M&A

My Desk in a Cornfield–Newsletter 1st Edition

2012-02-13T11:16:00.001-08:00

My Desk in a Cornfield | February 2012

Sending a hearty “hello neighbor”

Local Happenings in the Heartland

Good Ol’ Fun in the Fields:

Since driving cross-country, we’ve experienced some of the gems of Iowa:

· Iowa Caucus shenanigans

· An Iowa State Cyclone b-ball game, thought I was at sci-fi convention at first, everyone yelling “Go Clones! A few variations I came up with during the game were: Twist it up! Tor-na-don’t you dare! We will, we will swirl you; and Clone Power!

· This past weekend was the Red Flannel 5K, and we took part in the Putt-Putt Tournament for charity that took place in the skywalks of Downtown Des Moines

· Mark ate a real Iowa-dinner! Meat w/a side of meat

And I of course subscribe to the local blog: Des Moines is Not Boring

On the Corn-Calendar

· This weekend: BACONFEST – The Bacopalypse

o All four thousand tickets were bought within the first 25 minutes

o For the event there is a bacon lecture series, this year it’s on: apocalyptic survival skills and how to best preserve bacon in preparation for a variety of transformative and cataclysmic events

o Manni Balignasay is the bacon-eating champion 4-years running

o Each year there is a competition for the Best Bacon-Song – this was last yrs winner

Future Plans:

o See the actual “Field of Dreams”

o Attending the Skillet-Throwing Championships

o Road-trip to Kansas City

o Visit John Wayne’s birthplace

Play in the snow!

An Iowa Education

Star-Sightings: What celebrities came from Iowa?

o Ashton Kutcher (Actor)

o Elijah Wood (Actor)

o Ron Livingston (Actor - Office Space)

o Bob Farrell (Baseball Pitcher - #36 of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players)

o Michael Emerson (Actor - Lost)

o Shawn Johnson (Gymnast)

Until next time,

Finished product!

2012-01-11T17:13:00.001-08:00

WDM eatery

2012-01-11T16:43:00.000-08:00

Since settling into our new Iowa-home, we have made a shocking discovery...

we LIKE to cook together!
What? you say,
well it's true

Since our 2.5 yr stint of not living together, now M & A are back under one roof and cooking up a storm!

I have been making breadsticks for years, but my true love has always been pretzels... remember when Sam's club sold those GIANT soft pretzels? i do.

SO...I was craving them one night, and M found a sweet fat-free reciepe and I was feeling adventurous -- they turned out AMAZING!!!

Another secret vice of M&A is fat free honey mustard,
ask me how many lbs of honey mustard i ate on our cruise last summer?
Can't tell you, too embarrassing!

SO...after hitting up the local HyVee grocery with NO luck at grabbin a good honey mustard, M found an awesome receipe online -- and it was AMAZING!!

do you see a trend here?
pretty excited about it

maybe that's what was missing, the midwest has awakened a new sense of cuisine-testing within me!

Ideas in my brain

2012-01-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

Always seem to find inspiration, take a picture, then lose it in the black hole of my picture files, so here is a brain dump:

Changes are a-comin...

2011-12-20T16:29:00.000-08:00

Since my last post:

We had a great Thanksgiving w/the fam

Mark moved to Des Moines, Iowa

I will be moving there after Christmas,

Got my job to let me work remotely from IA

Mark found a place for us to live in Des Moines

I packed up the whole house, we will be renting to my sister

My sister moved all her stuff into the house,

I made really good chex mix.

whew! What a busy December!

A&M meets Minnesota!

2011-11-18T16:15:00.001-08:00

So Mark has spent the last 6 weeks in Minneapolis, at his company’s headquarters – so I took the opportunity to fly out and see about this “Mall of America” everyone’s been talking about!

I flew in Wed night, and worked from Mark’s office Thursday

Met up w/Mark’s cousin and visited St Paul’s Cathedral – it was amazing!

Toured the James H Hill mansion (check your history books). it was the most lavishly decorated home I’ve ever been in, and it over 100 yrs old!

Took a wonderful walk along the Mississippi River – I love this guy!

Took a day in downtown Minneapolis, with all the crazy skybridges – we got lost a lot but stayed warm!

Got to walk around Fort Snelling (not the most exciting…but killed some time before I had to board my plane to go West again.)

AND got these SWEET boots at Mall of America to take home!!!

Now I just have to get the hubby back home!

Show me your skills! Check it out

2011-11-14T14:43:00.000-08:00

Big Changes

2011-10-31T17:06:00.001-07:00

#1: Mark is officially done in The Chee

a. This means he no longer lives in the Chee condo

b. So we are renting it out as a furnished apartment

c. So currently I live with Mark’s stuff…just not him…

#2: Now Mark is working in Minneapolis…yes, he is getting farther away instead of closer as planned

a. This means I get to go on a Minnesota-adventure to visit him

b. But I don’t get to see him as often

#3: I am busily preparing the house to welcome Mark back at Thanksgiving

a. This means I am wrapping up all the projects I’ve been working on for the past 2+ years that took up LARGE portions of the living space

b. But before I clean up all the projects, I started a few more…

Had to do some condo-redecorating:

Bought a desk for the office – to finish that room out

And put a little pizazz into the hutch!

I used shelf-liners to give the hutch a non-permanent face-lift!

Next: Hanging blinds and getting out the paint brush!

Something’s Fishy

2011-10-31T11:35:00.001-07:00

My first steelhead, caught on the Methow River! 2-salt (means the fish has traveled out to the ocean and back twice). So fun!!

Mark and I booked a great fishing trip w/Leif our awesome fishing-guide-friend, the goal was steelhead but I caught the biggest trout I ever have that day also!

The piece of land Mark drools over each time we drive past, it borders the Methow river on two sides and has awesome views of the mts – maybe someday we’ll call it ours…

Sanding + Stain = Vintage Sweetness

2011-10-11T13:42:00.001-07:00

I picked up this beauty free on CL, and it started as a seafoam-green color – not that there’s anything wrong with that….but…I’m all about changing things up so I took the power-sander to it.

The paint was deep into some of the woodgrain, so when I stained it came out antiqued-looking, with the stain not taking on some of the grooves. Love how it came out – not sure where it will live but we might send it over to the condo.

Making it Ours

2011-10-11T09:50:00.001-07:00

Type “Jeep Accessories” into the MSN search bar… I dare you.

Do you know what you’ll find? 5 bazillion options to modify and customize your wrangler.

This is both wonderful and dreadful, love the options, but too many? possibly.

But like any responsible Jeep-Owner, I have made a few small additions to transform this piece of metal we bought off the lot, to a valuable member of our family.

So the first thing we did was get jeep floor mats, to keep it nice & clean.

Then we saw this great offroad bumper on craigslist and couldn’t resist, so we installed it almost-immediately

One request I had was to get a fuel-door, since it just looks like a hole in the side of the car – so we found a deal and got one.

then this last weekend we low-balled a guy on CL for a soft-top, and he gave it to us for almost nothing!

