Day 305 [Re-Organization]

I know it's Halloween and I wish I had a picture of a cute little goblin or a jack o latern, but alas, my 'baby' is 15 and we are no longer handing out candy. 

I gave up handing out candy 3 years ago when we started getting mostly rude middle/high schoolers and 4 grown ass adults...ADULTS trick or treating at our door!

One of those adults requested another for his 'sick kid at home' when he saw I handed out full size candy bars.  Uh, NO!  Seriously....seriously? 

That was it for me.

As a result I have bowed out of Halloween.

Today I spent some time moving the 'drink' glasses from one side of the kitchen to another.

I moved the mugs from this location to the cupboard above the coffee maker.

Don't know why I didn't do this ages ago!

Along with the 'drinking' glasses I also moved the hard alcohol there as well...we don't have much.

This is now our little mini bar....which will be put to good use on Friday! =)

Day 304 [FortyOne Candle Cupcake]

He's 41!

Seems like only yesterday we were in Vegas celebrating his big 4-0!!

We had dinner at my parents house to celebrate his and my niece's birthdays.

When we got home I pulled out the large cupcake I bought him and proceeded to see I could fit 41 candles on that thing. 

We had to pull out all the birthday candles we have, so I put the tall candles in the center and the small spiral candles on the outer rim of the cupcake.

We both lit it but it soon had huge flames and then the little candles were melting the taller candles causing them to fold over on themselves.

Didn't think that one over very well.

In the end, it provided amusement for us and will now be a lasting memory!

Happy Birthday to my sexy man!

Day 303 [Lemme Drop]

YUM!

Enjoying an evening cocktail tonight.

I recently renamed my favorite Lemon Drop a Lemme Drop! 

HA HA!

My friend Melissa introduced me to Stirrings mixers and glass rimmers last weekend.

I had to get me some and tonight I busted them out for a taste.

Day 302 [Wiggin' Out]

Last night was Bunco.

Mara, our fabulous hostess for the evening, planned it as a wig/hat bunco.

I bought myself a sassy wig, 'amped' up my makeup and had a GREAT time rollin the dice!

Bunco is always lots of fun, but the added element of wigs and hats made it even more fun!

I was chosen as winner for best wig!

YEAH ME! =)

I was gifted from Halloween shaped cookie cutters and halloween sprinkles.

Cookies will now be in order.

Thanks Mara...for a FUN night!

Day 301 [Angelic Face]

Oh the sweetness!

I spent the day with this little guy and his big sister.

They are a day full of fun!

I was kept on my toes, a smile on my face and wiped out by the end of the day.

Aaaah, youth!

You can't go wrong spending an afternoon with these two! 

Day 300 [Ugly-wet]

Having grown up just outside of Seattle, I'm used to the rain.

Not that I like it, but I'm used to it.

I am willing to run in the rain, but I'm NOT willing to run in this kind of rain!

For those of you not from around these parts, there are many 'types' of rain.

I will run in anything from mist to moderate rain.

On this day it was a steady rain.

Imagine your shower turned on....that was the kind of rain I am talking about.

Along with a good amount of wind and temps in the mid 40's.

Yeah, not running!

It's been a week at this point since my last run.

Girl's weekend and some other things keeping me busy on the other run nights.

I'm missing my run, but not enough to run in this ugly wet stuff!

No way, no how!

Day 299 [Burnt Popcorn]

Yesterday I left after the teenager got home from school.

I was heading out to take care of our friend's little ones for a few hours, so I left our teen some snacks on the counter.

One of those snacks being microwave popcorn.

He has recently decided he enjoys his popcorn slightly burnt...I don't get it, but he does.

My husband told me that he pulled into the garage from work when Bailey came out urgently calling him inside.  He cooked the popcorn too long and it was smoking!  He freaked out and thankfully Michel had gotten home when he did!  The house stunk to high heaven.  Burnt popcorn is the WORST!

The house still stinks! =(  Scented Candles seem to be the solution for the moment as it's far too chilly to open the windows.  We have also decided that there will be no more microwave popcorn while alone in the house for the teenager.  

Day 298 [Group Shot]

We usually do our group shot on Saturday.

We talked about it Friday, then again on Saturday, but for some reason, we never go around to it.

That left us with Sunday.

This was literally taken at the last moment of our girls weekend!

Our cars were loaded, the house was ready to be closed up, we snapped this picture then headed out.



Day 297 [Creative Space]

This is a portion of the table space and a representation of how the creative juices look on day two of a scrap weekend.  We all have different projects we work on during the weekend, but one thing we all do the same, make a mess!  

