a photo that makes me happy

Day 7

There are a lot of pictures I can look at that make me feel very happy. I picked this specific picture for many reasons...

This isn't the best picture of me, but I still love this picture. This is from Cancun when we were down there getting married. Going around the table there's me, Ted, brothers girlfriend, best man, my brother. We were all just sitting outside hanging out, talking, & just generally having fun. We don't get to see our best man very often because he lives in another state. This picture just brings me back to that time and how much fun we had hanging out with all of our friends and family for that week. It was amazing. Most nights were spent drinking & solving the problems of the world while hanging out in the jacuzzi overlooking the gorgeous beach. This one picture brings back all of those memories. Spending that invaluable time with our nearest & dearest... well, those are memories I won't soon forget. There are times when I feel a little sad or "woe is me" and can just think of this time, and I realize how lucky I am.

p.s.: this is also my 100th post! woohoo!

my favorite things

Day 6

Today I have to list 20 of my favorite things. This should be interesting since I'm doing this list with zero forethought... so these are off the top of my head, and in no particular order.

1. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - this book has been life changing. If I get into it right now this post will just be way too long. Shortly - I was always terrified of labor... and now I'm not. I also just finished reading it.
2. lazy weekends lounging around with Ted and the dogs
3. cheesy movies
4. this
5. satellite tv
6. my Fit Flops! I love them & they're so comfy.
7. the unconditional support between friends
8. that super clean feeling you have right after a shower
9. the smell of wet dirt
10. Mexican food
11. when Ted & I are watching tv and he rubs my leg or foot... it's so relaxing. I can literally feel stress leave my body.
12. the memories from when we spent two weeks in Paris. It was a fantastic trip, it's where we got engaged, but mostly I love those memories because for two weeks we were just us, together, having fun & being carefree. 
13. Mexican Lasagna
14. iced coffee
15. floral art
16. spending the day barbecuing & swimming with my family, at my parents house
17. afternoons with fun girls
18. ice cream / dessert / sugary things (not candy)
19. the smell of my moms perfume
20. the way it smells outside after the first rain

These are really just a few of my favorite things. Once I hit #5 or 6 I was on a role and actually thought "I only get to put down 20?!" I could go on. I think I'm going to feel the same way when this 30 day challenge is over.

my favorite quote

Day 5

I have a few favorite quotes...

If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants. -Isaac Newton

 War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. -John Stewart Mill

One quote I recently discovered really resonates with me right now... I like it quite a bit. I would have to say this is my favorite quote, at least for now...

I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. -Marilyn Monroe

my favorite book

Day 4

This post won't be all picture heavy like my past few. This is easy. I love reading and I have read some great books. Right now I'm reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth*, which has been quite... life changing. I've been known to be a little dramatic, but this book has truly - truly - changed the way I view certain things. & this isn't my favorite book.

This is my favorite book. I love this book. It's true that the beginning was a little slow for me, but once I got past the first couple chapters I was so hooked. I loved these characters. I loved the story, and I was so sad when it ended. It's just a great story.

*I am not with child, merely trying to educate myself.

my favorite tv show

Day 3

My favorite tv show is waaaay easier for me to narrow down then my favorite song or movie. I still have quite a few favs I tune in for religiously, but I already know which is my true blue fav. Lets start with a few a enjoy on the regular...

I love the dynamic between Tempy & Booth - and I hope they don't end up together.

Is this not one of the best shows on tv? I absolutely adore this show 

& family.

Never missed an episode & proud to own that fact :)

Oh, Mary. & Marshal Marshall.

I love this show... so much. I am one of the (few) who totally abandoned Grey's Anatomy once PP started. I never miss this show, totally addicted.

Now there are other shows I enjoy... I love me some Law & Order (all of them) and I my favorite CSI is CSI:NY. I love Eureka on SyFy - I just love the fantasy world aspect. In fact, I like most shows on SyFy (Sanctuary, anyone?). I'm digging the new show Rizzoli & Isles, which I'm happy about since I read all the books. I've also been known to tune in for such cheesy disasters as Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami and Kendra. ::sigh:: I can't help it. BUT - on to my favorite tv show. I never miss this show. I love it, and no - I am not happy about casting changes coming this season. Without further ado...

Love it for so many reasons. I'm starting to find some of the story lines a little disturbing, but I think that may be ME more then the show.

my favorite movie

Day 2

Whew! Made it through day 1...

Ok, so my favorite movie... wow. This may be harder then my favorite song. I love movies, I especially love cheesetastic movies. I can tell you that for a period of about 2 years, starting when I was about 12 I was completely obsessed with this movie:

I still love that movie, but it's not my favorite ever.

There are so many movies I love for different reasons...