Now we are ready to roll!

Kitchen Stool re-do

2011-10-05T16:02:00.001-07:00

Got these great stools – Craigslist $10

But they were a little too shabby-chic for me – so I took the power sander to them

And tried a dark walnut stain – and here we go!

Love them! looking for other furniture to stain now!

Exciting Addition

2011-09-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

Mark and I are excited

to welcome into our family

something we've wanted for a long time,

like 6 years

before we started dating

we both knew we would have this

someday

and someday has come

the family is SO thrilled!!!

no this is not a baby.

it's a ....

JEEP!!!!

All that Craigslisting, couponing, and thrifting paid off!

Past Projects

2011-08-16T17:50:00.001-07:00

Tiling the garage entry

Master re-do

Jewelry Frame Lace flower

Vinyl bowls

Spray paint projects

YARDWORK!

Red/Black b-room

Office Before

Office after the re-do

Blue room re-do before/aftern

Basement re-do before/after

New bamboo blinds (Craigslist $15) for kitchen

and working on 2 new projects!!

Beautifying La Casa

2011-05-25T15:49:00.001-07:00

When we bought this home 3 years ago, we had ideas about how to spruce it up and have made tons of improvements to beautify the place.

Now that I have painted every room and given the house fresh carpet, I’m looking to the outside. Spring has sprung and I’m ready to make some changes!

So a few Saturdays ago we frequented the local hardware store and made this:

Into this!!! The front needed something, and I think we found the perfect, thrifty solution!

I’ve been dreaming of shutters for a little while, and now they are building the character of la casa! Woohoo! On to the next project…..

I heart B-days!

2011-05-16T14:04:00.001-07:00

I’ve taken forever to post pics at my birthday-festivities! I turned 26 – officially in my ‘late 20’s’ and absolutely loving it!

The day of my b-day I went to my parents for dessert – a b-day parfait just for me!

My SIL b-day is within the same week, so we had a double-party and blew out candles on our cookie-crust mini ice cream pies!

Mark went ALL OUT and got me the SWEETEST gift ever:

11ft 8wt Switch Fly Fishing Rod! I can’t wait to catch my first fish on it!

As part of the b-day weekend we also went to check out some waders for me, and I fell in love with these babies! The boots are my fav though, stylish yet outdoorsy!

Best Birthday this year!

Wenatchee Catch-Up

2011-04-15T11:03:00.001-07:00

With all the buzz about the carpet, and putting the house back together I need to catch-up on our Chee Adventures

Dry Falls in Coulee City

Mark and I took a drive and discovered this cool place!

Fly-Fishing near Ephrata

Steelhead fishing on the Columbia

Call me the Carpet Queen!

2011-04-04T11:58:00.001-07:00

Before taking ALL the credit I have to give a shout-out to my hubby M who I needed to accomplish this life-changing decision

Also can’t leave out my supportive parents, giving me positive reinforcement. M’s mom even came the day of the install to help since I had to rush off to a meeting and the guys were still working - -thanks cheryl!!!

BEFORE: notice all the flavors of carpet, brown, green, speckled…

DURING INSTALL:

Notice the ‘hoarder’-esque look I have going on in my living room – talk about claustrophobia

AFTER!!!! :

Finished Product in the Master: TADA!!!

We’ve been planning this for the last 9 months, I’ve gotten TONS of price quotes from all over, I decided to forget the whole ordeal twice, but in the end, we’ve both been saying “Why didn’t we do this sooner!!?” Such is life!

Coming Soon...

2011-03-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

the Before & After pics of the house -- the carpet is installed and i could not be HAPPIER!

Who knew there'd be a point in my life where i got excited about carpet fibers... :)

Beginning to see Green

2011-03-14T13:14:00.001-07:00

Yes, I live in WA so green can be seen year-round,

No, the green of Spring is not here yet

Yes, I have green-room pics to share

No, I do not have new carpet yet

Yes, we finished a fantastic non-green project

Yes, I will show it to you!

First things first: Green room paint

*The room won’t be finished until the carpet is done

Second things second: that doesn’t make sense.

Mark and I decided to try our hand at laying tile from the entry of the garage to the family room. It took some time but it was definitely worth it!

Tonight I’ll seal the grout and it will be complete!

We LOVE how it turned out!

My 2011 Wish List

2011-03-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

I created a list at the beginning of the year, Top 50 Things To Accomplish in 2011
i totally forgot about it until today, but just reading it inspires me to be more productive each day! I have completed a few of these already, just gotta keep working!

1. Start a morning workout regimen as soon as knees heal – 5am here I come!

2. New carpet for whole house - $$$ but worth it

3. Move my new bed into Master and decorate!

4. Buy a ‘chair and a half recliner or loveseat

5. Make my first quilt

6. Paint the office

7. Learn something new about the hubby each week

8. Paint my bar stools

9. Cut more sugar (gummi bears) out of my diet

10. Make a project/guest room

11. Move Mark back into the house in December

12. Plan our trip to Italy with John & Kari! J

13. Make stone steps in backyard

14. Go to our Wenatchee getaway in the Fall

15. Attend the Apple Blossom Festival in The Chee

16. Make a throw pillow

17. Go through closets and fabric: use it or lose it!

18. Volunteer service whenever possible

19. Refashion as many clothes as possible

20. Sell my wedding dress

21. Track dirt in the house because I’m planting flowers

22. Finish adding flair to curtains

23. Buy that birdhouse that actually keeps dogs from barking – up to 50 ft J

24. Serve my neighbors more (and keep their dogs quieter!)

25. Spend quality time with family while we all live so close

26. Be more patient and kind with others

27. Find reasons to use my air compressor

28. Wear jewelry more often

29. Read books that inspire me

30. Cook my way through my fat free cookbooks

31. Plan date nights in the city when we live together

32. Continue finding hobbies that allow me to create with my hands

33. Record each day’s tender mercies

34. Plan a camp/bike trail trip for the family

35. Learn to play churchy hymns on the piano

36. Keep the kitchen counters uncluttered

37. Find treasures at .99 cent day and estate sales!

38. Smile at stranger

39. Buy a navy wool peacoat

40. Find reasons to love the rain

41. Re-style Master bath

42. Take a weekend getaway to Willows Lodge

43. Introduce myself to someone new every day

44. Have more BBQ’s and Mocktail parties

45. Go out in the forest and get dirty

46. Wear sunglasses when it’s not sunny

47. Sell the elliptical

48. Build something out of wood

49. Read the New Testament

50. Leave good reviews whenever possible

What's on your list?

The Green: Cash, Carpet, & Character

2011-02-25T09:36:00.001-08:00

It’s time to start a new mega project,

One that involves A LOT of GREEN:

1. Green – as in $$$$, cash, dollars, bones, dough

2. Green – the color of our carpet…that will be replaced

3. Green – the paint used to add character to the drab office

Yes, I will be replacing the carpet in THE ENTIRE house,

Yes, it will cost thousands of dollars

Yes, it will be painful to pay as I tend to only buy items for .99

Yes, I despise the current carpet, and it will be worth it.

