Day 188

I can't believe my mom left town for the 4th of July weekend. And to think she traveled to Uncle Larry and Aunt Sue's...all by herself! I'm torn between being proud of her, and feeling abandoned on a holiday weekend. Well, at least she came home today. She texted to say she was on the road just before 9:00, and then that she was home at 1:00...no stopping! I'm glad she's back, I missed her!

Day 187

It's 100 degrees outside, and there is a rip-roaring fire up on Badger Mountain! Yikes.  God Bless the firefighters who get out there to put out fires, espeically on scorching days like today. Trina, Alyssa and I met for lunch at Shakey's, and as we were eating, I started seeing texts on my phone about call-in crews. Then, when we left the restaurant, we could see the smoke for miles...when we got to the house, I went out on the back steps and snapped a few pics.

Day 186

I'm so excited, I picked a day to have my very first Jewelry Bar! It's going to be next Saturday, I'm going to have it at home, and just invite my girls over. That way, I can 'practice' on them, and use it as a time to get to know the how and what of all things Origami Owl! I found the perfect colored plates, cups and napkins at Walmart today, along with a dish towel for who-knows-what. And don't forget that candle...you know the one that will scar me for life...literally!!

Day 185

Happy 4th of July! We celebrated with a BBQ over at Billie and Keith, with the Paden's, the Deines', and the Huminsky's. It was pretty low key, and a nice afternoon and evening.  As you can see, Kennedy got some much needed pool time...I think she's part fish!  KG and Minnie were pretty much the hit of the get together...two of our favorite girls!

Day 184

Alright, I know that picture of my bloody foot is less than desirable, but I just had to do it to tell the story. First of all, I'm so excited because today, I joined Origami Owl as a designer!!  Oh my gosh, I'm not sure what I've gotten myself into, but I'm super excited. Since going over to Trina's the other night, I've been tossing the idea around, and with Rob's full support, I jumped in today and signed up.

After work, I swung into Target for some stuff for tomorrow's 4th celebration and saw this darling, yummy, retro looking, Origami Owl colored Cotton Candy candle. So I purchased it along a cake mix.

Just after paying, I proceeded to drop my sack right at the check stand, onto the floor, where I heard the candle shatter. Unbeknownst to me, however, was the fact that it had landed half on the floor, half on my foot...not until I was walking to the back of the store to fetch another candle and the pain, and the wetness clued my numb brain into looking down to see blood oozing from my foot. OUCH!

What a klutz...and as Melanie would say...how embarrassing!!

Day 183

These are just too funny...I've seen them here and there over the last couple weeks, not really sure what the gist of it was.  So, when I saw the huge display at the store the other day, I brought a couple home, including one for Rob with his name on it...he had not seen these around, so it really took him by surprise to open the fridge and find a coke with his name on it. I, of course, couldn't find one with my name...so Matt it is!

Day 182

Got my second Origami Owl locket today! I'm so excited to have choices. Trina gave me my first locket, with the flower window plate, and the 'love' charm. Tonight she had a Jewelry Bar at her house, and I was able to pick up another locket with a white face, and a couple more charms! So excited I just love this stuff.

Day 181

Developing a Perpetually Positive Attitude. Doesn't that sound like something I need? It was 'suggested' that I take this online class by National Seminars, and I have to admit, it was a pretty good little class...well worth the one hour I spent listening to it today!

Day 180

Mmmm...lasagna roll ups! I saw the Pioneer Woman a couple weeks back, and it looked really good, and pretty easy...you can find her recipe here.  I decided to follow her concept, only using Mom's tried and true manicotti recipe.  These were delicious, but really, it probably would have been just as easy, or easier to just make lasagna and layer the noodles, instead of rolling each one up.

Day 179

We've been trying to get Lucy to warm up to her food, sprinkled with the new DinoVite, and she could just kind of give or take it. She's not much of an eater anyway. But we found the secret...wet the food and stir in the DinoVite, and tonight she's going to town like a little piggy!! I'm not sure how, since the smell and look of it is pretty nasty...but then again, I'm not a pooch.

Day 178

It's Fish Fry Friday...this time at Mom's house. She made fish, french fries and homemade Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits...yum! Thanks Mom!

Day 177

Just a couple of cutie patooties, begging for their new treats that came with their DinoVite! They love those beefy nuggets!

Day 176

We're home from McMenamin's and we brought home some loot. We had two different packages added to our room, the Romance Package, which gave us a bottle of champagne (along with two flutes, some chocolate truffles and some massage oil), and the Brewmaster's Package which gave us a growler full of beer.  We also brought home 4 more bottles of beer and a few bottles of wine for us and our nearest and dearest :).

