fill in the blank friday!

1. If money wasn't an issue, the first thing I'd cross of my life list is...Go on an extended vacation with Erik, maybe do a European tour or try to figure out some kind of tropical tour?? I wpuld just want to be on vacation all the time!

2. Vegan mayo is something I really like that other people think is weird.

3. If my life were a movie right now, the title would be... "Livin for the Weekend".. I dunno. This question is really hard. Nothing too exciting is going on with me right now.. SO it would maybe just be about the semi-exciting stuff Erik and I do on the weekend??

4. Three things I am looking forward to this month are... My siblings all being in town next weekend!!!, Going to the beach over president's day weekend with Erik, andddd taking my parents out to dinner at the amazing Andina resturant in Portland.

5. My favorite song to sing in the shower is... I have never sung in the shower even once... I am not talented in that arena at all..hmm. Is this weird?

6. If I found out that the production of Original Pringles

was ending this month, I'd go out and buy as much as I could tomorrow.

7. One thing I'll never grow tired of is Erik and I laughing about super dumb stuff before we go to bed. It is the most relaxing part of my day. That guy is pretty great.

life is good

first off... I thought a few more 25 before 25s.
-Take a boxing class! I have always wanted to check it out, and they are offering a free first class at a gym by me.
Sooo before may.. I will go!
-re-read the bible and look at it as more than literature but not get my hopes up that it will speak to me. I was raised catholic and have read the good book before. But not with bible study books or even a truely open mind. It will be an experience even if it isn't for me. :)
- start a daily yoga practice where I feel at ease in my routine

secondly...
how did i land such
a stinkin cute husband??

25 before 25

so... I just had my half birthday.. so I am 24 1/2. This has made me think a lot about when I was younger and what I thought I would have done or who I would be when I was 25. Now, some things have happened that I didn't expect, such as getting married at 23 or having to go back to school, but both are an amazing blessing to me. But there are some things that I realize I really want to do before I turn 25. Nothing too large because I do only have 6 months and I want to be realisitic. While i wish I could put, buy a house, get a dog, or go on a european vacation... I know all those things are out of our reach right now. So I need to focus on smaller milestones and life pleasures, so I can give myself some stuff to do but not feel dissapointed by making myself adhere to dreams bigger than our bank account.

So here goes... 25 before 25...  & before 26 for Erik.. haha ;)

• Learn to play chess
• train for a 10K or half marathon- Or at least exercise 3-4 days a week (lose 10 pds?)
• GRADUATE!
• spend a few weekends at the beach
• clean out my closet and drawers
• learn to knit
• create a home with Erik
• create a successful book club
• find and refubish a dresser for our soemday bedroom
• start to learn a language.. maybe French or Spanish
•  create my own signiture scent using essential oils

what kind of things do you wanna do long term??

So I graduate in 2 weeks....

If I can get through these next two weeks and pass all my finals... I will graduate!!

I will finally be done with school, and it will be such an amazing experience because this time.. I have a job to lookforward to when I graduate. It has been a super trying couple of years and it feels so good to be able to know that I will graduate and have a job and be able to support my family of two.

ALSO....

I will finally have free timeeee! As most of you know, I have been working and goiong to school for the past couple of years and it will be the first time in forever that I will just be working! I am so excited I might cry...

BUT...

These are my plans for my free time...

*Blog more!

*take more weekend adventrues

*learn to knit

*read for pleasure

*watch movies

*explore Portland

*hopefully decorate a new home or apartment

*paint my fingernails

*get a massage

*craft

*spend more time with Erik, family, and friends

*travel!!!- Austin at least!

* drink tea

*drink beer

* finally pat myself on the back for a job well done.

AMEN.

Summer To Do List... Part 2

So I was looking through blogs and found this "Summer to do List" at "Fingerprints on the Fridge"... I love how it is made! Makes me want to make my own!

From Fingerprints on the Fridge



I will have to share mine when I make it!

Summer To Do List...

Its FINALLY Summer in Oregon! 

  

So now it is time to sit down with the husband and make a summer to do list!

*Concerts at the Zoo

*Late Night Walks in the warm weather

*Drinkin cocktails out of mason jars

*Beach Trips

*huevos rancheros

*picnics outside

*resturant hunting in Portland

*Drinking summer seasonals

*Attempt to surf in Pacific City

*Hike Neakahnie Mountain

*summer reading lists

*floating on a lake in an innertube

*more bocce and croquet

*CAMPING, CAMPING, CAMPING!

*Visit Alaska

*start an exercise routine

*BBQs

*Wine tasting

What are your ideas for summer???

Books for Summer...

Here are some books I really want to read this summer...

Any other suggestions!?

I love summer reading. It is the best feeling ever to just relax in the sun and read. 

I love summer! 

where is the sun??

I am so ready for it to be summertime! I am ready to have BBQs on the back porch without people having to be wrapped in blankets! I am ready to make seafood and put it on colorful plates. 

Some things I am looking forward to come summer:

-corn on the cob

-farmers market where we can get all out veggies and herbs for fresh dinners

-summer dresses and tank tops

-watermelon

-bathing suits 

-being able to wear bright, bold colors all the time

-sandals and in turn, pedicures!