Yes, the office needs color desperately and I love painting

The carpet color will be ‘twine’

The house will look much improved

The carpet guys better not be creepy

The house will have to be completely emptied

The carpet will be so soft and nicely padded

The house will have to be COMPLETELY emptied…

Office Paint

I have chosen a color-scheme that my parents laughed at.

This color catapults them back to their teens, in the 70’s

There will be no shag carpet this time around, or afros

Just the warm deep shade of green that is familiar to them

I’m buying the paint ASAP because I can’t wait.

I built an inspiration board: Green & Brown w/cream wainscoting

V-day Treats!

2011-02-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

I wrote this poem and handed it out on little business cards to my coworkers with a heart-shaped sucker!
Happy V-day!

Not everyone can say
They get to wake up each new day
And take a drive down Bellevue Way

For some that don't, it's just not fair
As we sit in our ergononmical chair
Spending our day in Lincoln Square

Now has come that time of year
Where you tend to think of those most dear
But don't foreget to spread some love
To those working on the floors below and above

V-day's not just for flowers and candy
So give a smile to those most handy
It will bring a bit of sweetness into their day
Making Microsoft a better place to stay!

Enjoy this treat and a little rhyme
Working with you is just sublime
Thanks for all your support and care
Happy Valentines Day! Now go and share!
*april young

Coveralls & Construction Sites

2011-02-11T15:00:00.001-08:00

The Chee has major benefits – one being that a store called ‘Stan’s Merry Mart’ is located there – Stan’s literally has EVERYTHING a country bumpkin could need…including shop coveralls

Coveralls have been on my Christmas wish-list for years, but no one thought that was a ‘fun’ present…boy were they wrong.

Last weekend we took a trip down Wenatchee Ave to check out the coverall selection at Stan’s. 2 words: Freaking Amazing. They had like 6 different styles, in different colors for a quarter of the price I saw online.

but wait…Stan’s has a “Used” coverall section? Jackpot.

I got these babies for $11 – Dickies shop coveralls, well-loved, broken-in, and already has a patched knee. Priceless.

Have I used them yet? You betcha – even ate dinner in them one night just to try them out :)

(Yes they sell many types of camo fishing vests also)

The next fun-Chee event we had was to tour the construction site at hospital now that the interior is almost finished. It’s amazing to me that M could build a 6-story hospital where there was nothing. The view from the top floor is amazing – tallest building in Wenatchee, and my hubby made it happen. What a cool job!

M in his booties – so we kept the floors looking shiny & new!

Since it’s a construction site we had reflective vests, hard hats and safety glasses (all available at Stan’s FYI) Safety First!

Leather, dugouts and boots

2011-02-03T14:12:00.001-08:00

We have a new leather addition to our household,

I named him Charlie before bringing him home

He looks perfect in our front room/movie theatre

I have been on the hunt for a chair and a half recliner

but dual reclining loveseat? the best I could ask for!

I heart comfy leather furniture.

Another highly anticipated purchase happened this week,

I have been eyeing all types of leather boots lately,

but happened upon the best deal on the best boot

the leather is like butter, the color is easy-going…

it would’ve been morally wrong not to buy them

so I did.

Original Retail: $259

Reduced to: $125

I paid: $47

Moving on…Dugouts!

M’s padres gave us tickets to FanFest

Every year the MLB Seattle Mariners throw a party

to get ready for the upcoming baseball season

We ran the bases, and sat in the dugout

living out our major-league dreams on the field

Went with M’s 2 brothers and their wives!

too fun to live near the fam

…not sure how long it will last…

but loving it now!

Sister Weekend!

2011-01-28T00:26:00.001-08:00

Last weekend my sis came to The Chee…FINALLY!!

M has lived there 1 yr and 5 months – now officially all members of the fam have come to visit! what fun to have everyone close!

While there we hit up the fav bagel-spot for breakfast, and since the day was so sunny we went for a walk on the footbridge that crosses the Columbia River

had to get a pic of M strutting his stuff!

We will miss this place when M moves back in June

Nightstands and Gift Cards

2011-01-24T09:26:00.001-08:00

After becoming inspired by these bedroom designs

I decided to give a pair of end tables a facelift, and boost up the style in our master bedroom in the Chee!

I bought a few cans of spray paint in Crème and went to work!

The color matched perfectly with the wire bedframe we bought when M moved in – perfect!

So M and I have gotten an influx of gift cards lately, between company gifts, Christmas, and M’s love of our credit card reward points, we are in the plastic with giftcards!

The second question is always ‘what should we spend them on?’ as a couple who loves saving $$ and not cluttering our life with stuff – this gets tough! For M, there will be new electronics coming home from Best Buy with him…for me, I’m assuming I’ll have a few more shoes to choose from at home as Bellevue retail therapy is something I cannot refuse!

I’ll post our findings, let the shopping begin!

The New Do…HAIR POWER!

2011-01-19T14:51:00.001-08:00

I really like how my hair came out – great job kelsey! I swear no one has touched my hair but kelsey for YEARS.

A good fresh hair cut just makes my outlook more fresh and cheery – now I’m ready for 2011!

Hair Power!

2011-01-10T14:50:00.001-08:00

Haven't cut/colored my hair for a while...6 months that is, so i think it's time to give myself some HAIR POWER!!!! I love mixin it up and trying something new, i'll keep it long for now but need a change!

here's how my hair is now: Naturally dark blonde with highlights

This is what i'm going for: more layers with wispy side-swept bangs, and warm highlights

I love this pic,

(We're looking at Heidi not Martha Stewart. sorry martha.)

I did have dark brown in my hair last year at this time, but i want to break the norms and not wait for summer to go blonde - let's do it now!

your thoughts?

Christmas Gifts Unwrapped:

2011-01-05T12:09:00.001-08:00

I always feel like I have more photos than time to post, so I’m grouping a bunch together – I decided to give gifts of fashion this Christmas, and tried a few new things I’m pretty excited about!

First we’ll start with a few pre-Christmas gifts:

1. Reupholstering a dining set for M’s Bro and SIL for their new place!

Before:

During:

After:

2. Anthro-inspired tee for SIL

3. Adorable beanies and flower clips for all the ladies!

4. My MIL has a ring pendant charm for her 3 boys with each of their birthstones, and asked for each Daughter-in-law’s also! I put mine in the middle of a flower clip to give her!

