9.29.2013

Sunday Sounds

Besides all the cheering we've been doing here at home and hearing on the television(Seattle Seahawks game AND Portland Timbers, YAHOO!) we've been in a Lost mood.  We are almost done with Season 2 and cannot wait to get in on Season 3.  This "Seashore" song from Lost Season 2 episode 19 lingers.  

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9.27.2013

Just a few things Friday

So, yeah, yesterday I got my first speeding ticket in 10 years.   $93.  Ouch. Washington State doesn't have driving school to "erase" your infraction from your driving record, but you can request a deferral.  I did that and fingers crossed I practice good driving behavior for the next 7 years (You can only request 1 deferral every 7 years).  Not a highlight to my day, but it is something I better remember.  And it is kind of funny that my Wordless Wednesday was a picture of slug and my title was "Taking it slow."  Um, not really leading by example, eh?  

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattes are helping me get over the fact that summer really is gone.  I was not looking forward to summer's end, but a cup o' pumpkin goodness sure helps.  A whipped cream topping helps too.



I finally finished knitting a little new baby gift for my friend's daughter. At least the cooler weather is snuggling up to my knitting crave.  What baby won't look cute in a hand knitted beanie and booties?  I found the beanie pattern here on Ravelry. The booties pattern I found here and ohmygosh it was the most simple and quick bootie pattern I've found yet. I changed the pattern up a bit to match the seed stitch in the beanie.  I hope the newest little female earthling likes purple.



You have to check out this video from Jimmy Fallon.  He, Stephen Merchant, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt square off in a lip sync battle.  It's so awesome.  JGL's last lip sync makes the video. He's such a little cutie.




And, tonight I FINALLY get to watch this:


I'm all kinds of excited! I hope Baz does me proud.  I loved his Romeo and Juliet.  

Happy Weekending, folks!



9.26.2013

This today

I'm feeling ever so grateful for my hubby and our talks.  We can be open and honest and talk about "scary" things like what is reality, does happy exist, falsehoods, ugly truths, beautiful truths, and so much more.  He continually makes me see things slightly different.  We dive deep and he holds my hand all the way down and back up again.


Grateful that I met you
And you accepted me
That I was good enough
And you loved me

That my work is honorable
And you see it
That my efforts are strong
And you know it

That I couldn't do more
And you believe
That I wouldn't do less
And you trust

My two cents
Are your two cents
And you love me
And I am grateful

- A.M.

9.23.2013

That moment you made my day and then immediately smashed my ego


I never thought I'd have to start wearing a t-shirt like the sign up above while shopping at Target.  Seriously.  When the heck did Mary Kay start soliciting innocent shoppers?  

There I was minding my own business trying to pick out some jam when I was accosted (okay, before I knew what she was selling it was more approached than accosted) by a middle-aged, caucasian woman with a very cute blonde bob and yesi'llsayit spiffy outfit.  She almost ran at me while sticking her hand out for a handshake.  I had nowhere to run.  She was so close to me I could smell her minty breath as she singsongily said that she saw me and had to let me know I was an "attractive" woman.  My ego immediately ate this up.  Her words made my friggin' morning!! I could have danced right there in the jam aisle.  But, then...

Because I was so "attractive" would I be willing to be part of her Mary Kay project?  Had I ever heard of Mary Kay?  Oh, how I would be her perfect face model!

As soon as I heard Mary Kay I knew I was being pitched a sale.  My heart sank a little because those compliments about my "attractiveness" were just the phony way she tried to lure me in to her pink blush-y, plumpupthevolume mascara-y web.  Oh, Ms. Mary Kay, move along because this chica ain't buying your BS. *sigh*  Getting rid of her took a few minutes because she wanted a piece of my soul.

What happened to the good ol' days when your friends or friend of a friend sold Mary Kay?  Now we have to watch our backs when we go out shopping.

9.15.2013

Sunday Sounds


My Sunday sounds a lot like Betty Who's "Somebody Loves You".  I'm loving those I'm with and I'm hoping they love me too. :)  Turn it up loud!!

9.13.2013

Just a few things Friday

As I drove to the market this morning the fog hung heavy.  Every so often I would catch a glimpse of a bright yellow leaf and even a few deep red ones.  Fall is definitely on its way.  Oh, it might still be 80 degrees outside, but Fall isn't waiting. And despite that heat I had a craving for soup.  My all-time favorite is broccoli cheese. I'm always looking for a great, simple recipe and I think I've found it!  This one was listed on HuffPost Taste, but it's from Campbell's Kitchen.  I made half the recipe which made about 2 full bowls.  I changed a few things to suit my taste. My changes are in parentheses.  The soup was exactly the kind of broccoli cheese soup I crave.



Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth  (I used beef broth)
1 10oz. package frozen broccoli, thawed and chopped (I used fresh broccoli)
2 cups nonfat milk  (I used 1% milk)
1 1/2 cups cheese  (I used shredded colby jack cheddar cheese)
(I used shredded carrot to garnish)


Directions
Heat the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook until it's tender.
Stir in the flour.  Add the broth and stir until the mixture is smooth.  Cook and stir until the mixture boils and thickens.  Add the broccoli and cook for 2 minutes.  Reduce the heat to low. Add the milk and cheese and cook, stirring until the cheese is melted.


I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

While eating my soup today I found the cutest fashion blog.  It's A Skirt A Day. Shey, the blogger, focuses on super sweet thrift store finds.  Her ensembles remind me of Chuck from Pushing Daisies. Love it! If you get some free time today, check her out.

And, yesterday I was able to watch my daughter's volleyball game. It's the second game of the season.  They lost *waaahhh* but I still had a fun time watching her and her team work together.  Those girls can hustle!  This is her very first year playing volleyball and I'm so proud of how hard she worked to make the team.  As much as I complain about rushing her and her brother here and there for different sports practices, I'm truly grateful that they stay active and enjoy team sports.  Tomorrow we are off to soccer.  They sure do keep me busy! 




9.12.2013

Practicing Gratitude


I thought I was a pretty grateful person. I took moments to reflect upon the things that brought me joy. I said Thank You and meant it. I tried to do little things for people to show them I was grateful to have them in my life. But, something was off. My moments of grateful reflection became quick and easily forgotten when people said or did something I didn't like. My Thank Yous waned. I began to harbor resentment for the little things I did because I felt the act wasn't being reciprocated... well, it was more like I felt people were expecting these little things and therefore didn't see them as something done especially for them. And then BAM. The ugly truth of my gratefulness hit me. 

Some of this time I wasn't really being grateful. Some of this time I was hoping my being grateful would make the people around me more grateful too which in turn would mean they would do things for me. My grateful mindset became twisted. Being grateful means being grateful and that's it. Thank you, hands, for helping me type up this post. That's grateful. Thank you, hands, for helping me type up this post and when you can't type tomorrow then you are faulty and bad. That's not grateful. I'm hoping a weekly gratitude practice will get me back on track... back on track to being grateful and truly appreciating the things in my life as they are. 

The Grateful List
1. The sun shining and making my outside adventures warm and bright 

2. My legs(although spider veiny and chubby-kneed) allowing me to walk here,     there, and almost everywhere

3. My hubby's goodbye-I'm-off-to-work kiss in the morning because to me it         means he loves me(and that we are having a non-argument day so far)

4. Yummy cheesy,tortellini leftovers in the fridge 

5. Not dwelling in what I'm doing wrong, but instead attempting to do               something different