to say the last couple of weeks have been huge is just the tip of the iceberg. i kind of don't know where to start. over the last let's say just under a year, i have re-kindled a lost friendship. a friendship that was probably the most profound of my life, so far. never had i ever felt so connected to someone, a peer who was my equal, in every way shape and form, until he was not. he ruined our friendship almost beyond repair. almost. that happened about 6 years ago now. and only now are we able to possibly regain some of what we have lost. we chatted yesterday, it was not the first time since, but it is the beginning. i haven't laughed that hard in years. i have great hope for us. great hope indeed.
the by-product of this, involves another unexpected surprise. although it hasn't happened yet, i will most likely have the oportunity to build a relationship with my god-daughter. she is, like a grown-up now, and will be attending state his fall. i guess we shall see.
speaking of friends...i have another friend that just checked himself into re-hab, last week. hard core lock-down, the whole thing. whoa. huge stuff happening. i never thought those words would come out of my mouth. ever. and i never would have guessed this friend in particular, for sure. i will not hear from him for about 3 months. i'm not worried (well i am of course) but i know this will give him his life back. it will be a happy thanksgiving.
in the meantime, i have made a few new friends. i think it is interesting making new friends. how much do you put out there right away. i love recognizing the way people click, or don't in the beginning. i already know i have made at last one friend that will last through the years.
i'm so lucky to have great friends, and that i make friends easily. when you walk around with love it reaps the greatest rewards. living with an open heart may hurt sometimes, but the rewards and results are worth it and in my opinion, unparalleled.
a few weekends ago, i finally got the opportunity to meet the family of one of my nearest and dearest friends. it was a great moment. i was a little emotional. the results of which probably deserve their own post, so more on this another day.
i have started with a personal trainer. at first it was great, then i am sure she was trying to kill me. jk. so we had a heart to heart and now it is good again. let's hope we stay on the same page. today was a get stuff done around the house day so i skipped the gym this morning. tonight after finishing up, i was settling in for some down time....and decided to get off my butt, and go to the gym...at NINE o'clock at night!! I have never done THAT before. before i would have washed my face and jammied up. now as a result i am wide awake at 11:30. i gotta go to bed...oh well...i am hitting the hay immediately after this post.
this post doesn't even tip the glacier of thoughts and growth that has come as the result. i love when i recognize the growth, when i am fully IN the moment. lately i have been in the moment. there is such joy there. pain to of course, but wow, living spherically...simply amazing.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
what comes around goes around
the week of April 25th- May 3 i had an amazing week. first of all i took a week off. whaaa hoo!that does not happen often. it was so lovely. even more lovely were the events that transpired during that week.i was lucky enough to have the had the chance to catch up with 2 very old friends, thanks to the magic of facebook. back in November i had connected with my friend Steph, i was ecstatic to say the least when i found him. i had been looking for him for a long time. i am pretty sure i burst into tears when i did. a couple of months ago, Steph found out he was going to be here, he emailed me to see if i wanted to get together for coffee or the like. i responded with a resounding YES. Steph came out for the week of April 25- May 1.
in the meantime... another friend from college, Amy found ME on facebook. after 17 years we fell into the same easiness our friendship had always had. we still had a lot in common and this time our love of scrapbooking connected us in person. it just so happened that the scrapbook expo was in San Diego May 1 and 2nd, and Amy had wanted to go to one. so she made plans and came out to play. April 30- May 3rd.
now the extra super cool thing is that Amy and Steph knew each other in collge to. what they did not know was they were both going to be here at the same time. so i planned to have a surprise for Amy. i didn't think i could have kept the secret that Amy was coming out from Steph since he came here first, it would have been harder to surprise him. so i decided to see if Steph wanted to come with me to pick up Amy and surprise her! he was on -board. yay there is nothing like a good plan.
so Steph came out, and we had planned a little bit of time together. we ended up driving up to Idyllwild, on Monday. it was a great drive and we got to catch up a lot. and unfortunately, Steph injured himself the day before that and was unable to practice yoga. it was good news for me because i got to spend a little more time with him. we got to play San Diego tourist, and i love being a tourist in my own city! Wednesday we hung out in Balboa Park, had sushi at the Fish Market, and talked a lot.
Tuesday i got a rare day to myself. i got up early but stayed in my jammies until 11! i got a reflexology massage, and my hair done. then i had my team fitness challenge at the y. it was a good day.
Thursday was the big day. Amy came! the surprise could not have worked better. it was great. Amy was so funny, she hung up the phone on someone she was talking to the minute she saw Steph. it was classic. it was perfect.
after we fetched Amy from the airport we went straight downtown to catch the last harbor tour on Hornblower. we completely missed the narration, i let Steph and Amy get through everything Steph and o got through in the previous days. i had my Steph time, i would get my Amy time. that time was for them. after the tour, we headed to my place to drop off Amy's stuff. we headed out to Filipi's classic San Diego. before getting in the car Amy noticed an open art studio above the parking lot. Pecoff Studios! OMG no way! Grant Pecoff Studio. If you are not familiar...check it out... http://pecoff.com/ i love his work. i first saw it at The Mission a few months back, and fell in love with it straight away. we went up for a visit. it was divine intervention, i am sure. such a thrill. we got to meet Grant and his wife Layne, and the lovely Jessica. we spent some time there (me mostly open jawed) i was in bliss. chatted artist to artist. Amy is a graphic artist, Steph is a fine artist. i am the equivalent of singing in the shower- basically for my eyes only and the occasional gift. : ) that was such a fun surprise for me... after that great encounter, we headed off to Extraordinaire Desserts. yumm.