5. Finally put together this project I’ve had sitting for years, it was a great addition to my Christmas mantle display!

6. For some Post-Christmas fun, I designed these headbands

7. Last but not least I finally broke out the Bedazzler and jazzed up this shirt I had in the closet!

What fun at Christmastime! I enjoyed making gifts this year, so I could focus on Christ this season…instead of shopping! :)

The Rise & Fall

2010-12-21T10:34:00.002-08:00

I have been very adventurous this year, choosing to learn how to do new things – golf was my first, snowboarding the next. Having a husband that lives 10min from a ski resort helps!
I found a killer deal on CL and got the board, boots and bindings for $60

So this past weekend Mark and I went to Mission Ridge to try out my new board and help me learn! I had only been once before, when Mark and I were dating….yes…that was 5 yrs ago.
It’s lightly snowing on the mt as we arrive, I’m feeling oh-so-good and psyched about learning, we buy our lift tickets and make our way to the bunny-hill lift.
I totally biff getting off the lift, but after getting back in the groove of how to maneuver on the board and balance myself – I’m feeling good again. We make it to the bottom and try a different lift to a more difficult hill. At the top as I try to get off the lift and on my board, something tragic happens….
The seat begins lifting with me still in it! I jump off trying to get on my board, slipping as my legs go in opposite directions. I hear big cracking noises and people from all over run to me to see if I’m alright.
I feel okay…I’m breathing fine…but I have this burning sensation in both my legs…I look down and don’t see anything wrong…but something feels wrong. They have stopped the lift and ask if I can move – the guy and Mark have to pick me up, but I can put some weight on both legs.
I hobble around the corner just to see a very steep edge of a mountain that I’m supposed to be snowboarding down…gulp…my eyes begin watering from the pain pulsing through my knees, I’ve figured out now that it’s my knees that are hurt – both of them.
I man-up and tell myself there is only one way to get down this mountain, and I begin standing. This whole time Mark is talking with me, telling me I can take as long as I need, but inside my head I’m toughening up for this run. I stand and say “Ok, let’s do this.” Down the mountain the pain is less; as long as I keep my knees from twisting I feel alright. I go the rest of the day boarding and getting better each run, but still babying the knees – knowing I’ll pay for this in the coming days.
My diagnosis: sprain of the MCL or medial collateral ligament
Cause: Overextension of both knees – I’m unable to straighten either leg, and cannot twist my knees without immense pain
Treatment: Rest, ice, walking like an old person
Worth it? Yes – this is what having a body is all about…USING IT!!!

Seahawks!

2010-12-11T20:05:00.001-08:00

What could be better than getting a Seahawks poncho in Mexico?..... A Seahawks nutcracker! Thanks Lora!

Posted by Mark via Blogaway

Wenatchee Weeekend: Eric & Ilene!~

2010-12-10T14:08:00.001-08:00

With Eric & Ilene moving to Mukilteo in October, we have ALL of our siblings living in the Seattle area…which is recipe for PURE CRAZYINESS!!!

The fun times began with Ilene and Eric making their first trip to Wenatchee and soaking of it’s natural goodness!!

Being in the month of October, we HAD to bring them to the infamous orchard where the idealized PUMPKIN CANON lives.

It was wonderful to spend time with eric & ilene and getting outdoors, they are always getting M and me to be more active and try new fun things together! We decided to do a hike in the morning, go to Leavenworth – Eric couldn’t resist the alien-glasses!

Another fun new hobby we’ve gotten into is GEOCACHING…I can’t help myself – I am hooked! E&I had never tried it so we went searching for treasure!

We were very successful, and for all you muggles out there, we’ll never disclose our location!

On Sunday after church, Mark graced us with his pancake-making skills!

We finished out the visit with the lovely pumpkin canon and ended on a great, loud note!

I might have an obsession with goats….I just love them.

Cruisin’ Part 2–Mexico

2010-12-07T12:54:00.001-08:00

The destination of our cruise was Ensenada Mexico – so we got off the boat and drove along the Pacific coast and ended at the biggest blowhole in North America

La Bufadora!!!

We had a ‘formal night’ on the boat, so we got all jazzed up – every 5 ft you had someone there waiting to take your picture, and we were all like “um…no, we know what we look like” I think people usually are all about taking 5,000 pics – not us!

We had a lot of fun and will DEFINITELY be booking a cruise-vacation in the future!

A Cruisin’ Thanksgiving–Long Beach

2010-11-30T11:40:00.001-08:00

Talking with my fam earlier in the year, we decided that we needed to go on an adult-vacation as we haven’t taken a R&R vacation as a family in about 12 yrs….yeah.

So we looked at all types of vacations and decided to try something new, an all-inclusive-type vaycay, in the form of a CRUISE!!!

So for MONTHS AND MONTHS we’ve all been looking forward to it, and last week we finally had our cruisin’ trip!

We flew to Long Beach and stayed there for a few days before getting on the boat – we just took a short 4-day cruise to try it out and see how we liked it…FYI: we LOVED it!

While in Long Beach over the weekend, we went to the Aquarium, got lost on a bus, ate ridiculous amounts of Brazilian meat, and saw a play showing at a local theatre!

Rachel came too – she was just taking this pic!

Great Friends–Birthday Tribute: Ilene!

2010-11-17T12:28:00.001-08:00

I’m jumping the gun, since Ilene’s b-day is Friday, I just have so much to post!

Sometimes you wish you could pick who your sibling chooses to marry, I could not have chosen a better woman for Eric to marry!!

Ilene is truly my kindred spirit, we have so much in common and are mistaken for sisters often! It’s so fun that we married into the same fam, and can spend so much time together!

Reasons to love Ilene:

1. Her smile and energy is motivating!!

2. Loves being active and outdoors – which is great for me, because I’m cooped up in an office all day and need the exercise

3. She loves clothes as much as I do

4. So perceptive and aware of others’ needs – great at reading people

5. I get to have her as my sis FOREVER – and she lives so close, so we can talk, shop, snowboard, hike, camp, and have fun whenever we want!!

Love you Ilene!!

*Ilene & her twin bro!

Great Friends–Birthday Tribute: Mark (aka hottie)

2010-11-15T16:55:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was Mark’s b-day!!! I’m pretty sure I get WAY more excited about his birthday than him, but I’m cool with that!

Things I love about Mark:

1. He makes up songs about me on the fly and sings them around the house

2. He’s got wicked dance moves (all original)

3. We both listen to ghetto-beats in high school, and like me, he knows all the words to Baby Got Back

4. He’s a man’s man: he likes sports, tools, getting dirty, and fixing things

5. He doesn’t mind when I want to watch sports, play with tools, get dirty, and fix things

6. He believes in the ‘equality when possible’ mantra, and doesn’t expect me to do ANYTHING for him he can’t do himself…just cuz I have boobs

7. He is so supportive in my career aspirations, and wants me to be happy

8. He’s a mega-peacemaker, he’s the first to end all of our fights…even when I have plenty of ammo to keep battling

9. He’s so patient with my fat-free diet and has eaten many less-then-tasty dishes I’ve made asking “does this taste normal” and his answer is always an honest “nope, not quite”

10. He has loved me through surgeries, sickness, job issues, life changes, poor college life, stressful adult life, and just keeps giving me all the love I can handle!

HAPPY 27! LOVE YOU DUDE!