The wedding in that movie made me realize I didn't want an inside wedding, I wanted to get married out in the sunshine.

Run away to Italy? Yes, duh.

It's big, flashy, & has explosions. 'Nuff  for me.

This movie is so sweet, mystical, fantastical... it just makes you feel good.

 

 

 

C'mon... Lloyd Dobler. How can you not love him?

Of course there are so many other movies I love. I love the movie Flushed Away, it just cracks me up every time I watch it. How can anyone not at least like The Breakfast Club? Aside from the whole detention on a Saturday thing, it's like every kids dream in high school! Totally unrealistic, but realistic movies are boooooring. Life As a House makes me cry every.damn.time. Grease, Rent, West Side Story - just give me a musical and make me happy! You've Got Mail... how freaking adorable are Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in that movie?! I know, right! Gosh.

But... my favorite, hands down, always makes me feel happy/laugh/suspended/angry/romantic and stops me in my tracks (Lord forbid this movie should be on tv at any time... ever, or I'm done) is.....

Yes. Pride & Prejudice - Kiera Knightley edition. I just LOVE this movie. That scene where Mr. Darcy walks to the house in the early morning.... ::sigh:: that WHOLE scene is just perfection. Every time I watch it, it's like the first time.

So there ya go. Feel free to judge away - we all do it. I think you can tell a lot about someone by their taste in movies. I wonder what my taste in movies says about me?

the beginning

Two posts in one day?! Yes, TWO. :) Lucky you.

Happy Anniversary to my parents! Today is their 37th wedding anniversary. It's conveniently easy for me to keep track because they were married 10 years when their world became complete they had me.

Sorry for the extremely crappy quality - it's a picture of a picture

Check out my dads tux... I swear, I think it's been so long that's back in style? hahaha. Thank God he doesn't own that thing or he'd try to wear it. Hotties.

my favorite song

Day 1

Welcome to Day 1 of my 30 Days of Blogging! Of course the two hardest topics for me are also the first two topics. Way to break me in! I mean... how can you pick just one song as your favorite song? I have so many favorite songs. Like right now - I'm seriously loving La Roux's "Bulletproof", but is that my favorite song ever? No. If I'm feeling kinda blue & I want to stay that way (I'm weird)? It's Elliott Smith's "Waltz #2". Feeling feisty? Elton John's "Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting". In a great mood and want to feel even greater? No Doubt's "Hella Good". "Banana Pancakes" by Jack Johnson takes me back to a sad time in my life, but it still manages to conjure up happy memories with my family. I mean... how do I pick ONE favorite song?! If I had to pick just one song that makes me feel a flurry of good emotions then I would pick "Crush" by Dave Matthews Band. I've loved that song since the first time I heard it when I was about 14. It's meaning has changed over the years. I always love that song, I always come back and remember how gorgeous it is.

Thanks for stopping by & hanging out for my first day :) I hope you'll tune in tomorrow for my favorite movie.... how am I ever going to pick that one?!

30 days of blogging

I decided to join my friend Abri and do the 30 Days of Blogging with her. There's more info on her blog, with the topics I'm going to use. I may change things up a bit, who knows. I'm unpredictable. ha.

Day 1 - your favorite song

Day 2 - your favorite movie

Day 3 - your favorite television program

Day 4 - your favorite book

Day 5 - your favorite quote

Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things

Day 7 - a photo that makes you happy

Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad

Day 9 - a photo you took

Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you

Day 11 - a photo of you recently

Day 12 - something you are OCD about

Day 13 - a fictional book

Day 14 - a non-fictional book

Day 15 - your dream house

Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)

Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)

Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding

Day 19 - a talent of yours

Day 20 - a hobby of yours

Day 21 - a recipe

Day 22 - a website

Day 23 - a youtube video

Day 24 - where I live

Day 25 - your day, in great detail

Day 26 - your week, in great detail

Day 27 - my worst habit

Day 28 - whats in my handbag/purse

Day 29 - hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days

Day 30 - a dream for the future

reading, reading, reading

I haven't blogged about my reading much lately, but I have been reading up a storm so I'm going to try & get one big update in.

Wife For Hire - Janet Evanovich - I read this book just a few weeks ago. It's an easy read, perfect for a long weekend or lazy day by the pool. I really enjoyed it and am looking to read some of her other books also. Of course it's a totally predictable love story, but whatever - it was funny & a little steamy.

Darkfever - Karen Marie Moning - Ok... so this book is weird. It's like, in some ways it's so predictable, but then in other ways I did think to myself "didn't see that one coming." I love reading series, so I will probably pick up the sequels to this book. It's certainly not going to change your life, but it will entertain you. I did find some of the cliche descriptions of characters totally cringe-worthy, but then again... it's a story about faeries and a mythical underworld that humans can't see. Sooo... there ya go.