but alas all good things have to end, and we took Steph back to Carlsbad, and said our sad farewells. hopefully it will not be another 16 years before we meet again.
now onto Amy's visit! Amy and i had a great time catching up on her life filled with kids and craziness. she brought tons of scrapbooks for show and tell. and we stayed up late all nights being girls. it was a slumber party like grade school. ok not exactly like grade school, instead of mid-night refrigerator raids we played with scrapbooking toys. it was still bliss.
again the time had gone to fast and it was time to take Amy to the airport. ugh, i debated not doing that but i am sure Amy's husband would have come knocking if i did not. still it might have bought me a day or two more.
after Amy left i had a few short hours before i had to head up to Orange County for a surprise birthday party. it was a great time. good food and friends. a nice finish to the week. i was needless to say- EXHAUSTED! i had a sore throat every night from talking to much! so much fun so little time.
i met Amy and Steph almost exactly 20 years ago to the day they visited. it was a life-time ago. i have new life now. actually i have had a few "new life's" in between. what goes around does come around. people do get a chance to catch up if they stay open, and pay attention. that is the stuff of life. staying open and paying attention.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
another good one
never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
yesterday...
i don't even know where to start...last week, last month, last year it is all gone. almost everything about it, is all gone. time heals everything they say and i suppose it is true. although the scars are fresh, i can see they are no longer active wounds. and i am grateful for the recognition.
i have done a lot of counting my blessings lately, and the one thing i keep coming back to is my ability to love, really love. i hold nothing back. i give all heart and soul. i never thought of it as a blessing. now i see it is the biggest blessing. i don't think i got it until just yesterday.
a great friend once told me "what blesses one blesses all" and that has been a mantra of mine.
i realize in order for something to be a gift it has to also be received. someone may have a beautiful voice but if they do not sing and it is not enjoyed it may be a gift, but the best part of it it lost.
i am so lucky that i have a gift and that i am not afraid to give it away. i am grateful that the people i choose to give it also choose to receive it. after all that is the whole point. i am open and trusting and loving. though it may hurt, indeed sometimes it hurts so bad that for a little while, as anyone would, i think never again. then time passes and i realize that is just not me. it is not in me , it goes against the very fiber of my being. i may not take risks in a conventional way. i don't drink, or smoke or do drugs. but i risk my heart every time. i know it will heal, i TRUST it will heal.
this last time, i risked my heart and it nearly killed me and truly a part of me did die. but i didn't, i still have everything i had before and truly more.
thank you to all of my friends who got me through. granted i still have a ways to go. i have been so fortunate to have friends that can open up to me and tell me their heart. good or bad. in all honesty i would not settle for anything less, and i would not do them the disservice. i KNOW everyone knows how much i love them. i have peace in that. i have peace in that.
i have done a lot of counting my blessings lately, and the one thing i keep coming back to is my ability to love, really love. i hold nothing back. i give all heart and soul. i never thought of it as a blessing. now i see it is the biggest blessing. i don't think i got it until just yesterday.
a great friend once told me "what blesses one blesses all" and that has been a mantra of mine.
i realize in order for something to be a gift it has to also be received. someone may have a beautiful voice but if they do not sing and it is not enjoyed it may be a gift, but the best part of it it lost.
i am so lucky that i have a gift and that i am not afraid to give it away. i am grateful that the people i choose to give it also choose to receive it. after all that is the whole point. i am open and trusting and loving. though it may hurt, indeed sometimes it hurts so bad that for a little while, as anyone would, i think never again. then time passes and i realize that is just not me. it is not in me , it goes against the very fiber of my being. i may not take risks in a conventional way. i don't drink, or smoke or do drugs. but i risk my heart every time. i know it will heal, i TRUST it will heal.
this last time, i risked my heart and it nearly killed me and truly a part of me did die. but i didn't, i still have everything i had before and truly more.
thank you to all of my friends who got me through. granted i still have a ways to go. i have been so fortunate to have friends that can open up to me and tell me their heart. good or bad. in all honesty i would not settle for anything less, and i would not do them the disservice. i KNOW everyone knows how much i love them. i have peace in that. i have peace in that.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
where was this quote when i needed it
The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.-Maureen Dowd
scrapbooking and the dalai lama
i have had a blog in my favorites for some time now...i do not know how it came to me..or why i chose to look at it for more than 5 seconds today...but i did and i have fallen in love with it...
http://www.scrapbookingfromtheinsideout.blogspot.com/
i am an avid scrapbooker...i love it...it is in fact my secret simple pleasure, along with sweet pink champagne and make- up....that being said however i sometimes i feel my life's day to day does not shall we say merit a layout to document...i am not a mom...no babies on the way...no soccer games or ballet recitals to attend...so sometimes it takes a back seat for lack of material worthy of it...vacations, special events, visits from friends, my niece, etc. that is until now.