Goldeneye - Round 2

2010-11-04T19:41:00.001-07:00

Normally I'm not one to spend much time playing video games, (proof of that could be that April and I are the only people on the planet that own a PlayStation 3 and have zero games for it!) but I couldn't pass up this opportunity to play this remake of the classic Goldeneye game my brothers and I loved some 12 years ago.

Posted by Mark via Blogaway

Great Friends–Birthday Tributes: Kari

2010-11-02T13:01:00.001-07:00

November is absolutely PACKED with birthdays of people I love, it’s like in the years 1983-1985 Valentines Day was totally hot and many November babies came from it!

Today I will be paying tribute to Kari Widtfeldt:

She is FANTASTIC!! Fate brought us together, little did we know just how much fun we would have!

List of Similarities:

1. We were engaged in the same park

2. Married in the same month

3. Started school the same Summer semester

4. Graduated at the same time

5. Lived next door our 1st year (and didn’t even know it!)

6. Both worked while our husbands finished school, then moved to Kent, WA

Craziness!!

We have become so close, especially since being roomies when their house was being built, and living close enough to play w/them often – now the fam is in Winnipeg for about a year while John works on a project up there.

We miss you but love you!

Us and my padres at Bobby’s blessing

Paint & Technology

2010-10-20T15:32:00.001-07:00

Since working for Microsoft I get to try new-to-market things! Windows Live Writer is one of those, it downloads your current blog template, lets you write a post, rearrange and resize pictures how you’d like (as if you were in Powerpoint), shows you’re a constant preview of what it will look like on your blog – and you can upload it to the blog whenever you’d like! It’s working well so far!

On to My Next Big Project… PAINT!!! I fell in love with this pattern, and am thinking about it for the “office” (which is code for I’ve-never-used-it-as-an-office-but-thought-it-was-a-good-idea) I love that you just use tape to create the design!

Other taping-inspirations of mine:

For the master I’m thinking of BOLD stripes:

This one might be a little too much….

I’m starting on my Master bedroom tonight! Step 1: Take the bed apart!

Prepping for a Wedding Weekend

2010-10-14T12:32:00.002-07:00

This couple will be married this weekend

They're tying the knot in the LDS Seattle Temple

we are so happy for them!

Being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

being married is more than vows,

you, your spouse, and God agree to many important promises

there is no "til Death do you part"

you get Forever - forever with the one you love

even if lives are shortened, you will be with them again
It creates a strong marriage bond,

your spouse is above anything going in on the world

when you're constantly looking to foreverI did some demo-invitations for them

always fun to play around with layouts!

So excited to have Hailey officially part of the fam!

3 brothers, 3 spouses - we're complete!

Dumps like a truck

2010-10-05T13:06:00.002-07:00

You might be a redneck if...

You spent more on your truck than your education

I LOVE my BIG red truck!

p.s. I spent more on my education

We were so excited when we bought the truck 2yrs ago

It moved us, hauled, towed, and carried quite a bit!

That truck let us get through feet of snow

Let us take a tub, 2 toilets, 2 vanities and a microwave

to the dump...where it all belongs
Let us buy this awesome cart

so i can transport the HUGE stuff I buy

...AND that truck will haul enough fill dirt

to make my yard flat & beautiful!!

*more pics to come - not quite finished!

Seattle Fashion First 2010

2010-09-20T15:35:00.003-07:00

I love the high boots and peacoat

I love fashion

I've been working fashion shows for years

i started before i was 16 - just to be a part of it

probably the sweetest semi-part-time gig

that ever happened

so last week was Fashion First

which previews local designers

intermixed with couture

.fabulous.

Here's the ad and pics from the show

King Salmon Fishing On The Columbia River

2010-09-16T21:06:00.003-07:00

Yesterday two coworkers and I went fishing for kings on the Columbia river below priest rapids dam. We all caught our limit of kings plus one jack (the really small one). It was a blast! The kings ranged from 10-35 lbs. The Jack was around 5.

Last Weekend - 9/11

2010-09-16T15:13:00.003-07:00

Through my church I helped plan a big community service event to remember 9/11

9/11 Day of Service Northwest is what it was called - we had a great turnout, about 400+ came to serve and make the community better!

As part of the service a group went to a National Veterans Cemetery not far from where I live, and washed the headstones of the soldiers that are buried there.

It was pretty powerful stuff

They also have a service the 2nd Saturday of every month to honor those veterans that have died within the last month

Just so happens this memorial service was on 9/11 this year

Pretty powerful stuff

Great find!

2010-09-10T16:53:00.001-07:00

Angel food cake pan - 50 cents

Great finds!

2010-09-09T12:35:00.001-07:00

Shirt: g-sale 25 cents

Ruffled: free from my sewing machine

Great finds!

2010-09-09T12:33:00.001-07:00

Snowboard, bindings & boots - craigslist (CL) $60

Great finds!

2010-09-09T12:21:00.001-07:00

Bar stools Craigslist $10

New Boots

2010-09-07T18:57:00.001-07:00

New boots are one of those things that lonly ook new for about an hour. Its unbelievable how much money is spent on boots that you will just go out and thrash everyday. New boots are difficult for me cause I like to take good care of the things I have so the idea of taking a prefecture good boot out on a construction site is almost painful. So much so that I delayed buying new boots for months. I rubbed them down with a concoction of pine tar, mink oil, and beeswax for good measure.

So I'm a little crazy. So what!

Not All Bears Are Created Equal

2010-08-27T23:00:00.001-07:00

I have nothing more to say...

I like me a good Hoe-Down

2010-08-24T12:46:00.004-07:00

Here's a shot from the Omak Stampede - check out the bull...craziness

can't forget the rodeo queens - the life i never lived
a fuzzy pic of us in the grandstands
packed house in the small town of Omak

as part of the show this lady rode standing up 4 horses that were not connected, the things people do when the have a lot of spare time...

I think i was a cowgirl in a former life, i LOVE rodeos and if i get my way i'll be at one this weekend too!

Living Apart = More Hobby Time

2010-08-15T19:53:00.001-07:00

April does most of the posting on here and you'll notice that she has resorted to gardening to fill up most of her free time while living alone. I thought I'd share that with my extra time I have taken up fishing again and am having a lot of fun. Rather it be at any of the small lakes for trout or the Columbia river or lake Wenatchee for salmon, I am having a good time. I recently started fly fishing and am looking forward to trying rocky ford creek near ephrata soon. Above is a picture of a 9 pound dolly vardon (trout) that I caught in lake Wenatchee while fishing for sockeye salmon. Its an endangered species so I didn't take it out of the net for the picture.