-staying up late and it still being warm

-drinking beers on the back porch

-going swimming at lakes

-long drives to the beach

-picnics!

These are just a few things I am REALLY looking forward to!

What are your favorite things about summer??

Friday!

I am so happy it is Friday today and that it is finally the weekend! I got all my work done for the week so I can actually enjoy it! I am very excited for this weekend because Erik and I have actually planned a lot to do and even if it doesn't all work out, I am just so happy it is sunny today and hopefully the weather will stay nice.

Here are a few things we have planned for this weekend:

* Tonight is the first meeting of my book club! I couldn't be more excited, it has been something I have wanted to do for a looong time and never had the right people to start it with or never really thought I could make the time. But I am so excited with the group that is coming and realized that it is so much easier to make time if you prioritze correctly!

* Tomorrow we are going to a lacrosse game for the team that Erik is helping coach! Finally... I am getting a glimpse of my dream to be a coach's wife.. haha I feel like I am going to have to channel Tami Taylor and wear some coyboy boots and say "hey ya'll" a lot.. Even though Erik is helping coach lacrosse and not football and we are in Oregon not Texas. Oh well. Should still be fun.

* Later in the day tomorrow/tomorrow night, we are going to try to get out to the UFO Festival that Mcmenamins is having in Mcminnville. There is a "Dress your Pet like an alien" contest and live music, and of course beer. Should be a good time.

*Then Sunday, plans aren't exact yet, but if they don't work out... maybe we will just have a day of rest. But if they do work out, hopefully we will get some drinks with friends and have a great afternoon. hopefully the weather will compromise!

I am so happy Spring is FINALLY here in Oregon!

Anyone else have awesome plans for this weekend??

You know you're a nerd when:

1. you memorized the bar-code on your library card because you put books on hold so often.
2. You get the chills when you know you will get to go office supply shopping
3. You pride yourself on determining the killer and motive before the detectives on CSI, Law & Order, and every other crime drama that's ever on.
4. Your idea of an amazing Saturday night is sitting at home with a glass of red wine and your.... library book
5. Whenever you stumble onto a new hobby.. you feel the need to research every little thing about it



Here are just some of the things about me that are super nerdy...

What do you do that is very nerdy??

Happiness Experiment: Spring

Spring. 
So, the last couple of days have been beautiful.

First, Friday and Saturday were so sunny and warm that I even wore a tank top for awhile. 

Then Sunday, was beautiful with family all together and rain that just took over. (I love rain though). 

But even when the weather isn't cooperating... 
HAPPINESS EXPERIMENT.

I have realized that happiness is totally what you make of it.
You choose your battles, choose your activities.

So. I choose: 

*more date nights with my husband
*more lesuirely reading time, right now I am reading two books:

* making accounting notecards so I am not stuck at home studying, I can do it anywhere.. including sitting outside

* Fresh cut flowers

* Cooking with fresh vegetables and eating fresh fruit

* Spring dresses and attempting jeggings? 

* Going camping and golfing

* drinking lots of coffee 

* figuring out how to successfully stay faithful to an exercise regimen

* 7/11 Slurpees

* Sunglasses 

* Exploring new restaurants, especially ones with outdoor seating

What do you have planned for Spring??

New Year, New Plans!

So, 2010 was an amazing time for me! It is going to be so hard to top it!

 This year I...

• Got Engaged on New Years Eve
• Got Married in September
• Vacationed in Hawaii
• Got to see my extended family three different times!
• Started school again
• Watched Erik start Chiropractic school!
• Was a bridesmaid in my older sister's wedding

But, 2011 I have so much hope for you... Erik and I drove back from the beach where we went to celebrate my sister's wedding and the whole way back we talked about the things we want to do during the new year. Usually we make the mistake of making all our plans too vague and therefore hard to accomplish or know when they are accomplished. So this year we are trying to be more detailed on the plans. 

Here are some we came up with:

• Travel to New Mexico for our one year anniversary trip
• Take more day trips to go hiking or wine tasting
• Cook at home more (make pies, yummy one dish dinners, and homemade granola)
• Hold hands when we're having an argument
• Go to the wildlife safari (We've been talking about it since our first month together)
• Play more games instead of watching television

Here's to an amazing new year!

Holiday Favorites

• The tree and other decorations being lit and glittering when you walk down the stairs first thing in the morning.
• How much more often people want to sit around and just talk or play board games instead of watching television.
• That all my siblings are all in the same city.
• All the holiday drinks at coffee shops.
• How everyone just seems so much more cheery... (or really pissed off). Emotions run really high during the holidays.
• How everything is decorated to the nines. Either it be colorful ornaments or white snowflake decor. I love it all.
• Seasonal Beer selection (especially Ebenezer and Sleigher)
• Christmas Carols
• Candy Canes and Christmas cookies
• Christmas themed movies that only come out during December!

I am sure there are many more things I love that I just cannot think of right now... But I love the holidays!

What is your favorite thing about the holidays? 

Listening to: "Sleigh Ride" - Cincinnati Pop Orchestra