i have always admired pages of artists that scrapbook simply for the joy of it! whether it is about their love of diet coke, or a fallen leaf it seems not to matter . they turn out beautiful work and they inspire me. well scrapbooking from the inside out is right up my alley. i am all about words and feelings, healing, quotes, healing quotes...i am not sure i will subscribe to her kits just yet, but i have made a new intention and that is to take her word and scrapbook about it. she has many ideas on how to get started, design team samples (we love those) and a myriad of insightful quotes to get your juices flowing...February is COMPASSION...i cannot even tell you how that is so perfect for my life right now. i cannot even tell you how many ties last week i used that word and thought about that word.
you know i love the dalai lama and so i love her (Rachel) first quote for inspiration
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. The Dalai Lama
and i will leave it at that.
http://www.scrapbookingfromtheinsideout.blogspot.com/
i am an avid scrapbooker...i love it...it is in fact my secret simple pleasure, along with sweet pink champagne and make- up....that being said however i sometimes i feel my life's day to day does not shall we say merit a layout to document...i am not a mom...no babies on the way...no soccer games or ballet recitals to attend...so sometimes it takes a back seat for lack of material worthy of it...vacations, special events, visits from friends, my niece, etc. that is until now.
i have always admired pages of artists that scrapbook simply for the joy of it! whether it is about their love of diet coke, or a fallen leaf it seems not to matter . they turn out beautiful work and they inspire me. well scrapbooking from the inside out is right up my alley. i am all about words and feelings, healing, quotes, healing quotes...i am not sure i will subscribe to her kits just yet, but i have made a new intention and that is to take her word and scrapbook about it. she has many ideas on how to get started, design team samples (we love those) and a myriad of insightful quotes to get your juices flowing...February is COMPASSION...i cannot even tell you how that is so perfect for my life right now. i cannot even tell you how many ties last week i used that word and thought about that word.
you know i love the dalai lama and so i love her (Rachel) first quote for inspiration
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. The Dalai Lama
and i will leave it at that.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
sinead o'connor and my mid life crisis
it all started back in 1988 ...flash to watery screen change and bring into focus a 19 girl with a partially shaved head, and huge earrings.
here is my letter to the person who influenced me the most that year...the letter i have finally perfected these 21 years later, just kidding, i wrote it this morning...
hi Chris...i am just checking...i cannot seem to find my Sinead O'Connor cd. i am wondering if i left it at your house? now that i think about it it could be that it slipped out of my purse. i swear it was right there next to my keys. maybe i forgot to grab it?
in all reality it should be filed neatly in my drawer between, "simply red" and the soundtrack to "some kind of wonderful" but it is not. i suppose it could have been lost in the approximately, 18 moves i have made since i lived in Chicago. have you by any chance seen it? angry, Irish, shaved headed, adorable girl with tattoos, on the cover?
if not don't worry, i will just order it on amazon, or download it to my itunes with the gift cards i got for Christmas and my birthday last year.
OK i have no idea why this came up and is so important for me to have it right this minute! i heard her on the radio yesterday and WHOA did it take me back...so i googled you!
i suppose i am just doing what all women do when they turn 40 right, google their past? my guess is that most do this to find plastic surgeons, personally i have held up quite well and on occasions am still carded when i go out. no, not for me...but i do have this increasing need to tell everyone who has had a positive impact on my life, how much they mean/meant to me (like I am dying or something! which p.s. i am not) and a small part of me still wants to BE Sinead O'Connor, but this time i could not shave my head...i mean c'mon...although i consider donating it to "locks of love" a lot.
anyway, the point is, and i do have one, i googled you. i found you and here is my confession...you have made such a positive impression on me and my life in ways you might never know if not for this revelation. if you want to know more, here is my email...if not and you are ok with the quiet understanding that you just never know how you effect people and their life by even the smallest of gestures, then know this...it is true.
the most important thing is that you look well. it seems you followed your heart and i am happy to see it. unless you had another dream i am not aware of, then what are you waiting for...life is short! and i swear i am not dying!
much love,
kristie
here is my letter to the person who influenced me the most that year...the letter i have finally perfected these 21 years later, just kidding, i wrote it this morning...
hi Chris...i am just checking...i cannot seem to find my Sinead O'Connor cd. i am wondering if i left it at your house? now that i think about it it could be that it slipped out of my purse. i swear it was right there next to my keys. maybe i forgot to grab it?
in all reality it should be filed neatly in my drawer between, "simply red" and the soundtrack to "some kind of wonderful" but it is not. i suppose it could have been lost in the approximately, 18 moves i have made since i lived in Chicago. have you by any chance seen it? angry, Irish, shaved headed, adorable girl with tattoos, on the cover?
if not don't worry, i will just order it on amazon, or download it to my itunes with the gift cards i got for Christmas and my birthday last year.