Sundays at Tiffany's - James Patterson - Predictable. Predictable, predictable, predictable. I loved it.

The Quickie - James Patterson - I found every single character in this book utterly unsympathetic and unlikeable. BUT, I still enjoyed most of the book and there were at least 2 twists I didn't see coming, not from a mile away.

I'm currently in the middle of a couple books. Lamb, and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I don't like to say much about books I haven't finished unless I really, really love them. So I'm not saying anything about these yet.

Oregon

Mt. Shasta (so not technically Or. but we did see drive right through on the way up)

At breakfast with Gram

Lake near the town where Gram lives

fun at the Scandinavian Festival

self explanatory

dinner with my aunt & uncle

I spent last week in Oregon visiting my grandma, and aunt & uncle. My mom, brother, brothers girlfriend, and I road tripped it and saw some gorgeous scenery along the way (mainly once you hit NorCal and Or.). It had been about 4 years since we'd been up there, and I really had forgotten just how gorgeous Oregon is. It's amazing, and I just forget since I really do live in a concrete jungle. We did lots of visiting, around-the-house chores for my grandma, LOTS of eating. Good grief, I never thought I would be so happy to get home and resume a normal eating schedule again. It was a last minute trip & unfortunately Ted and my dad couldn't make it. This was the first trip one of us has made without the other since we've been married. We've only been married about 7 months, but it was still weird. Ted just kept saying "I did live on my own before, you know." haha. We all survived, and I'm so glad we were able to make this trip. It's nice to get away and remember that things aren't all "go, go, go, & get out of my way" everywhere.

Just as a side note - we did stop in Redding, CA to spend the night on Monday and then hit the road early on Tuesday for the last 4-5 hours until we reached our destination. Well somehow my brother remembered this diner that we ate at on another trip up there that was like at least 13 years ago. I have NO idea how he remembered it, but he did and he was obsessed with stopping there for breakfast on Tuesday morning. We were driving through Shasta and saw the sign for it, it's called Black Bear Diner, and after checking out their website I realize they have LOTS of locations. The food was seriously amazing, great service, friendly people. If you're ever in the area I would highly recommend stopping. You won't be sorry.

homemade protein bars

Does anyone have a fabulous recipe for homemade protein bars? Apparently finding a decent recipe for these, that isn't alarmingly unhealthy, is close to impossible. I mean... if you're going to start off with a bunch of butter or cups of sugar... what's the point??

I did find this recipe and I think I'm going to give them a go. I'm a little wary of how much it's going to cost to buy everything because I don't already own any of the ingredients, but I really want to find a portable and tasty protein to eat for a quick breakfast or afternoon snack.

triple chocolate chip cookies

This recipe is inspired/spawned off of the recipe mentioned in this post.

1 stick of butter, melted
3/4 C packed brown sugar
3/4 C sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbls. brewed coffee
1/3 C cocoa powder
1 tsp. salt (fine)
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 C white chocolate chips
1/2 C chocolate chips (can use milk, dark, whatever you like)
2 C flour

This recipe basically follows the same method as the above referenced recipe also:

Melt butter (I melt mine right in the bowl I mix everything in). For my microwave it takes a stick of right-out-of-the-fridge butter 2 minutes on 50% power to melt fully. Mix in sugars & coffee. Beat in the eggs. Mix in vanilla. I now add the salt & baking soda. Mix in the cocoa powder. Now mix in the flour adding it in these additions - 1 C, 1/2 C, 1/2 C. I add it in these steps because sometimes the dough doesn't need 2 full cups, and sometimes it seems to need a touch more. Add and mix to your own discretion. To scoop out the dough I use a generous tablespoon scoop and bake at 375 for about 9 minutes. Again, baking time may vary oven to oven. I like my cookies soft & chewy.

I also mix all of this by hand with a wooden or large plastic spoon. I'm also a lazy measurer, and these always come out Yum-O. (I'm kind of a "that's close enough" measurer except when it comes to the leavening agent). I also always taste my batter before baking. If it doesn't taste good pre-bake, it's probably not going to taste good baked. E-coli & raw eggs be damned... you won't take my raw cookie dough from me. If you're super concerned or have a compromised immune system then you may want to switch over to pasteurized eggs (or just don't give it the pre-bake taste test - but that would be sad). Better safe then sorry, that's what I say! Except for eating raw cookie dough, safety be damned!

I hope you all try this recipe out. They come out so yummy. The only thing I would change, since I've only made them this way once, is next time I'll add more cocoa powder to really amp up the chocolate flavor. If you aren't a chocolate freak like me then the 1/3 cup will probably be fine, I just enjoy a really rich chocolate flavor.

Happy Eating!