Omak Stampede and Suicide Race

2010-08-15T19:29:00.001-07:00

We couldn't think of any better way to celebrate the half way point of living apart than going to the world famous Omak Stampede featuring the suicide race. Cowboys and Indians (literally) ride their horses down a cliff face, across a river, and into a stadium where the finish line is set up. It's one of those amazing things that everyone needs to see. You can see the cliff face behind us in the picture.

my hair did

2010-07-30T12:34:00.003-07:00

My hair was getting SO long

I had to get my hair did

here's 2 before pics:

And After! More blonde and quite a big shorter
maybe someday i'll be able to take the plunge
and actually cut it above my shoulders...
maybe

Sunny Seattle Days

2010-07-23T10:50:00.003-07:00

A few Sunny Saturdays ago,

I was tempted by a coworker

to go eat at this AMAZING

Brazilian restaurant - thx MJ

So off we went! Love The City when it's sunny!

Us eating large amounts of red meat
at 10 o'clock in the morning!

M's bro Brett & fiancee Hailey came with

So fun to chill w/them!

Time to Travel

2010-07-15T13:21:00.002-07:00

After M gets done w/livin in The Chee,

we want to take a good 2 weeks off

and go somewhere

it will likely be next May/June

The only stipulations are:

1. I want to fly over an ocean

2. I want the airplane seats that turn into a bed

3. Must be a relaxing place

4. I don't want a whirlwind tour of like 17 countries,

I want to go to a country and live the culture

So...I went to my favorite site vrbo.com and found fabulous places to rent,

I'm looking at Europe since the weather will be warm

where would you go?

Monaco on the water?

Switzerland? in the Alps...

Malta on a quiet street?
Ireland near the ocean?

Now you see why my decision is so hard - so many beautiful places at such good prices!

Sweet Dealio! Bzz talk

2010-07-09T09:21:00.003-07:00

Just found this awesome deal, and thought i would share -- for anyone of you planning to hit the road this summer and wear some tread on those tires:

Check out this link that will give you a $70 rebate on Michelin Tires this summer! http://bit.ly/bzwwLE

Have you checked out your tires lately? You need new tires when the tread has worn to 2/32 of an inch. Thanks BzzAgent for this sweet find!
Be safe and ENJOY this Summer!

I heart the outdoors

2010-07-07T14:17:00.005-07:00

Went camping for the 4th and have been loving the weather here so I wanted to share some great outdoor pics - the first is this old bridge near The Chee

Quick Friend Test:

If I asked you to come with me on this bridge,

would you trust me?

Correct Answer: n/a - I would NEVER ask you to go on this crazy/scary/unsafe thing

The rest of these pics are my yard :)
I am really enjoying gardening...who knew?

This patch of yard is my next big project -- it's like a jungle

and I've got to tame the wild beast
I made a rain chain next to my porch, and the water was just going into the ground, but i decided to make a rock garden/pile instead - i think this gives a nice background for the flowers!
I found this guy while working in the yard -- never seen a lizard like this in Sea-town before!

i just realized how truly random this post is -- i'm obviously having a hard time focusing after my day off :)

Wedding Bells!!

2010-07-02T09:45:00.002-07:00

i'm helping with M's bro and fiance wedding announcements - i'd LOVE your ideas and feedback! aren't these pics just too beautiful!

Yard damage

2010-06-24T10:53:00.001-07:00

This is what happens when I have a stressful week at work and its not raining...the yard gets my wrath

That poor bush

M is famous

2010-06-18T15:24:00.004-07:00

He was featured in the Wenatchee World this week, and I couldn't be prouder!

I know he'd make it big someday :)

The Curse of Garfield

2010-06-11T21:58:00.001-07:00

Have you ever had something that no matter how many times you try to get rid of it it just keeps coming back? I do, its a Garfield clock I got way back in like 1st grade. Our first attempt was selling it at a garage sell a few months back, that didn't work so we left it on some friends doorstep. We figured that they have kids and could use it.

Well a few weeks after that we came home from church and it was hanging from our gutter by its power cord. How cruel!

Tonight we returned the favor by leaving it on their doorstep again but this time accompanied by a pie from Shari's. Somehow I get the feeling that that wasn't the last time I willsee that clock.

Good lookin & lovin it!

2010-06-07T14:20:00.001-07:00

Chillin before church - johnnys younger bro got blessed yesterday - aka Robert Robbie Bobby Bert? nah! Ha-ha

Blessing cuteness

2010-06-07T14:12:00.001-07:00

Hope the pics aren't too skewed! Still tryin to figure out the phone-blog connection! Don't worry kari ill pull the photos off the phone tonight!

1..2..3..4...I declare neighbor war

2010-05-26T08:50:00.003-07:00

don't get me wrong - i've tried to be nice. I've 'killed w/kindess' and been VERY tolerant. but it's over now -- it's war and i'm winning...when one of the neighbor kids shivs a guy (i can define "shiving" for those who did not grow up in the ghetto...if you 'shiv' someone you stab them.) so anyhow, when the kid shivs a guy and is now serving time, and the only thing the older brother can say is "it would've been better if he had just stabbed the guy twice instead of three times, since the it might be self-defensive..." you know there's a problem.

So i have declared WAR...my first point of defense was to dig out 12ft privacy bushes from my padres yard and plant them next to the existing ones so they can't see into my yard at all. I also planted bushes that will block more so i don't have to look at there garbage-filled yard.

The last point of attack was to build a brick wall that goes along the property line from the bushes to the sidewalk that shows a clear line of where my yard stops and their yard starts.

i can't stand it when people don't take care of their crap...oh did i mention that some of the kids are living in an RV in the driveway? oh yeah - minor detail...that is a mess i do not want any part in -- hence the barricade I am creating with plants! :)

thanks for letting me vent.

PS when i post pics from my phone they come out wonky, anyone know why?

Product test: Covering Blast eye shadow

2010-05-24T16:02:00.001-07:00

I'm trying this new eye shadow - what do you think? I think its a great subtle look for summer smoky shadowblast

Fabulous find #47

2010-05-20T19:32:00.001-07:00

My mom picked up this banana republic dress at a g-dale last weekend

$3 ... that's all!

Are you paying too much for a silly dress? They're just clothes!

Anyway The Hunt is more fun - buying off the rack is just plain boring - join me in the hunt and your bank acct will be fat & happy!

Occupying my time...

2010-05-14T10:47:00.004-07:00

Playin w/this lil dude and the fam

hosting M's padres in The Chee/Leavenworth

took a frame, stretched lace across it - nailed in a few hooks...

and wha-la! a Jewelry organizer!

Padres remodel of their master bath...

DEMOLITION

Potting flowers for my porch
Planting my garden

taking this vinyl record

...and making cool bowls

and more!! i love my busy life!

High Tech - Highly Distracted

2010-05-11T13:26:00.003-07:00

Mark with all his gadget-knowledge has now showed me how to post to my blog from the phone...if you've already been doing this for years and are thinking "she is so behind the times" please hold your peace...i am personally impressed with this feat.

so now there will be A LOT more RANDOM/CRAZY/AWKWARD/CONFUSING posts showing up on the blog as Mark decides what information is very imporant to share and as I post something everytime a snap a pic...

this is how we roll

so to start the flood of incongruous images that will begin to inhabit this blog...

the first flowers in my yard!