OK i have no idea why this came up and is so important for me to have it right this minute! i heard her on the radio yesterday and WHOA did it take me back...so i googled you!
i suppose i am just doing what all women do when they turn 40 right, google their past? my guess is that most do this to find plastic surgeons, personally i have held up quite well and on occasions am still carded when i go out. no, not for me...but i do have this increasing need to tell everyone who has had a positive impact on my life, how much they mean/meant to me (like I am dying or something! which p.s. i am not) and a small part of me still wants to BE Sinead O'Connor, but this time i could not shave my head...i mean c'mon...although i consider donating it to "locks of love" a lot.
anyway, the point is, and i do have one, i googled you. i found you and here is my confession...you have made such a positive impression on me and my life in ways you might never know if not for this revelation. if you want to know more, here is my email...if not and you are ok with the quiet understanding that you just never know how you effect people and their life by even the smallest of gestures, then know this...it is true.
the most important thing is that you look well. it seems you followed your heart and i am happy to see it. unless you had another dream i am not aware of, then what are you waiting for...life is short! and i swear i am not dying!
much love,
kristie
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
it is a new day!
wow it is certainly a new day...i am watching Barack Obama give his speech to the nation. isn't he the most eloquent? uh...it just makes me proud to be an American . it is a new day for me to.
for me this last weekend was a weekend of gain. i gained a lot of closure, and gained a lot of self confidence, confidence i once had, and lost. i have also gained new perspective. it is a new day.
now that i have gained some very valuable things...is is time and important to do some shedding. shed some weight, that is and i have a plan. i am intending to loose 17 lbs, by loosing 1 lb a week.
sometime in mid may, it will be another new day...
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Ch-ch-ch-changes
life is interesting isn't it? taking turns you never even expected. as it happens my life took a turn that i never thought it would and now EVERYTHING is different than before. looks like i have some healing to do. so far i am doing well for the most part. keeping busy is key, working out, even better. thinking of taking up bike riding. maybe it will help me get back on the road my life is on...in the meantime...
i am so happy the holidays are over. starting with the dog that ate my birthday cake on thanksgiving day it was sucky the whole way through. i am glad it is over.
onto the new year and OMG a new president. can you just believe it? thinking about it makes me cry. well actually almost everything makes me cry lately, but especially Barack Obama!
i am so happy the holidays are over. starting with the dog that ate my birthday cake on thanksgiving day it was sucky the whole way through. i am glad it is over.
onto the new year and OMG a new president. can you just believe it? thinking about it makes me cry. well actually almost everything makes me cry lately, but especially Barack Obama!
Monday, August 11, 2008
How to Make a Fairy Garden
Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to Summers Past Farm http://summerspastfarms.com/ with my friend Vanessa. I have to say, I am so happy to have finally gotten together with her! It has been a while and we always have such a good time together, which of course we did! We walked around the gift shop, had some coffee and yummies, walked the nursery (a little) smelled lots of soap, pet the kitties and dreamed of fairy gardening.
Thinking about it just wasn't enough I guess, and it was all over for me when my lovely friend bought me the cutest ever gardening accessories...
http://summerspastfarms.com/fairygardens.htm I had no choice but to go all out and create my own Pixie Paradise. And here is how it went...First I added the bench, a fairy needs a place to rest after all of that flying! Then I got the birdhouse and the beehive, I mean excuse me, is there anything more adorable? And what fairy garden would be complete without an actual fairy?? After much deliberation, I finally settled on The Marigold Fairy, we'll call her Mary...
After we left, thoughts of where to and how to create this were buzzing my brain. In the shop they had a cute layout in a birdbath.
I thought I could create something from a shallow planter of some kind and was anxious to get to home depot. Just as that thought settled, we passed a "statue place" (right next door). I flipped a "u", and stopped in. Much to my happiness, we found the perfect "home" for Mary. A very inexpensive, flower shaped birdbath. Just the right size for a beginner like me.
Continuing on with the education of how to...the next thing you do is go to Micheal's and walk the whole store at least 2 times, going back and forth between the floral, and diorama sections many more times. Pick up anything and everything that looks miniature and fairy-like or garden-like. (you can always return it later) Use your coupon, and save your receipt!
Next go to Home Depot, look around for more garden-y things. Buy more stuff. Go Home! Ask husband to unload heavy stuff (birdbath) from car. Shower, watch Olympics and go to bed. (optional)
In the morning, lay in bed and plan your garden. While becoming inspired again, I decided to do a few non-fairy-like things to tidy up the yard. Like oh let's just say re landscaping just about covers it! Go back to Home Depot, get soil, bark mulch, a few more succulents (of course) Gotta love sustainable plants. Come home.
Move things around in your garden, re-plant, re-pot, and find or create the perfect spot for your fairy home. Work all day, make your huaband think you are crazy, get inspired and bring magic into your life (and sore arms and legs and back from lifting, moving, carrying and general redistribution...) Then start the actual fairy garden!
For my fairy land I used some Alyssum ground cover, floral foam, pebbles, Spanish moss, and a mirror for a pond. I had many crystal like stones ad added those to for extra magic. Of course I used all of the items I bought yesterday too! There are a few secret ingredients as well, see if you can find the. I took many pictures along the way, so make sure you take a good look.
Just add stuff, take stuff away and add different stuff, until it evolves into something you love! Don't you love the perfect spot for the solar light? Doesn't it look just like a little fairy house??