Day 175

The McMenamin's Sampler...all gone! We each got one with our room package, along with a growler filled with whichever brew we decide is our favorite.

Day 174

Stopped to see the girls after work, but left them to spend the night with Mom while we head to McMenamin's in the morning. Lucy looked so sad as I went out the door...it's like she couldn't believe she didn't get to go home with me!

Day 173

A little retail therapy at Kohl's today...getting ready for the 4th of July with placemats and dish towels.  How cute are these?

Day 172

52 Pick Up has nothing on this! I dropped my entire box of Project Life cards. I'm not sure how many that is, but trust me, it's a lot. And it's two different kits, plus some seasonal and occasion mini packs I had all color coded and arranged just so. Blah! Putting this back together was not much fun.

Day 171

A couple of my favorite cars from Cool Desert Nights. Watched at the fire station again this year, with Mom, Uncle Larry, Aunt Sue and Caitlyn.

Day 170

Caityln finally got some pool time over at Mel's this afternoon. She had the whole pool to herself, to swim, float, dive and...well...whatever this maneuver was?!?

Day 169

Been hearing the commercial for this stuff for some time now. Rob convinced me to order some, and it finally arrived today. We'll see if it helps itchy Lucy and chubby Baylee!

Day 168

Well look who stopped by the office again today for a visit. It's Baby Dean! He's grown so much since the last time I saw him, getting to be such a big boy. He's pulling himself up on things, scooting all over the place. I'm sure he will be walking in no time! And he's still just the happiest boy...flirting with the ladies.  You don't realize just how much he's changing until you look at other pictures - like when he visited the office back in February. Hope his mom brings him in a little more often...every four months is just too long to go between visits!

Day 167

Rob bought the most beautiful bouquet of flowers for me, for our 2nd anniversary. With everything else that has been going on the last couple days, I am just now snapping a picture of them - but they are truly the prettiest flowers he has given me yet.

And to his credit, he remembered that my bouquet from our wedding had peonies in it, so he made sure the one he brought me this weekend had some too...and roses, and carnations, and beautiful big spider mums...all in varying hues of pink. Thanks Bean...and Happy Anniversary!

Day 166

Rob and I with Father Champoux for our Convalidation Ceremony - or our Marriage Blessing. It was a beautiful way to celebrate our second wedding anniversary...with family and friends this time!

Day 165

Here's the finished product. A dozen little glass jars wrapped with a navy blue bow for our BBQ after our Marriage Blessing.

It's going to be a really informal affair, but I thought about what I could do to add just a small touch of color and decor to the tables. I came up with the idea to do these short, squatty 1/2 pint canning jars. They are the perfect size to hold a tea light - which in this case happens to be citronella to ward off bees and bugs and such - it's a twofer! Mom, Billie and I were out shopping yesterday and I picked them up, and then today I added a sheer ribbon bow for a decorative touch...voila party decorations!

Day 164

Happy Birthday to our Sweet Lucy! She is seven years old today. And again this year, she got a bone cookie from Blylee's to celebrate her special day.

Unfortunately, she looks a little more scared than happy, but maybe that's just because, like the rest of us, we don't like having birthdays as much as we did when we were kids?!? Even this old girl has been touched by grey hair!  Or maybe it's because she thought she was in trouble, having to just sit still so I could snap her picture, when all she really wanted to do was tear into her birthday cookie!

Happy Birthday sweet girl. I hope we get to celebrate many, many more with you.

Day 163

Poor Rob. This is pretty much what dinner looks like for him most nights of the week. With him working swing shift, he doesn't get home until around 11:00 p.m. So most of the time he comes home to find whatever was for dinner, waiting for him in the microwave.

If I'm home and cook dinner, then he will usually find a plate made up for him. But if I happen to spend the evening with Mom, like tonight, he will find some containers filled with leftovers she has sent home for him. Tonight's menu? Pork loin, macaroni and cheese and green beans.

Day 162

This is Baylee the lurker.

As I've said before, Lucy likes to eat at bed time, after all of her 'pack' is in one place, and settled. Well, Baylee has a tendency to bully her way in, and take over Lucy's bowl. Sometimes she just won't take no for an answer and even gets sent to time-out while Lucy finishes eating.

Lately though, while Lucy eats Baylee refuses to get in her bed, but lies just outside of it instead. That way she has a bird's eye view that allows her to see when Lucy is finished, and then she can come sniffing around for crumbs.  So this seems to be the compromise we have worked out...her lurking at the end of the bed...all innocent like, when we all know she is anything but!