Vivacious vinyl

2010-05-08T08:53:00.001-07:00

Let me give you a sneak peek at what I've been doing with my evenings...

April is awesome

2010-05-08T07:06:00.003-07:00

April is as awesome as this huge pay phone!

Work w/a new View

2010-05-04T20:28:00.003-07:00

We moved offices at work - so we're in a new highrise in dtn bellevue

w/my new position I'm in an office that has a huge window looking West towards Seattle over the water...gorgeous.

Majestic Mts & The Marathon

2010-04-30T14:56:00.003-07:00

Majestic

This pic was taken out the airplane window on the way to UT

I love Mt. Rainier...even if it is an unstable volcano
Mark ran a Marathon....don't hyperventilate, it was a relay
he ran 3.5 miles in the Wenatchee Marathon
I snapped this pic of the Wenatchee Riv on the trail
P.S. I put my polarized sunglasses in front of the lens
Here is the heroic group of Relay Marathon runners w/their Hammer baton!
Go Mortenson Construction!
Way to represent

What's Incredible? this.

2010-04-28T20:34:00.005-07:00

this is what happens when you are married to guy who likes tech-toys

you get a new phone

and you pre-order it

so you recieve it before it's released

got my HTC incredible today

View out my backyard - LOVE the green!

i'm weird

i don't like getting flowers from Mark
but i LOVE flowers in the ground.

Did a BUNCH of yard work yesterday

just enjoying the yard now

gotta show the baby a few more times...

2010-04-27T14:03:00.003-07:00

We just love this little guy

We had to give him a few more pics!

The REAL new arrival!

2010-04-08T21:15:00.002-07:00

Our BFFs John & Kari welcomed a new little boy into the family!

(we adopted ourselves into the family)

He is handsome and healthy!

Here are the boys Robbie & Johnny!

*disclaimer - i have not gotten permission to call the

newbie "Robbie" I just think it would be totally adorable.

dad & his new son

now kari is has 3-to-1 odds

there will be a lot of sports going on in this house!

our new addition

2010-04-07T12:58:00.003-07:00

i've been entertaining the idea of a piano for a while

so of course i started purusing on craigslist

well CG delivered once again

$100

yes i said one hundred dollars

for a pristine condition 1959 spinet upright

with a wonderful previous owner

that didn't tell me i was crazy

when i called back the day i looked at it

and said i couldn't wait for the weekend

i needed it NOW...so i rented a u-haul the next day

the hubby had no idea

but with the help of wonderful friends

and super-wonderful parents

we got it in the house

within 24hrs of laying eyes on it

who says you can't have what you want

right when you want it?

thanks craigslist

what joy you have brought to M & me

"covered" does not equal homely-looking

2010-03-30T12:55:00.003-07:00

I have an obsession w/swimsuits

i have for years

it makes me crave summer

and hot destinations

who decided slutty = pretty?

I say you can be covered

and still be ultra-SEXY!

Laundry Before/After

2010-03-24T21:47:00.002-07:00

I'm trying to be better about showing the improvements I've been working on

i LOVE looking at others before/after pics

so I'm working on showing mine!

I wanted to work on the basement

give it some updates, make it feel more roomy

Before:

After:

I got rid of the louvered doors, painted, and simplified the space

the room now feels more open, love it

Balls & Blondies

2010-03-19T14:30:00.003-07:00

I colored my hair.

I have NEVER done ANYTHING w/my hair until now

This is my wonderful friend Lisa

she also had virgin-hair

but no more

we're back to our color

when we were 6 yrs old

(we were friend then too!)

I like being blonde

Mark is on a dodgeball team

they have been playing for weeks

2 days ago they won...

Finally
Victory is so sweet

Multi-Family Sale - Spring Cleaning!!

2010-03-12T14:23:00.002-08:00

For all those in the seattle-area, just wanted to give a shout-out for what i'll be up to this weekend, feel free to stop by!!

GARAGE SALE!!!
I must admit i've never done my own before...
usually i'm just buying everyone else's stuff!

but with all the projects i've been doing around the house, I have some stuff to get rid of!

THIS SATURDAY - March 13th
Foxwood Neighborhood - Covington

We will make pretty signs and guide you in to where the good stuff will be!!

Have a great weekend!
I love fridays...

Love & Marriage

2010-03-04T08:36:00.003-08:00

wanted to share some other pics from the eric/ilene wedding

the lighting was horrible but what can you do!Mark-n-Me at Dinner

The Boys-n-Girls at the Reception

bright & magenta

2010-02-24T14:05:00.002-08:00

I simply cannot wait for these flowers outside my back door to come back!

this photo is not touched up

that is the actual vibrant color
I heart plants.

watch out little garden

here i come

I love when the sun is so bright i look washed out in pics cuz i'm so white

2-part Series: Product Tester Extraordinaire

2010-02-19T08:18:00.003-08:00

Part 2: Mahatma Rice = Delicious

Another product I have been testing lately as a BzzAgent - is Mahatma Rice, formerly S&W Brand - they've re-branded and are seeing how customers like the new look!

Anyone that knows me - knows how much rice i eat, so no doubt I have been LOVING this product-testing! I used my new rice-cooker to make some of the long grain white rice and to see how I like the taste I ate it completely plain...it was nice and sweet, just like i wanted it to be!

There's a bag of brown rice I need to make now -- I don't like brown rice alone so I'm looking on the MAHATMA website and loving what i've found!

2-part Series: Product Tester Extraordinaire

2010-02-19T07:58:00.005-08:00

Part 1: L'Oreal Paris Lash Boosting products

So I test products for a group called BzzAgent, I absolutely love it - i'm all about the consumer surveys and trying out new things! So I was sent the Lash Boosting Serum and Mascara/Base Combo -- I began using the Serum and put it on my lashes daily for 4 weeks -- This is a before picture -- I have blonde eyelashes so without anything on them it looks like I have no lashes at all!! I began to notice my lashes getting stronger and less of them falling out -

I think the serum really helped with my weak eyelashes, so if you have wimpy or short lashes I'd suggest trying this out!

I love the Base Coat/Mascara combo -- I had a few late-night company parties and when I put the base on, let it dry - then curled my eyelashes and put the mascara on, it lasted ALL NIGHT! For me that's unheard of so i was pretty excited -- here is a pic from one of the parties!

When it comes to beauty products, there are just always too many to choose from,

thanks BzzAgent for finding me some winners!

my man

2010-02-16T11:23:00.002-08:00

now that we live in separate towns,

I never tire of looking at his hot face

P.S. He looks yummy in his new suit

Lookin Good!

A lovely weekend!

2010-02-03T16:23:00.002-08:00

We traveled to the cold land of Utah for Mark's bro's wedding

It was so good to see the fam!

The girls got their nails did
We had a great family dinner - thanks Bruce & Cheryl!

And the deed was done!!

Don't they look fabulous!

2010-01-27T21:18:00.001-08:00

I love you!