Day 296 [Mojito Girls]

While it may be more of a summer drink, Melissa and I rocked the Mojito on a fall afternoon!

It was a delicous break from the flowing creativity.



Day 295 [Weekend Getaway]

Taken on the ferry heading over to Whidbey Island, WA for a girls weekend of scrapbooking, eating, drinking, talking and laughing.

We picked up some dinner the Ivar's seafood bar at the ferry terminal prior to loading onto the ferry.

Being that I'm not a seafood fan and allergic to the only seafood I do enjoy, I was happy to see they had chicken and chips on their menu! =)

Day 294 [Take Me Too!]

Sorry for another blurry picture, but I couldn't resist!

I had another shot taken for today until I saw him, sitting in my partially packed suitcase, giving me the look of, 'take me too!'

Day 293 [Nerd Day]

My boy this morning.

It's Homecoming week at school and they have a different spirit day everyday this week.

Today is Nerd Day.

He's is the cutest nerd I have ever seen!

I know the picture is fuzzy.....that's what I get since I refuse to use my flash and the sun hasn't risen enough to provide me some better lighting.

Day 292 [Switcheroo]

After painting the baseboards today, I decided, when it came time to put the furniture back, to swtich things up a bit.  I must say, I'm enjoying the new feel of the space.

Day 291 [Firery Glow]

It's not easy to capture...the firery glow of these trees.

I tried, but failed.

In real life, in the morning light, they have an iridescenty almost see thru quality about them.

Simply Mother Nature at it's best.

I do love the look as we approach this intersection every time we leave our house.

I know it's fleeting...soon to be replaced with baren twigs until spring.

So I will marvel in it's beauty while it's here.

Day 290 [Truth and Honesty]

Cute...don't ya think?

If I'm being honest...this is NOT a picture from yesterday.

I failed!  My first time!

No photo was taken yesterday!

Rather then having an empty space in my album, I will fill it with this picture of my forever jack-o-lantern displayed in my garden window.

So there you have it...I'm not perfect but I am honest =)

Day 289 [Supply Gathering]

Next weekend marks an annual trip to scrap with my girlfriends.

I spent a good amount of this day going through my supplies and gathering up what I will need to make my creations with that weekend.

Looking forward to 3 nights away from it all, laughing and being silly with my friends, eating a bunch of crap food that I usually don't keep in the house and creating with like minded folks.

Bring it on!

Day 288 [Simple Pleasures]

Don't you just love simple pleasures?

I do!

One of the favorite simple pleasures in our house is freshly laundered sheets!

They are best when taken hot out of the dryer and put on the bed just before it's time to snuggle in for a good night's snooze!

What's your favorite simple pleasure?

Day 287 [The Green Hoodie]

For over a week we were on the hunt for the coveted lime green (current fav color) hoodie the teen boy really wanted.

He had found one at Zumiez that he really liked but it wasn't the right green.

I found one online at Hollister that was the perfect green.

He was not thrilled with the Hollister name blazed down the left sleeve but said he would 'deal' with it if I bought it.  He really wanted just a plain, lime green hoodie that was super soft.

The package arrived today and then he felt the softness of the hoodie he was over the hollister on the sleeve. 

He can be such a 'girl' when it comes to clothes.  Excitement abounds whenever I get him new threads.

Love to make him happy and suspect I will be sick of seeing this hoodie in no time at all.

Day 286 [Fall-ing Irritant]

ARGH!

These snail like looking pinecones are driving me NUTS!

They are falling from the way too tall tree planted near our front walkway.

When they get wet, then dry out, they leave a 'lovely' yellowish pollen like powder behind.

This, of course, gets all over our shoes when we walk through the mess of pinecones.

Thankfully I have not seen any evidence of said powder in the house!

It does leave a gross coating on the soles of our shoes though.

Today I took advantage of a beautiful fall day to sweep these up and yard bin them.

I'm hoping and praying that there are very few left on the tree to fall...but with my luck, I'll wake up in the morning with the walk looking like never swept any away.

Wish me good luck....please!

Day 285 [Three Hour Lunch]

I met with my friend Lisa today for lunch.

We dined at Maggiano's...delicious Italian food, in Bellevue.

Since we both love Maggiano's and neither of our families do, we thought this to be the perfect way to enjoy this most delicious food.

Don't you love it when you can sit down with a friend you haven't seen in a while, let the hours pass and the next thing you know it's been 3 hours, yet it's felt like one!? 

That's how it was with Lisa today.

So enjoyable to sit and talk.

Catch up on each other's lives, commiserate over parenting teenage boys and laugh.

She treated me to lunch (THANK YOU LISA!) for my upcoming birthday.

