have so much to be thankful for, and laughter helps me to keep life in perspective. So to anyone reading this, if you haven't laughed today, make sure you find something to tickle your funny bone...It will improve your day, I promise!

random laws that make me laugh

2009-04-28T11:22:00.002-05:00

I was looking for something to lighten my otherwise bland Tuesday morning, and I found some random laws that gave me a good laugh...thought I would share. And YES, they are true...

In Baltimore, Maryland, it is illegal to take a lion to the movies. (umm...)

In Singapore, it is illegal to sell or own chewing gum. (so glad I don't live there! LOVE gum!)

In Natoma, Kansas, it's illegal to throw knives at men wearing striped suits. (really? ONLY when they are wearing striped suits?)

It's illegal to slurp soup in New Jersey. (the government clearly has too much control)

Among the Abipone people of Paraguay, individuals who abstain from alcohol are thought to be "cowardly, degenerate and stupid." (i think that is the ONLY place where you're not "AWESOME" if you get drunk and act ridiculous)

While in some countries the penalty for driving while intoxicated can be death (yes, death), in Uruguay intoxication is a legal excuse for having an accident while driving. "Please believe me officer, I really was drunk." (wow...stay away from the countries that end in GUAY)

Well, that's all for this post, but i'll keep you posted when I find more random laws to laugh at :)

pics from paradise - curacao

2009-04-24T11:30:00.008-05:00

Curacao was stunningly beautiful! It was one of my favorite beaches, and the little huts just make it that much more fun! We spent an entire day at Cabana Beach just sunning ourselves and diving off the dock that we swam out to. We had lunch at the outdoor cafe and dreamed of living there instead of frigid Minnesota! We had the perfect day as far as weather goes...it was about 85 and sunny, and there wasn't even the slightest bit of humidity in the air. (which we all know never happens in MN...)

writer's block

2009-04-03T14:53:00.003-05:00

Oops. I have been called out on my seemingly eternal episode of writer's block...I have another issue that plagues me at all times as I attempt to become a regular blogger. I am a perfectionist. I will sit and try to think of a fun topic to write about, but then I will convince myself that there must be a better topic. So then once I have thought of a better topic, I realize that means there is a "best" topic that I will surely think of next. *sigh* It doesn't get any better when I have finally settled on a topic either, because then I am plagued by the first sentence. It must be perfect. This makes things very frustrating...Perhaps I need to let loose and just write what pops into my mind and not worry about whether or not it is perfect or reflects the "best" topic.
Yikes, I am sounding quite OCD right now. For those who know me, I am a bit OCD so I suppose it's no surprise :) Thanks for loving me anyway!

I still owe a nice long vacation post or two, along with lots of other posts to make up for lost time...Hang in there with me! I'll get the hang of it one of these days!

And thanks Jamaal for bringing my blog back to life! Some funk was just what it needed :)

doing my part

2009-04-03T11:04:00.008-05:00

I blog quite a bit, but never on this one (mine are here and here). That's usually the Gnone's job, but as you can see, it's been a little while since she made an appearance. I have no idea why, but I think it has something to do with six-week-long writer's block.

I've never heard of writer's block lasting that long. And I write for a living.

By the way, I'm her husband, but I haven't heard her call me any sort of pseudonym, so we'll toss my name out there. It's Jamaal. There.

Generally, the lady keeps this place sweet and cute, but today I'm bringing the funk. And as we all know, there's nothing more funky than the elements… Earth, Wind and Fire. So hit play, sit back, relax and let the mellow sounds of early 80s flavor wash over you. I promise, you'll thank me later. And be sure to check out the crazy dancer at 1:45. Yeaaaahhhh... that's the stuff.

She needs to write soon, or I fear I'll destroy this blog in no time.

anticipation

2009-02-13T08:00:00.002-06:00

So, the time has almost come! We leave tomorrow for the Caribbean :) We are so incredibly excited, and can't believe it's finally here! We're ready for 9 days of relaxation and fun in the sun! Not to mention a break from the every day life...work, bills, housecleaning, and all other responsibilities. We have both been incredibly busy at work lately, and are really in need of the time off. I don't think this vacation could have come at a more perfect time!

Stories and pictures to follow!

it's another baby girl :)

2009-01-30T11:49:00.003-06:00

We have a new niece, Elizabeth June! She is beautiful, and we can't wait to meet her! Mom and baby are both doing really well, and for that we are truly thankful! She is already a good sleeper, which will be a true blessing for mom and dad, and she is eating well too, so things are looking really good for the little family!