I hope you are inspired to go make your own Pixie Paradise, or Sprite Sanctuary...
Thinking about it just wasn't enough I guess, and it was all over for me when my lovely friend bought me the cutest ever gardening accessories...
http://summerspastfarms.com/fairygardens.htm I had no choice but to go all out and create my own Pixie Paradise. And here is how it went...First I added the bench, a fairy needs a place to rest after all of that flying! Then I got the birdhouse and the beehive, I mean excuse me, is there anything more adorable? And what fairy garden would be complete without an actual fairy?? After much deliberation, I finally settled on The Marigold Fairy, we'll call her Mary...
After we left, thoughts of where to and how to create this were buzzing my brain. In the shop they had a cute layout in a birdbath.
I thought I could create something from a shallow planter of some kind and was anxious to get to home depot. Just as that thought settled, we passed a "statue place" (right next door). I flipped a "u", and stopped in. Much to my happiness, we found the perfect "home" for Mary. A very inexpensive, flower shaped birdbath. Just the right size for a beginner like me.
Continuing on with the education of how to...the next thing you do is go to Micheal's and walk the whole store at least 2 times, going back and forth between the floral, and diorama sections many more times. Pick up anything and everything that looks miniature and fairy-like or garden-like. (you can always return it later) Use your coupon, and save your receipt!
Next go to Home Depot, look around for more garden-y things. Buy more stuff. Go Home! Ask husband to unload heavy stuff (birdbath) from car. Shower, watch Olympics and go to bed. (optional)
In the morning, lay in bed and plan your garden. While becoming inspired again, I decided to do a few non-fairy-like things to tidy up the yard. Like oh let's just say re landscaping just about covers it! Go back to Home Depot, get soil, bark mulch, a few more succulents (of course) Gotta love sustainable plants. Come home.
Move things around in your garden, re-plant, re-pot, and find or create the perfect spot for your fairy home. Work all day, make your huaband think you are crazy, get inspired and bring magic into your life (and sore arms and legs and back from lifting, moving, carrying and general redistribution...) Then start the actual fairy garden!
For my fairy land I used some Alyssum ground cover, floral foam, pebbles, Spanish moss, and a mirror for a pond. I had many crystal like stones ad added those to for extra magic. Of course I used all of the items I bought yesterday too! There are a few secret ingredients as well, see if you can find the. I took many pictures along the way, so make sure you take a good look.
Just add stuff, take stuff away and add different stuff, until it evolves into something you love! Don't you love the perfect spot for the solar light? Doesn't it look just like a little fairy house??
I hope you are inspired to go make your own Pixie Paradise, or Sprite Sanctuary...
Friday, August 1, 2008
Life, Tea and the Pursuit of Happiness
So I am a little behind on the bloggin! Sorry about that! Who am I apologizing to? I have no idea but I am behind on documenting my life, because I have been living it. So nah!
This has been my life for a few weeks now, so I shall start from a few weeks ago....
A few weeks ago, some friends and I went to "Tea Upon Chatsworth". http://cu4t.com/ What a beautiful Sunday morning it was, made better with friends old and new. Afternoon tea has been a long tradition in some cultures, unfortunately, not ours. I vote we bring it back daily. Tea is truly one of the very few simple pleasures we have left. Everything in life is so complicated, or if it is not, we invent ways to make it complicated. At "Tea Upon Chatsworth" I felt we were brought back to a more simple time. Warm beverage, quiet or not so quiet conversation, but conversation nonetheless, actually in person, person to person, without agenda, or email, or phone or texting. What a concept!
As we sat down, and were presented with the menu I was delighted to find there are exactly 3 menus to choose from. Not an overwhelming variety of choice as far as the yummies go. No room for order envy, Cream Tea, Afternoon Tea, or High Tea. See, ...simple, right? Perfect! Until...you turn over the menu and are faced with approximately 30 varieties of tea! All of my warm fuzzy feelings of simple bliss were steamed away when the tea menu is revealed! OMG what to choose? Luckily, everyone gets a pot of tea, so that is 5 pots of tea to share if you are with 5 people! And no worries, the staff is there to guide you through everything from where to start and very helpful suggestions. They sure know their stuff.
'Nuff 'bout that.
I have also been working very hard on my perpetual calendar, reminder Rolodex, which I scraplifted from my friend Shannon (also at the tea). Who took a class from Leah Fung a couple of year ago. It is a little bit of a big project depending on how many thing throughout the year you need to remember. But I am proud to say although I have not completed it, the end is in sight, and the majority of it is done.
Aside from that, I am fortunate enough to have one of the best jobs ever. I have the best most wonderful boss, without whom my life would not be half so great for 35+ hours of the week. And that is a lot of life to not be happy with. I know this to be all to true. That said, this week due to the achievement of our goal, we had the pleasure of having an outing. Always good food, and some kind of fun is involved. This time it was GOLF. Actual Golf. Having only played the Tiger Woods XBOX version, I was excited to try this out. I am quite good at the TV kind and wanted to apply my "knowledge" on the fairway. To this I now say "HA!" Although it was fun socializing, driving the cart, and putting, the stuff in the middle (driving, sweating, chipping, replacing divots, swinging etc) I could live with-out and I will happily stick to the XBOX version thank you. I am a little grateful I did not fall in love with the real Golf, because I am sorry, XBOX games are approx. $50.00, and I can enjoy the game in the comfort of my living room, whatever weather condition it is outside. I know that clubs, balls, shoes, shirts, tee times, lessons etc., would cost thousands and although I was excited about the possibility of liking it. I can keep my thousands of dollars and buy more scrapbook paper.