Day 161

Oh Baylee Girl. You are so silly. I wanted to take a picture of her before bed, but she was being camera shy! Hard as I tried, it was like she just knew I wanted to take her picture and she insisted on looking away.  Well, her head was turned away, but she was giving a bit of a beady eye in my general direction - as if to say...I see you over there Mom, and I want no part of it.

Looks like she was photo bombed my Lucy's two front paws!

Day 160

The Brady's are home...the Brady's are home! The thing is, they are all here, but Pat was the only one who would let me take his picture.

They flew in pretty late last night, and swung by Mom's just to pick up a couple essentials...like fans. And now tonight, they are back over to Mom's to pick up another essential item for their stay here in town...a coffee pot! A must have for sure...fans for sleeping, coffee for rising!

Tonight was just a quick hello, hopefully we'll be seeing them more while they are here.

Day 159

It's a slow Sunday. Not much going on. For lack of anything better or more interesting, I thought I would share one more Fourth of July decoration.

This sweet little bunny was another of my full time decorations back when my house was done in the Americana motif. She's one of things that survived the transition, and I'm thankful, because I like to bring her back out year after year.

Day 158

And on to more fun Anniversary / Vows Renewal / Convalidation Ceremony details.  Today I went to Desserts by Kelly and ordered the cake. I soooo wanted a really nice cake. Let's just be honest, it's the wedding cake I never had.

I found a cake I really liked on Kelly's webpage and so I went in to order one just like it. The one pictured was a three-layer cake, so I cut it back to just one (rather large 12"!), but kept the look basically the same. I chose a lemon cake, with lemon filling, and a white chocolate buttercream frosting. I also ordered a dozen of her petit fours - which are almondy and delicious! I'm so excited - I think it's going to be my favorite part of the gathering afterwards.

And just to get a little preview, and because I was there amongst all of her delightful goodies, I brought home a couple petit fours and this little lemon bundt for Rob and I to share. If this little bundt is any indication how our cake is going to taste - it's going to be one tasty cake!

Day 157

It's all about the bride, right? Since I found my dress yesterday, I decided to use it as inspiration for our theme for the day...I'm going with navy and white. Today after work I stopped at the Hobby Lobby and picked up all the paper products we will need...dinner plates, cake plates, napkins, cups and table covers.

There is only a hand full of people coming to our blessing and our gathering after, so there is far too much stuff here, I know that - more than we will ever need. But my idea is to to be able to stack everything in a blue-white-blue-white pattern, so I needed a package of each thing, in each color.

Finding something to wear was the tough part...putting all of these other details together is the fun part...I'm getting excited and my wheels are turning now!!

Day 156

So here it is. I found a dress for our Marriage Blessing. It's been the thing I've been most nervous about since Rob and I actually decided we were going to do it. Anyone who knows anything about me knows I'm not a dress kind of girl...I can stretch out of my comfort zone to a skirt and top, but dresses are usually out of the questions.

I wanted to try though...I wanted to find a nice, but yet kind of summery dress - not a wedding dress, obviously, but just a nice dress. I was just about to resort to slacks and a blouse - much to Rob's dissatisfaction, when I found this today at Macy's on my lunch hour. Score!  It's just a simple, sleek tank dress with a very wide lace accent down the front, paired with an angled, open sweater. It's probably a little shorter than I would have liked, but those maxi skirts just don't work on me. So, voila...just like that I'm ready...as soon as I find shoes!!

Day 155

A couple months back I was having a casual conversation with Tom. I was telling him how Rob and I have been wanting to have our marriage blessed in the church, but I that didn't want two different 'wedding dates'. And, unfortunately, this year our anniversary is going to fall on a Sunday. And Tom, ever the positive and optimist, said - that's NO PROBLEM.

Rob called the church and inquired, and found out that it really was no problem. So on May 1st, we met with Father Champoux to get all of our paperwork in order, and to put ourselves down for a Convalidation Ceremony at church on our second anniversary, June 15th! We both are very excited, and we want to keep it relatively small, but we want to make a bit of a to do of it at the same time. We have been tossing around ideas, and I think we've narrowed it down to the ceremony at the church, followed by a BBQ gathering over at Mom's in her backyard with a few friends and family.