It seems funny that you can love someone without ever having met them, but I sure do love Elizabeth :)

jambalicious

2009-01-28T11:53:00.003-06:00

I figured, what better to re-enter the blogging world than with a yummy food post! I have discovered the joy of new Jamba Oatmeal. It is simply fabulous! It is warm and creamy and topped with more yumminess. I sampled the Blueberry-Blackberry oatmeal the other day, and was pleasantly surprised as I am not a big oatmeal fan. The cup of oatmeal is topped with a warm blueberry blackberry puree and then finished off with some yummy brown sugar crumble, and it is really a wonderful treat! The best part is, it is healthy too! The oatmeal is organic, and the fruit puree consists of fruit and fruit only! If you're a coupon junkie like me, you can hop onto jamba's website http://www.jambajuice.com/ and print off a coupon to try the oatmeal for $1! They have two other varities that are probably equally fabulous, Apple Cinnamon and Fresh Banana. I'm more of a berry girl, but I will definitely give the other two a try as well! Let me know what you think!

bye bye self

2008-11-19T11:25:00.002-06:00

I was challenged by this portion of my devotional this morning...
Any message which makes the Cross redundant is anti-Christian. The original sin, pride, is behind my "poor self-image," for I felt that I deserved better than I got, which is exactly what Eve felt! So it was pride, not poor self-image, that had to go. If I'm so beautiful and lovable, what was Jesus doing up there, nailed to the cross and crowned with thorns? Why all that hideous suffering for the pure Son of God? Here's why: There was no other way to deliver us from the hell of our own proud self-loving selves, no other way out of the bondage of self-pity and self-congratulation. How shall we take our stand beneath the cross of Jesus and continue to love the selves that put Him there? How can we survey the wondrous cross and at the same time feed our pride? No. It won't work. Jesus put it simply: If you want to be My disciple, you must leave self behind, take up the cross, and follow Me.
I'm pretty good at all of the things that this passage says I should surrender...Pride, poor self-image, self-pity, self-congratulation...Yikes. I'm so thankful I have a Savior who has already paid the price for this, despite the fact that I in no way deserve it. God doesn't expect perfection, but He does expect me to try, and so I am committing to put forth more effort in these areas. All I am doing by maintaining these acts of self is becoming more a part of the "world," which is exactly what I am supposed to resist. So with that said, bye bye self...hello grace, and mercy and all other "cross-ly" things.

never ready

2008-11-18T08:08:00.002-06:00

It always comes, and yet I'm never ready for it...You'd think that after 25 years of midwest winters, I would have built up some sort of tolerance for the cold, but it just isn't so. Anyone who has ever had to withstand a midwest winter knows that it is basically a 4-6 month slap in the face, and includes blizzards, bitter cold, whipping wind, and a more often than not gray sky. We are lucky to see the sun once a week, and it only attempts to take the edge off of the bitter cold. It is the kind of bitter cold that actually makes your body ache with pain, especially if any part of it is exposed for more than about 3 seconds. I try to gear myself up for it every year, but it never seems to make any difference. Once mid November rolls around, I just begin to accept the fact that I will be cold for the next several months. Getting out of bed in the morning is like pulling teeth because it's so warm in my bed and sooooo cold in the house. Let me tell ya, bears have the right idea hibernating through the winter...I would settle for just being allowed to work from home for the winter...my morning walks to the bus stop are tragically cold, and I get tempted some mornings as soon as I set foot out the door to just turn around and go right back in. I definitely go into hibernation mode when the cold sets in...once I'm home for the evening I do not want to leave again. I want to wrap myself in blankets and snuggle on the couch. I love nights when we don't have anything going on and we can just curl up with a good book, or watch a movie and drink hot cocoa...that's what winter should be...

voting day

2008-11-04T14:45:00.003-06:00

I consider it an honor, a privilege, as well as my duty to vote today. Not every country allows its citizens to have any say in who is placed in government, and while it seems sometimes that all we are doing is choosing the lesser evil, at least we are given a voice. It's a good feeling to be a part of something that impacts our country so deeply, but I fear, this year more than any other election year that our country could be in some real trouble depending on how the election turns out. All I can do is cast my ballot and then pray. And believe me, I have been, and will continue to pray for whomever is given the seemingly impossible charge of running our incredibly imperfect country. Whoever is elected will be faced with decisions that I can't even imagine being faced with. There are so many major issues facing our nation right now, and I am hopeful that some good will come from this election, and that our country will move forward in a positive direction.

cute as a button

2008-10-02T08:46:00.008-05:00

Last weekend we were home in Madison for a family wedding. Our whole family was together, which was a real treat as it doesn't happen very often. This means we got to spend time with the cutest little girl in the world, our niece Samantha. She is such a delight, and I can't express how special she is :) She is talking now, and loves to cuddle. She gives the best hugs and kisses, and she laughs all the time. It warms my heart when she sees me and lights up, or runs to me for a hug or to have me pick her up.