Now at same said job, I personally happened to win a contest, not on the golf game of course, a week ago. My "prize" was a couple hours off early and tickets to the Del Mar Race Track. I "borrowed" $20.00 from my friend and at the end of the day gave him back $18.70. We stayed for 6 races, I bet on 5, so it was fun for me. Needless to say I am not a big better, I like to win so I cover my bets, it makes me happy!
Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I met with my book club to discuss "The Book Thief" Which I ended up loving! AND I got to choose the next book " The Art of Racing in the Rain" which I finished yesterday.
Betting, golfing, working, reading, and scrapping, I am busy pursuing happiness. : )
This has been my life for a few weeks now, so I shall start from a few weeks ago....
A few weeks ago, some friends and I went to "Tea Upon Chatsworth". http://cu4t.com/ What a beautiful Sunday morning it was, made better with friends old and new. Afternoon tea has been a long tradition in some cultures, unfortunately, not ours. I vote we bring it back daily. Tea is truly one of the very few simple pleasures we have left. Everything in life is so complicated, or if it is not, we invent ways to make it complicated. At "Tea Upon Chatsworth" I felt we were brought back to a more simple time. Warm beverage, quiet or not so quiet conversation, but conversation nonetheless, actually in person, person to person, without agenda, or email, or phone or texting. What a concept!
As we sat down, and were presented with the menu I was delighted to find there are exactly 3 menus to choose from. Not an overwhelming variety of choice as far as the yummies go. No room for order envy, Cream Tea, Afternoon Tea, or High Tea. See, ...simple, right? Perfect! Until...you turn over the menu and are faced with approximately 30 varieties of tea! All of my warm fuzzy feelings of simple bliss were steamed away when the tea menu is revealed! OMG what to choose? Luckily, everyone gets a pot of tea, so that is 5 pots of tea to share if you are with 5 people! And no worries, the staff is there to guide you through everything from where to start and very helpful suggestions. They sure know their stuff.
'Nuff 'bout that.
I have also been working very hard on my perpetual calendar, reminder Rolodex, which I scraplifted from my friend Shannon (also at the tea). Who took a class from Leah Fung a couple of year ago. It is a little bit of a big project depending on how many thing throughout the year you need to remember. But I am proud to say although I have not completed it, the end is in sight, and the majority of it is done.
Aside from that, I am fortunate enough to have one of the best jobs ever. I have the best most wonderful boss, without whom my life would not be half so great for 35+ hours of the week. And that is a lot of life to not be happy with. I know this to be all to true. That said, this week due to the achievement of our goal, we had the pleasure of having an outing. Always good food, and some kind of fun is involved. This time it was GOLF. Actual Golf. Having only played the Tiger Woods XBOX version, I was excited to try this out. I am quite good at the TV kind and wanted to apply my "knowledge" on the fairway. To this I now say "HA!" Although it was fun socializing, driving the cart, and putting, the stuff in the middle (driving, sweating, chipping, replacing divots, swinging etc) I could live with-out and I will happily stick to the XBOX version thank you. I am a little grateful I did not fall in love with the real Golf, because I am sorry, XBOX games are approx. $50.00, and I can enjoy the game in the comfort of my living room, whatever weather condition it is outside. I know that clubs, balls, shoes, shirts, tee times, lessons etc., would cost thousands and although I was excited about the possibility of liking it. I can keep my thousands of dollars and buy more scrapbook paper.
Now at same said job, I personally happened to win a contest, not on the golf game of course, a week ago. My "prize" was a couple hours off early and tickets to the Del Mar Race Track. I "borrowed" $20.00 from my friend and at the end of the day gave him back $18.70. We stayed for 6 races, I bet on 5, so it was fun for me. Needless to say I am not a big better, I like to win so I cover my bets, it makes me happy!
Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I met with my book club to discuss "The Book Thief" Which I ended up loving! AND I got to choose the next book " The Art of Racing in the Rain" which I finished yesterday.