Rob is a pretty easy going guy when it comes to things like this...he just rolls with the punches, just like he did with our actual wedding. But there was one thing he took a stand on. For the ceremony, he wanted me to have the anniversary band that I had wanted on our 1st anniversary, but unfortunately, we were too broke at the time to buy. He said he wanted to be able to slip something new on my finger, in commemoration of our renewed commitment to each other. I argued with him a little, said I didn't need it, etc., but he was pretty stubborn on this point.

So yesterday, I went out and got a match to my wedding band. Would you believe they had one...two years later...in stock??  And would you believe it had almost doubled in price from three years ago, when we picked them out...BUT, it was going on sale today?? What are the odds? So I made the purchase last night, and then was able to pick it up tonight after work. It will just create a sandwich of my engagement ring - wedding band on the bottom, anniversary band on the top. The only problem is that the ring is not in my size, and sending it off for sizing would take three weeks! And we don't have three weeks to wait, so Rob will be putting the ring on as best as he can, in a ceremonious way, rather than actually getting it onto my chubby little finger!

Day 154

Okay, so I realize the picture is a little odd looking. I was trying to show my latest dessert or snack of choice. This is a Weight Watchers Peanut Butter and Caramel Ice Cream Candy Bar.

What all those words really mean...a frozen Snickers! I swear these taste just like them, but only not so bad for you. In the world of WW, only 4 points...that's pretty darn good for a dessert treat. Tonight, I climbed onto my bed, unwrapped one, and enjoyed!

Day 153

It was 9:30 tonight, the pups and I were on our way home from Mom's house...and it felt warm! Chelsea the Charger said it was still 82° in fact. Summer is surely just around the corner. Can't wait for those hot days, and warm nights...all the time!

Day 152

Check this out! Another plate of fun pre-summer grilling...this time at over at Mom's.

I had taken out some chicken thighs for dinner tonight, and was going to grill them, along with some corn on the cob and baby red potatoes. I ended up packing up all of my dinner fixin's, and heading over to Mom's. I grilled everything up at her place, baked some cornbread muffins, and she supplied the freshly made, delicious green salad.  We even ate outside on the patio.  Wow, did it turn out to be an incredible Sunday dinner!

Day 151

This is what I spent most of my Saturday doing. Giving our guest bath a bit of a face lift.

I had been wanting to get rid of the dragonfly themed stuff for some time now. I mean I put it in there when I moved in 10 years ago! I finally settled on wanting to do a gray/yellow theme to both the bath and the guest bedroom. I have yet to find the perfect set for the bedroom, but found this Spring Garden shower curtain and towels for the bathroom at Kohl's a couple weeks back.

I've been picking up the pieces, parts and accessories since, and finally felt I had enough to put it all together. So I spent the day tearing down the old, scrubbing the bathroom from top to bottom, and then putting up the cheery new stuff. I think it looks awesome. Rob seemed to like it so much, he was a bit disappointed it was for the guest bathroom and not ours!

Day 150

Last Friday I got a wild hair and decided to jump on the Weight Watchers band wagon again. I guess it's not really a wild hair, because I've been thinking I need to do something for some time now.  WW worked SO well for me a couple years ago, I thought I should give it a try again. Just seems so discouraging to be right back where I started, but the encouraging part is that I did it once, so now I know I can do it again! So I did my level best, and it paid off. I lost 6.2 pounds this first week! That's a good motivator to keep up the good work!

Day 149

Tonight was Mexican dinner night.  But it wasn't tacos, or fajitas, or even carne asada - it was more like a taco salad / nacho combo kind of thing - made with some of those fresh ingredients I picked up at the markets on Saturday.

I made up taco meat, pico de gallo and guacamole, and shredded some cheese. Then I got out the fresh spinach I got at the farmer's market, and homemade tortilla chips I picked up at the Fiesta market. It was a layer of chips, a layer of spinach and then meat and cheese. All of that topped with pico, gauc and sour cream.  A pretty yummy concoction Rob came up with some time back.

Day 148

It's one of my latest obsessions. I can't seem to stop playing Farm Heroes Saga. First it was Candy Crush, and now this. Here I am tonight on Level 61.

As I was lying in bed tonight, playing yet another round of 5 lives, I was thinking how I am starting to get a bit addicted.  I'm sure it will pass though...and I will be on to the next craze soon. I seem to have the attention span of a gnat!

Day 147

I ended up working yesterday, Memorial Day, so that I could take today off instead.  Why? Because Rob and I needed to drive to Ellensburg and pick up our new car this morning. And there she is...she's officially ours. Home in our driveway and everything.