She carries around a little bunny and a little monkey, and if you ask her what their names are, she will say "Money." That being said, she sometimes runs around the house saying "Money Money Money." Our little money hungry niece ;) I never thought it was possible to love a child so much when they aren't your own. If my future children turn out anything like her, I will truly be blessed!

She is very into music, and as soon it comes on, she starts to dance. She swings her little hips, and bounces to the beat, and it is a riot. I think she has really good rhythm, because if the song changes, she adjusts her movements to match the music, and she perks up more when a song is upbeat. She loves jazz, so I know she already has really good taste in music.

She loves animals, whether they're real or fake. We stopped by my grandma's house between the wedding and the reception, and she has some stuffed/ceramic animals. Samantha was kissing them, and then walking around the room and having everyone else kiss them. Who could say no to that little face? :) When she sees a squirrel in her backyard, or a puppy when she is out on a walk, she pats her lap to try to get them to come see her.

She loves to sit in my old rocking chair and let Grandpa rock her. Have I mentioned what a "grandpa's girl" she is? I think she loves his low voice because as soon as she hears him talking, she runs to him. He of course loves this, and wouldn't trade his time with her for anything in the world. It's probably a good thing that we dont' get to see Samantha very often because she makes me long so badly for my own. My brother and his wife have another one on the way, and we are getting really excited to meet baby #2!

jucy lucy

2008-09-21T08:14:00.004-05:00

Last night, Jamaal and I headed to Matt's Bar to have a "burger that'll change your life." That burger is what they call the Jucy Lucy. For those of you who haven't been to Matt's, it's just a tiny little dive bar on the outskirts of the Seward neighborhood in Minneapolis. It's very unassuming, and probably the only reason you would go there was if you had heard about the Jucy Lucy. When we got there, around 7 pm, there was a line practically out the door. We waited about 20 minutes to sit, and our wait was made longer by the couple who thought they were sneaky and simply walked ahead of us to a table that finally became available. They absolutely knew we were there before them, they just got the impression that they were somehow more important or more deserving of the table. We decided we didn't want to make a big thing of it, so we just continued to wait patiently. The next spot that opened up was at the bar, so we decided to take it. We had our order taken pretty much right away, and while we waited for our food, we had the delightful opportunity to sit next to a girl who kept kicking the little bar where you rest your feet, and slapping her hands on the bar ledge where they serve the food. I have no idea why she was doing this, I think she was just hyped up for some reason, but it was incredibly annoying. Anyway, apparently half of Minneapolis decided to order take out from Matt's last night, so we ended up waiting about 45 minutes for our wonderful ooey gooey Jucy Lucy's. Man were they worth the wait! I officially burned my tongue, despite their warning about how hot the cheese inside the burger is. No wonder all of their merchandise says "Fear the Cheese." Yikes.
Oh well, the little burn on my tongue is now just a small reminder of the yumminess that we consumed last night. And apparently our server liked us because they poured an extra pitcher of Blue Moon by mistake and she gave it to us for free. Then later, after we were already full to the brim, she dropped by and said "Oops, we have this extra Jucy Lucy that we made by mistake." We said thank you and then groaned about how we were so full but couldn't possibly waste a perfectly good Jucy Lucy!!! I'm not sure our stomachs have been that full in, well, probably EVER! And NO, we didn't finish the second pitcher of beer... :) It was a wonderful Matt's experience, and I would highly recommend that anyone reading this makes sure to visit Matt's as soon as you have a chance! If you've never had a Jucy Lucy from Matt's, you have truly been missing out. It's on the corner of 35th and Cedar in Minneapolis. Enjoy!