I was gifted the most delightfully scented vanilla cupcake candle.

Seriously, makes me want to eat it!

Along with it came a sweet card.

I'm hoping she'll be able to join us for my birthday celebration, but one of her boys has a 'mixer' that evening and is not sure she'll be able to make it.

This was a lovely way to celebrate, just in case.

So, call a friend you haven't seen in a while.

Invite them to lunch and catch up.

I promise...you'll have a good time!



Day 284 [Sudsy]

During my shower yesterday I noticed the sudsy bubble left behind on the bar of soap after I had washed.

I was fascinated by how it sat there, clinging to life while I shaved, rinsed my hair and turned off the water.  I dried off, got my camera and snapped a picture of this amazing sudsy bubble.

I must say, photographing bubbles....no easy feat!

Day 283 [Finger Icing]

Last weekend I attended a Silpada jewelry party at my friend's house.

I left the party with the purchase of a new pair of earrings and a fun new right hand ring.

My goodies arrived in the mail yesterday and I've happily spent the day wearing my new ring.

LOVE it! 

Day 282 [Oven Delights]

I fired up the good old kitchenaid today and got busy making some delightfully delicious cookies.

A carmel, double chocolate, cocoa krispies cookie.

Yummy!

Day 281 [Backyard Visitor]

I saw this little guy frolicking in my backyard.

I believe he's the new kitten of our neighbors behind us.

He's a curious and friendly little fella.

Our outdoor cat came along not too long after this in search of dinner.

While the cranky old bat was feasting on her dinner, this little one offered her no peace!

It was quite humorous watching the young try to engage the old.

Day 280 [Cute Boy Alert]

There's my cute boy!

I can finally see his face again after too long since his last hair cut.

Not only that, I told the hair sylist, short, emphasis on short!

I don't think Bay was too hip on the short part while he was in the chair, but by the time Ryan was down working his magic, Bailey had changed his mind and really loves his new locks.

I'm happy to see his face again!

Day 279 [Fall Decor]

In my kitchen window I have a few fall decor items.

The pumpkin candle holder I made at the ceramics shop with my Goddaughter.

I put a candle in it tonight and lit it up.

I love it!

So, because I love it, it's the picture of the day!

Day 278 [Learning Quest]

My husband is expanding his educational mind.

He went back to college on a very limited basis (one class per quarter) over a year ago.

His quest is to obtain a degree in Industrial Engineering.

In spring his proposed to the powers that be at his company a way for him to obtain his degree faster which will benefit them in the long run.

They agreed so he will now be spending the first half of his day at work doing his work thing.  After lunch he'll close his office door and do college course work the last half of his day.  This enables him to still be there should the need arise for him to address something on the business end, but his time will be devoted to school work that last half of the day, allowing him to take a full schedule of classes per quarter.

He is doing this via college online.  Today the first box of books and supplies arrived.

He's excited and ready to go!

If all goes well, in 14 months he will have his degree!

Day 277 [Love, Love, Love]

I love how the focus is on him.

HE is GREAT!

I LOVE HIM!

He works so hard for our family, does so much for us everyday.

It was a work weekend for him...he had to have the dreaded emergency pager, which was not kind to him last night.  After the third page at 2:30 am, I told him he's going to have to sleep on the couch if that thing continued to go off.  He had to get up anyway to deal with a driver who had a flat tire, so he took up camp on the couch in the family room the rest of the morning. 

He never did go back to sleep. =(

A nap, he did take, this afternoon.

I love him and all he does for us! 

Day 276 [Ceramic Creations]

A week ago I shared with you how I took my Goddaughter for our special day to paint ceramics.

Today I picked up our kiln dried creations.

These are the two she created and I think they are FANTASTIC!

I hope she loves them as much as I do!

They are SO cute and she did such an amazing job.

I can't wait to see her face when I deliver them to her tomorrow!

Day 275 [12 baby!]

It may not seem great to some, but for me, the girl that's been parked at size 14 for more years then I care to count, getting to that elusive 12 makes me HAPPY!  =D

I have been running in the evenings 3-4 times a week with my husband for about 6 weeks now. 

It's starting to pay off and I couldn't be happier.

My jeans I currently own have started to get a bit to loose, to the point I'm always pulling them up.

I decided to see about getting a new pair of jeans. 

I was optimistic about going down a size but never in a million years did I think it would be so 'easy'.

I'm really more of an in between 12-14 but the 12's fit well enough that I'm not oozing out of them and the 14's fit too well that after an hour or so they would be falling down.

I'm on the road to smaller sizes and a better health.

Can't complain about that!

Next stop....TEN! =)