Before/Afters - Family Room

2010-01-24T16:39:00.002-08:00

I decided to do a little touch-up

on the basement family room

Before: very neutral w/a terrible couch

After!

I painted one wall green and the others a soft creme/yellow

My parents were so nice to come help!

I also decided to take off the laundry doors

I like it better this way

the room obviously need more work :)

but I'm liking the progress!

Excitably Engaged

2010-01-15T10:09:00.005-08:00

Eric + Ilene
My BIL is getting married
and the happy couple could not be more excited!

i think those feelings are contagious and i love it.
i love the idea that you promise your whole self to someone
and not even death can separate what you have
that's real love
and i love loving
it's a favorite pastime for me
i'm not an overly emotional person
but birth control helps me tear up
and have my heart touched more often
thanks BC, i enjoy having you in my life.
I am planning Ilene's bridal shower in UT
do you know her and live in UT? let me know

it makes me reflect on Mark and I
do i tell him i love him enough?
do i remember to do nice things for him?
does he put effort into making me happy?

we are both VERY independent
so we have to remember to need each other
and to spend quality time together
to put effort into finding things
we love about each other

if it was possible
i would love him too much
but it's not possible
so i'll just keep it up :)

tall & sweet

2010-01-04T16:29:00.002-08:00

Everyone says "Short & sweet" but i'm not really short

so this is my tall & sweet message

Great holiday fun!

first is my company party

Another pic from the night
Then it's gingerbread @the youngs!

Everyone in the fam has a significant other

which has happened before

but this is different

everyone actually cares about each other

and they're looking long-term

so it looks like the Young fam will be complete soon!

Bright New Days

2009-12-01T14:46:00.003-08:00

This is the 1 perk of

getting up SO early,

and having it be dark

when I leave the house

and dark when I get home.

~Beautiful sunrises~

I get to watch

from my bedroom windowSo I've taken up painting other parts of the house - this time: the basement

I've decided it will be my workout space, so I need some FRESH color! I think i'll do black accents - we'll see!

Wheelin & Dealin

2009-11-22T18:01:00.004-08:00

Best Estate Sale Find...EVER

5 bones for this beauty amazing what a little wood finish can do!

I also redid one of the bedrooms - it had Winnie the Pooh wallpaper...hmmm

My papa helped me un-wallpaper -no more Pooh!

Here's the new room!

Wonders of the East

2009-11-17T15:26:00.003-08:00

There is so much of Washington to explore around The Chee,
we took one day to go to Lake Chelan and check things out
I've been craving a vacation rental w/friends
for a few long weekends next summer I always thought of Eastern WA as a huge bunch of nothing -but it is definitely growing on me!

Ever had a day like this...

2009-11-11T15:34:00.002-08:00

I have been SO hungry today'

it's like i can't get enough food.

nothing is satisfying

and I just want an IV

to get the nutrients i need.

lame.

any ideas?

Wanna go to jail? We did

2009-11-04T13:44:00.002-08:00

ALCATRAZ ... what a cool/spooky/terribly cool place!

On our mini-vaycay to San Fran we had to hop to the island

Us in a jail cell, worried for good reason
Cool little island...that was full of crooks

us @ golden gate bridge - VERY cool and very huge

Me posing for a pic w/a guy fishin in the fountain for change - tragic but that's the city for you!

Givin Props to my homegirl

2009-10-30T08:09:00.002-07:00

I've decided to have a family Halloween party
- so of course I made an invitation to send out to my peeps - and I thought 'why pick a piece of useless clipart when my friend makes AMAZING cards?' so I have to give MAJOR props to Kandis for this awesome halloween card!! I buy her cards and get compliments all the time at how creative they are - I need to get more - I always have a hard time giving them away!

So Kandis, YOU'RE AMAZING - you've taken a hobby, made it a passion and turned it into a career - only a few people in the world can say they've done this! So take a moment, a deep breath, and realize the things you create with your hands are unique and genuine - no one else can design a Kandis-card. love ya girl

Check out the invite - and have a Happy Halloween!

Pics from San Fran coming soon...

Loving my occupation

2009-10-07T10:11:00.003-07:00

In my office we have "Fun Fridays" and we pick an idea

out of a box each week - these are some of my favs

Camo Day

Hippie Day

Formal Day

Country Western Day

Only at a Marketing Firm could we get away w/being this crazy!

I love my job!

Work-it-Out

2009-09-24T11:16:00.002-07:00

With the house getting emptier - and my new acquisition of an Elliptical machine -- I am looking to make a workout room! i'm going to work-it-out from the comfort of my own house. awesome. But don't worry i'll have Jane Fonda parties!

any good fitness-room ideas? i'd love to see them! thanks!

M&A

My Desk in a Cornfield–Newsletter 1st Edition

Finished product!

WDM eatery

Ideas in my brain

Changes are a-comin...

A&M meets Minnesota!

Show me your skills! Check it out

Big Changes

Something’s Fishy

Sanding + Stain = Vintage Sweetness

Making it Ours

Kitchen Stool re-do

Exciting Addition

Past Projects

Beautifying La Casa

I heart B-days!

Wenatchee Catch-Up

Call me the Carpet Queen!

Coming Soon...

Beginning to see Green

My 2011 Wish List

The Green: Cash, Carpet, & Character

V-day Treats!

Coveralls & Construction Sites

Leather, dugouts and boots

Sister Weekend!

Nightstands and Gift Cards

The New Do…HAIR POWER!

Hair Power!

Christmas Gifts Unwrapped:

The Rise & Fall

Seahawks!

Wenatchee Weeekend: Eric & Ilene!~

Cruisin’ Part 2–Mexico

A Cruisin’ Thanksgiving–Long Beach

Great Friends–Birthday Tribute: Ilene!

Great Friends–Birthday Tribute: Mark (aka hottie)

Goldeneye - Round 2

Great Friends–Birthday Tributes: Kari

Paint & Technology

Prepping for a Wedding Weekend

Dumps like a truck

Seattle Fashion First 2010

King Salmon Fishing On The Columbia River

Last Weekend - 9/11

Great find!

Great finds!

Great finds!

Great finds!

New Boots

Not All Bears Are Created Equal

I like me a good Hoe-Down

Living Apart = More Hobby Time

Omak Stampede and Suicide Race

my hair did

Sunny Seattle Days

Time to Travel

Sweet Dealio! *Bzz talk*

I heart the outdoors

Wedding Bells!!

Yard damage

M is famous

The Curse of Garfield

Good lookin & lovin it!

Blessing cuteness

1..2..3..4...I declare neighbor war

Product test: Covering Blast eye shadow

Fabulous find #47

Occupying my time...

High Tech - Highly Distracted

Vivacious vinyl

April is awesome

Work w/a new View

Majestic Mts & The Marathon

What's Incredible? this.

gotta show the baby a few more times...

The REAL new arrival!

our new addition

"covered" does not equal homely-looking

Sweet Dealio! Bzz talk