good vs great

2008-09-16T13:06:00.003-05:00

I have decided that I should start comparing two similar things and then choose which one is good and which one is great. I don't plan on using a specific method to choose these items, I will just choose whatever strikes my fancy. Please share your opinions and let me know if there is anything you think I should compare!
For this first installment, I have decided to look at Starbucks vs. Caribou. Now I realize this may ruffle some feathers, as I know most people prefer one to the other. So, here goes. I'm definitely a coffee girl, so I don't really order the "froo froo" drinks unless i'm in some strange mood. I pretty much stick to espresso-based drinks and the occasional black coffee. Lets start with espresso. Starbucks takes the cake, hands down. The espresso is rich and roasted to perfection. Not once have I had a drink made from espresso that has tasted even remotely burnt, or stale. That is all I have ever tasted from Caribou. I think they over roast their beans in general, so every drink made from espresso tastes like you're sipping liquified ashes from last night's campfire. Now, that being said, when I'm in the mood for black coffee, I head straight to Caribou for their Cold Press, which is their version of iced coffee. Surprisingly, this is a hundred times better than an iced coffee from Starbucks. It is more highly caffeineated because it is double brewed. It really does the trick to perk me up when I'm dragging at work, or when I just want a cold, essentially calorie free treat. It doesn't require any sweetening...the wonderful sweetness of the coffee beans is more than enough to satiate my taste buds :)
This brings me to comparison number 3. As I mentioned before, occasionally the mood strikes me and I venture out for a "froo froo" drink. Again, I head to Starbucks without giving Caribou another thought. I pretty much stick to the Mocha Light Frappucino or a few of their seasonal drinks (Blended Lemonade, Pumpkin Spice Latte, etc).
It should now be fairly obvious where my loyalties lie, but in case you haven't figured it out, my ruling is this: Caribou is good, Starbucks is GREAT!
A few more reasons to love Starbucks...
Low Fat Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake
Free weekly ITunes download
Great coffee mugs for sale, especially around the holidays
The best chocolate covered espresso beans EVER (dark chocolate covered of course)

Please join me in my salute to Starbucks' greatness...

ode to friday

2008-09-12T11:53:00.002-05:00

Thank you for being the light at the end of the tunnel!
Thank you for helping maintain my sanity!
Thank you for ending yet another crazy work week!

suck it up

2008-09-11T16:19:00.003-05:00

I've been struggling a bit with motivation this week and today I had a little tete-a-tete with myself...I realized that nothing makes my days go more slowly than slacking, and not getting my work accomplished. I also realized that the only thing that makes me less motivated than I already am is thinking about how unmotivated I am. These periods where I lack all motivation don't happen very often, but when they do, I tend to wallow in them a little longer than I should sometimes. I love my job, and I'm very thankful for it, but I guess I'm allowed to be a whiner once in a while and think "woe is me...why do I actually have to WORK while i'm at work??" SO with that said, I decided it was time to suck it up, and change my attitude. Today was a GREAT day! I got more accomplished than I have in all the other days this week combined, and I felt better about myself, my job, and the fact that I was no longer being a loser who sits around and doesn't do anything all day. Feels good to be back!

this is my brain on...work

2008-09-05T15:03:00.004-05:00

I have decided they should replicate the "This is your brain on drugs" commercials with "This is your brain on work." My brain is so completely fried this week, and if it weren't Friday I think I might call in sick tomorrow. I have no mental capacity left, and nothing more to give. When did I grow up and start having all this responsibility? Is it too late to go back to being a kid? I miss the days when the toughest decision I had to make was what outfit to wear, or what I wanted my mom to make me for lunch... *sigh* I certainly don't miss the lack of freedom that comes with being young, but I do miss the carefree days and the ability to still have some brain power left at the end of the week! :) I love my job, and I'm incredibly thankful for it, but it can truly be a thorn in my side at times. What I have to remember is that there is no job, place to live, spouse, friend, etc that doesn't present it's challenges, but working through those challenges is what makes me stronger and what makes these things all the more important.

morning chills

2008-09-04T13:06:00.005-05:00

I don't know about anyone else, but I have been LOVING the cooler weather! The past couple mornings have actually been quite chilly, which is a nice change from last week when it was 80 by 7 am...I believe Fall is on its way in, and that means one thing...SWEATER WEATHER! Hazaa! This is one of my favorite parts of fall, along with trips to the apple orchard and seeing the leaves change to beautiful shades of orange, red and brown! It also means tremendous sleeping weather! It feels so good to need the covers again! I hate sleeping with nothing over me, but I hate being ridiculously hot even more. I plan on relishing every moment of this beautiful season, and truly hope that it lasts more than a few weeks this year! After our horribly long winter I think we deserve a good long Fall this year!

ode to a cappucino

2008-08-28T14:02:00.007-05:00

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS DAY POSSIBLE!!

kickball - suitable for adults?