Betting, golfing, working, reading, and scrapping, I am busy pursuing happiness. : )
Saturday, July 5, 2008
thank heaven for little girls
i have been wanting to put these projects up on-line for 2 weeks and i am now getting it done! all it takes are time and patience, of which i have very little, well time very little and patience, i actually have some of that! after i got all of my 400 some photos or Ryanna edited, lightroomed and elemented, then sent off to Costco...i shut down my computer, reformatted all of my CF cards and was about to delve into another project or 2. i realized it was a good time to take those project pictures, and get those squared away and in the meantime. i am on a roll...sushi anyone?
also since she was just here...more pictures of the cute Ryanna, and if you look closely you might catch some or Ruby in the mini book i made! to cute. i am so lucky to have 2 beautiful girls to keep me in projects
Sunday, June 29, 2008
paper dolls and quiche
so i mentioned i was taking a class right? working on these cute projects has been so much fun...see photos...it has inspired me to create in way i would not and remember that creating is fun. it actually felt like i was playing! i am using scissors and cutting things out! i know it sound weird but scrapbooking does not require a lot of detailed scissor work, it is mostly for trimming, and for that you usually use well...a trimmer.
last weekend i attended the pp (pink pineapple) crop for the club/class...very fun. 5 hours, girls, scissors...i mean what more could you ask for? Shannon brought in a stampin up, project as a part of being in her stamp club. we made 3 really cute cards.
for the book club crop it self, Elena had this idea to make paper dolls out of ourselves.
last weekend i attended the pp (pink pineapple) crop for the club/class...very fun. 5 hours, girls, scissors...i mean what more could you ask for? Shannon brought in a stampin up, project as a part of being in her stamp club. we made 3 really cute cards.
for the book club crop it self, Elena had this idea to make paper dolls out of ourselves.
it was fun giving our self lipo suction (with scissors) and making cute outfits you would not normally be able to it in. also get those creative juices flowing. a few days later i had a brilliant idea to make a paper doll for my step-daughter (Ruby, 9 going on 17). she loves designing little clothes for her stuffed animals, i thought she might like making them for herself . i took her out in the back yard, took her picture and printed out 2 approx 8" pictures of herself to which she made so far a dress and little top. on days like this i feel like a good step mom.
while Ruby was designing the new outfits, i got a bug to take another stab at perfecting my Mexican quiche. i had made it once before it was great but i felt it needed more cheese. here is my recipe- i am open to suggestions!
i have not yet had quite the energy to make my own crust. i used to be an asst. baker for a restaurant, and would make my own crust all the time. i was very good at it but the store bought - omg is bakers square or marie callendars?? is very good so i like that one the best out of all i have tried (which has been quite a few...
so one pre-made -frozen pie crust.
bake according to pkg, directions- it is usually 10 min at 400. make sure you prick it with a fork several million times to avoid those bubbles... after you pull out your crust decrease your oven temp to 375. all ovens vary mine i think does not get as hot as it says. so i turn mine up a bit. cool that crust.
4 eggs at room temperature
2 cups Mexican blend cheeses shredded or shred it yourself if you feel adventurous.
1 cup half and half
(other recipes call for cream which i love but this one did not - i am sure you can try it that way)
1/4 cup diced onions
ALL recipes call for more but i do not like onions- just the essence, so i mince mine so tiny.
4 oz can of green chili's
dice your onions, go ahead and cook them up in a little olive oil until clear.
while that goes on, whisk up the eggs
toss the onions in with the eggs, give a little whisking
heat up the half and half until it is just warm and whisk into the eggs
add green chili's
toss in the cheese it will melt a bit due to the half and half so best not to whisk at this point, i just stir it a little.
cover a cookie sheet with tin foil, i am not sure why, but it helps clean up if the eggs spill over!
put pie crust on cookie sheet - then pour mixture into cooked/cooled shell
bake about 45 min- 1 hour depending on oven
serve warm with a dollop of sour cream and a little bit of salsa
until next time- bon appetite!
while Ruby was designing the new outfits, i got a bug to take another stab at perfecting my Mexican quiche. i had made it once before it was great but i felt it needed more cheese. here is my recipe- i am open to suggestions!
i have not yet had quite the energy to make my own crust. i used to be an asst. baker for a restaurant, and would make my own crust all the time. i was very good at it but the store bought - omg is bakers square or marie callendars?? is very good so i like that one the best out of all i have tried (which has been quite a few...
so one pre-made -frozen pie crust.
bake according to pkg, directions- it is usually 10 min at 400. make sure you prick it with a fork several million times to avoid those bubbles... after you pull out your crust decrease your oven temp to 375. all ovens vary mine i think does not get as hot as it says. so i turn mine up a bit. cool that crust.
4 eggs at room temperature
2 cups Mexican blend cheeses shredded or shred it yourself if you feel adventurous.
1 cup half and half
(other recipes call for cream which i love but this one did not - i am sure you can try it that way)
1/4 cup diced onions
ALL recipes call for more but i do not like onions- just the essence, so i mince mine so tiny.
4 oz can of green chili's
dice your onions, go ahead and cook them up in a little olive oil until clear.
while that goes on, whisk up the eggs
toss the onions in with the eggs, give a little whisking
heat up the half and half until it is just warm and whisk into the eggs
add green chili's
toss in the cheese it will melt a bit due to the half and half so best not to whisk at this point, i just stir it a little.
cover a cookie sheet with tin foil, i am not sure why, but it helps clean up if the eggs spill over!
put pie crust on cookie sheet - then pour mixture into cooked/cooled shell
bake about 45 min- 1 hour depending on oven
serve warm with a dollop of sour cream and a little bit of salsa
until next time- bon appetite!