I ended up working with the dealership, University Auto Center, back and forth on Friday. First I worked with the salesman on the price, then I worked with the financing gal on a down payment, monthly payment amount and getting a loan. By closing time Friday we had all the details worked out, only problem was the dealership was going to close for the three-day weekend. I was bummed, but we ended up putting $500 down to hold our car, and arranged to be there at 11:00 a.m. today to sign papers and pick her up.

We ended up arriving a little early, so we took her out for a test drive. By the time we got back, they were ready for us - and I mean ready. We were out of the dealership by 11:30!  I would highly advise buying a car on the internet and/or phone. It really is the only way to go. No wheeling and dealing, no haggling - the bottom line is already worked out. And it was a pleasure working with the folks at UAC - they really did make things easy!

Day 146

Candles = Instant Romance.  Believe it or not, Rob and I can be a bit of a romantic couple...sometimes anyway. Tonight, in an effort to be a bit romantic, I lit a couple candles in our bedroom window sill, so that when he got home from work after a long day, there would be a nice soft glow in our room. He has done the same for me on occasion - and I think it's a nice gesture, and I wanted to return the favor.

Day 145

Here's a sneak peek of what I did today. I put out all of my Fourth of July stuff in preparation for Memorial Day. Two years ago I did this too...had my patriotic stuff out from Memorial Day to July 4th. It's kind of like my summer decor I guess - and what's better than decorating with the old USA??

I wanted to post something I hadn't already in 4th of July's past - so here's a cute little tin Uncle Sam hat. It's actually a lantern of sorts. The top of the hat opens so you can put a candle down inside and then there are punched out stars and slits for the glow to shine through. It's a fun little piece leftover from when my whole house was decorated in Americana.

Happy Memorial Day!

Day 144

This morning Mom and I made a trip to the Farmer's Market. It opened at the beginning of the month, but this was my first trip. There's not a whole lot of produce out just yet, but there were a few things I picked up, like asparagus...yum!

We also made a stop in at the Fiesta grocery store - I've always wanted to check it out, but have never stopped.  We picked up a few more things there - like giant jalapenos, and cilantro! Can't wait to get to eatin' my fresh food finds...one of the best parts of summer!

Day 143

My friend Trina started selling Origami Owl jewelry at the beginning of the month. I had heard of the stuff, but was pretty unfamiliar. We met for lunch last week and she was wearing some of the stuff - a necklace, a couple bracelets and earrings. Let me tell you, in person I just fell in love with the stuff...so much so I couldn't even decide where to start, so I started with a gift. And it came today!!

It's a gift for my niece Rachel who is graduating in a couple weeks. It's a charm bracelet with a locket, and inside it has her initial 'R' and a grad cap. Then I also added a tag that says Class of 2014 on the front, and on the back it says, 'Wherever you go, go with all your heart'. I think it is so cute, I hope she loves it too. And the best part is the packaging...it comes inside a cloth fortune cookie, then inside a cute little take-out box. Ingenious!

Day 142

Well, I think we found her...and ain't she a beauty?? I think we've settled on a new car - a Jeep Patriot, and I think this very pretty Deep Cherry Red one I found in Ellensburg just might be her!

Rob and I went and test drove a used Toyota 4-Runner on Tuesday when I was off with my bad eye. The more we started to discuss it, for the money we are wanting to put into a vehicle, we both would really have a new car, than a six or eight year old car. So I started to look at what we could get in our price range, and Rob thought about a Jeep Liberty like Billie's, but they don't make them anymore. But we stumbled across these Patriots and we both like them. We took a look at a couple on a local car lot, but they were very basic models...so I hit the internet. And today, I found a couple possibilities, including this little gem - so I took a screen shot on my phone to text to Rob, and he's good with it too. I'm really feeling good and am hoping this might be the one...stay tuned!

Day 141

Pictured here is my inheritance from my little Granny who passed away almost two months ago now. Fruit cups...and a cashier's check. Kind of silly, but I'm sure every time I eat a fruit cup, I will think of her now.

Tonight Rob and I met Mark and Angie at Hacienda del Sol. They wanted to take us out to dinner and give us the check for my share (actually one half of my dad's share  - split with my brother, to be more specific) of Granny's estate, now that everything has settled. Part of the humor is that when we had the reading of Granny's will right after she passed, all of the grandkids received a photo of Granny, a package of fruit cups, and a check. The story is, when Mark cleaned out Granny's little apartment, there were so many fruit cups that they made them part of our 'inheritance'. So tonight, Mark and Angie brought along yet another pack of fruit cups, courtesy of Granny.