2008-08-27T08:17:00.005-05:00

So last night we had our first kickball game...what a RIOT! We are playing on a team with my cousin, her husband and a bunch of their friends...I didn't know exactly what to expect since I haven't played kickball since middle school gym. First of all, it's impossible to feel like an adult while playing kickball. The pitch rolls to you at approximately .5 mph, which is hilarious enough, but then you wind up and try to kick the ball as hard as you can, only to have it travel about half the distance you think it will because it's so light. I actually had someone complain about one of my "pitches" because it came down the pipe at 1 mph...OOOOOOHHH risky business! I made sure my next pitch was nice and slow and barely crossed the plate :) I know, I know, a true rebel to the core! I think the best part of the game is that you can actually throw the ball at base runners to get them out. Does the movie Dodgeball ring a bell? My favorite shot last night was the butt shot...A guy was running from 1st to 2nd and he must have almost tripped or something because all of a sudden his butt was sticking out and then the 2nd baseman, who had just grabbed the ball proceeded to throw it right at his perfectly placed caboose...what a hoot!
Unfortunately we lost our first game, but at least we had a few (hundred) laughs! Ahh yes, I forgot to mention our team name...Premium Spam! And no, there will be no pre-game Spam eating for this girl...or any Spam eating for that matter. If I want to eat something that wiggles like Jello I'll just grab a cup of good old J-E-L-L-O thank you very much!

more saturday please

2008-08-23T22:49:00.004-05:00

I am a firm believer in the 4 day work week...2 days of weekend is simply not long enough. My favorite day of the week is Saturday, and unfortunately it is always the day that goes by the fastest. This just doesn't seem fair. It doesn't even matter what I'm doing on a Saturday...it is still better than a day at work! Now don't get me wrong, I love my job! I really do. But by the end of the week, my brain is fried, and I definitely need more than 2 quick days to give my mind and body the rest they need. I think the bigger issue is just that i am desperately in need of a vacation...it has been more than 3 years since I have taken a real vacation...our honeymoon was amazing...a whole week of no agendas, no cleaning, no everyday life to deal with. Just days full of the ocean, great seafood and whatever else we felt led to do :) We are in the midst of planning our vacation, but it won't be for another 6 months or so...I guess for now I'll just have to relish each and every Saturday until I can get away from it all for a whole week.

Until You

2008-08-17T10:29:00.011-05:00

So...our friends John and Lisa got married yesterday...it was beautiful and perfect! It is always so fun to be a part of a day where two people much such a wonderful and meaningful commitment to each other. And it's always nice to know that when they say "For better or worse" they mean it. Marriage is taken for granted in this day and age, and I'm so fortunate to have friends who don't see it that way. A lot of people go into it thinking "For better or worse...but if worse comes I'm going to have to re-think it..." Thank you to those of you who will take the bad with the good. Marriage is not perfect, but it sure can be amazing if you commit to that person and work on the relationship! Love you hubby :)
So anyway...a few friends of John and Lisa sang an amazing song at their wedding, and I wanted to share it with you. It's called Until You, and it's sung by Dave Barnes. Check it out. It's a winner!

the joys of aunthood

2008-08-15T18:35:00.006-05:00

I just simply can't get enough of our niece Samantha! She is the cutest little girl in the world, and I love her! She came to visit us last weekend, and I didn't ever want the weekend to end! It doesn't matter what she's doing, she brings a smile to my face and warms my heart. I long for the day we can have our own little bundle of joy! :) She eats more than any little kid I've ever seen, but everything she eats is healthy and good. My brother and his wife don't eat any sugar - even trace sugars - and they have several other restrictions as well. It's a tough lifestyle to keep up with, but I admire them for it! I'm constantly amazed at what I see people feeding their children...not that I plan to completely withhold sugar from my children, but I certainly won't be feeding them kool-aid EVER, let alone from a bottle...I'd like them to keep their teeth, thank you.

wonderful world of blogging

2008-08-15T17:24:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited to join the wonderful world of blogging! I'm only sorry it took me so long to get here. My plan is to write about anything and everything, and to do it as often as possible...I'm guessing I will clue way too many people in to my true and extreme nerdiness, but life is so much more fun when you can laugh! My hubby will probably write sometimes too, and he is a hoot! I'm the luckiest girl in the world!! I couldn't ask for a more wonderful husband, family, or friends, and I'm very thankful! My life wouldn't be the same without them...
Welcome to my thoughts, my words, my ideas...my life!