Friday, June 13, 2008
happy friday
why is it that when i am at work, i can think of a million things i would like to go home and blog about? then of course when i get home, nothing comes to mind? i should just blog from work and work at home, because when i am at home i think of a million things i need to remember when i go back to work! well it has been just that kind of week. i should take more notes...
to D.L if it were really YOU, you would not be concerned if i capitalize your name, for that would be your ego associating you yourself with your name and this is not the case. so you see you would be more amused by it, for you are a happy soul. nuff said.
ok onto scrapbooking...i just finished a project that i am wanting to post a picture of but i can't yet because shannon does not want to be influenced by my project and she is working on the same one! we are both doing the pink pineapple http://pinkpineapplescrapbooks.com/ book club. once a month, for 3 months we get a make-n-take and a project (homework) based on a book about scrapbooking and the like. this time round we are using love, elsie's recipe box. http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/06/09/elsie.jpg
when shannon gives me the OK i will post it! (. ha post it)...speaking of post its, and shannon for that matter, i just got the stampin up catalog (so exciting) i spent the majority of last night
post it-ing all of my must haves and probably's from it! shannon get our calculator ready.
tonight i almost finished another mini project. a super cute cd box with an album inside. the album itself came from SEI monthly club. i used the box with some awesome crate paper i to from last years expo, some making memories sparkle brads, and for the frst time i used my zyron 900! whoo hoo. it makes such a great sticky back for mini albums. now i do not have to worry about adhesive not sticking i the summer!
as a side note, i have yet to mention, i have a niece...as of a little over 2 months ago, i have a niece, ryanna- see photo- peace out
to D.L if it were really YOU, you would not be concerned if i capitalize your name, for that would be your ego associating you yourself with your name and this is not the case. so you see you would be more amused by it, for you are a happy soul. nuff said.
ok onto scrapbooking...i just finished a project that i am wanting to post a picture of but i can't yet because shannon does not want to be influenced by my project and she is working on the same one! we are both doing the pink pineapple http://pinkpineapplescrapbooks.com/ book club. once a month, for 3 months we get a make-n-take and a project (homework) based on a book about scrapbooking and the like. this time round we are using love, elsie's recipe box. http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/06/09/elsie.jpg
when shannon gives me the OK i will post it! (. ha post it)...speaking of post its, and shannon for that matter, i just got the stampin up catalog (so exciting) i spent the majority of last night
post it-ing all of my must haves and probably's from it! shannon get our calculator ready.
tonight i almost finished another mini project. a super cute cd box with an album inside. the album itself came from SEI monthly club. i used the box with some awesome crate paper i to from last years expo, some making memories sparkle brads, and for the frst time i used my zyron 900! whoo hoo. it makes such a great sticky back for mini albums. now i do not have to worry about adhesive not sticking i the summer!
as a side note, i have yet to mention, i have a niece...as of a little over 2 months ago, i have a niece, ryanna- see photo- peace out
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
not the dali lama's blog
so i started a blog...and this is my first, ...er... blog yay! or do we say post?? anyway, here i am and now i have writers block...go figure.
not that this is a contest or anything, but in looking at a few other blogs, for ideas, (honestly i have looked at a total of maybe 5) i already have an inferiority complex. someone has blogged about hh dali lama, with pictures and everything. wow...
i can just tell you right now that this is not that kind of a blog (at the moment) yet i am up for the evolution of it, if you are! maybe someday i will meet the dali lama... it is something to aspire to!
for right now, i will be posting about scrapbooking thanks to shannon , and cooking and gardening, and being "green" inspired by ashley the first friend i knew of to have a blog. perhaps some travel and a mish mash myriad of other things.
right now i am working on a project for the pink pineapple's (scrap) book club. i should be reading my book for my book club, but i read it last year and i am unable to attend tomorrows meeting, i do not feel pressured. i am however very much in the mood lately to scrap scrap scrap! i think it has to do with moving my scrap area to the kitchen, it must be something in the feng shui that made it impossible for me to stop creating.
you may occasionally read me quote jill, as in create create create, this is my goal for 2008. http://www.jilljgrandegoodsell.com/index.html . jill is my teacher of classical voice for 12 years. she is my hero.
this is enough for now, ciao!
not that this is a contest or anything, but in looking at a few other blogs, for ideas, (honestly i have looked at a total of maybe 5) i already have an inferiority complex. someone has blogged about hh dali lama, with pictures and everything. wow...
i can just tell you right now that this is not that kind of a blog (at the moment) yet i am up for the evolution of it, if you are! maybe someday i will meet the dali lama... it is something to aspire to!
for right now, i will be posting about scrapbooking thanks to shannon , and cooking and gardening, and being "green" inspired by ashley the first friend i knew of to have a blog. perhaps some travel and a mish mash myriad of other things.
right now i am working on a project for the pink pineapple's (scrap) book club. i should be reading my book for my book club, but i read it last year and i am unable to attend tomorrows meeting, i do not feel pressured. i am however very much in the mood lately to scrap scrap scrap! i think it has to do with moving my scrap area to the kitchen, it must be something in the feng shui that made it impossible for me to stop creating.
you may occasionally read me quote jill, as in create create create, this is my goal for 2008. http://www.jilljgrandegoodsell.com/index.html . jill is my teacher of classical voice for 12 years. she is my hero.
this is enough for now, ciao!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
