Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:1-20


Happy birthday Jesus!!! thank you for being born :)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas Stress

Tuesday was our last small group. We had snacks, shared our high/lows, did a white elephant gift exchange, and ended the night with blessings. We shared with our small group leader (who is also one of the church pastors)something that we wanted for 2012, and then he prayed a blessing into each of our lives. One of mine was joy. And to trust God more. I do feel that I am more of a Debbie Downer, or as I prefer to think of it, Rachel Realist. But I think it would be better if I were more cheerful and optimistic.

Christmas is in 3 days. Usually at this time I'm excited and 'in the holiday spirit', but lately I've just been feeling stressed. Sometimes I think it's really hard being married during the holidays.

Both of our families want to do Christmas things at exactly the same time. I can't be in two places at once people! And even if it's staggered a bit, I hate leaving my family when they're just about to play a game or something to head off for another dinner. And compromising hasn't been so great in our household lately. We didn't see my family at all on Thanksgiving... mostly because my parents went out of state, and my brother and sister are gone now too, so we saw Hubb's family the whole day. It's not that I didn't like that, but now that it's Christmas you'd think we might be able to see my family a bit more. But no. We are seeing one side of his family on Christmas Eve day, and the other side of his family on Christmas. And squeezing in a few hours on Christmas day for my family. It stinks. I love his parents, I love his family, but they seriously all live in a 10 mile radius and get together a lot. My family is spread over Michigan and beyond so when we do get together- I want to be there. And I haven't seen any of my mom's side of our family since our wedding over a year ago.

Hence the stress.

I hate to air our dirty laundry online, but otherwise I've been turning into a sad sack by just keeping it in. So thanks for listening blog :)

Friday, December 16, 2011

Feeling Lucky

While my baby is having a rough car day, my week has been surprizingly lucky. The girl who has never won anything in her life won 2 things this week!

The first was a gift card to amazon I won for entering a online survey about the system my school uses, and the second, I just found out I won a new GPS! That one I had entered an essay contest writing about the fact that phones are now equipped with GPS tracking devices that could potentially be used to track the user. You had to pick pro or con. I picked con, typed up a quick essay, and won!

I am so excited. I have a Garmin, but something is wrong with the wiring and so it is CONSTANTLY losing it's electricalness and telling me that it's going to shut off. So annoying. Many a time I have wanted to hurl it out the window, and now I can :)

Except I won't... that's littering... but I will try to sell it on craigslist for maybe someone who wants to tinker with it. I am moving on to greener pastures.

Who knows, maybe I should go pick up a lottery ticket while I'm on a roll :)

Stranded

My poor baby was stranded by the side of the road this morning. About a mile from his work. His car died and he sat there about 20 minutes, then it started again and then died right in front of his work. He felt bad because another person had taken the day off so they were short staffed. By the time I woke up, got ready, turned my phone on and got his message he'd been sitting there for an hour just waiting for the tow truck to come while he could have walked inside and been working!

This month is going to be an expensive car month for us. Two weeks ago my car wouldn't start as we were trying to leave for church. We ended up carpooling to work for a few days while mine got towed to the shop and repaired. Stupid thing is, it ended up just needing a "tune up" and I was charged almost $300 for 2 hours of "labor" to replace spark plugs... um, why can I do that myself in under and hour and it takes you guys 2 hours?? Rrrr.... miss having my dad closer in these situations. I can help him fix stuff, but I can't diagnose car problems. A very useful skill. Anyway, last time we go to the "Christian" car repair shop!

Hubbs got his brakes fixed the month before and they charged him $400. He fixed the other ones with his friend last weekend for under $50. It is rediculous how car shops rip people off.

For awhile I wanted to start a father and daughter car repair, but my dad wasn't all that excited, I thought it would be great!

My one favorite car guy, a retired engineer from Saturn got too busy to help with my car and then my second favorite car guy moved to Arizona for a job. So now I'm stuck with whoever is closest when my car breaks down.

While I think we still save money because we don't have a monthly car payment, it stinks because those breakdowns always occur at such horrible times. And you never know how much they'll set you back.

Dear Santa, please bring us two new cars :)

Friday, December 9, 2011

Night Fights

Last night I was woken up in the early morning hours by a swift elbow to the neck. I, of course, woke up and said "OW!!" then I elbowed Andrew's back till he woke up and told him that he'd hit me. He said he was sorry and rolled over. This morning he kissed me goodbye and I grumpily ignored him. Then later sent an apology text and said I guess I was just mad still about the elbowing. He said he didn't even remember. Thanks!

As I was getting ready to leave I did remember this other time he told me where he was dreaming that a rat was on his side so he hit it with his elbow over and over. As he was doing this, he started waking up, and realizing that it was me he was repeatedly hitting. Somehow I slept through that one, but I always laugh when I think of when he told me about it, and his impression of him "killing the rat", "YA!, YA!, YA!" with each elbow. So funny.

It could be worse. His brother's wife told me she's been woken up by being punched, kicked, having handfuls of her hair being pulled. Ouch!

This weekend is going to be a busy one. Two work parties for Hubbs and mine on Saturday night. But should be fun!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Very Small Group

The other night was small group. We started with around 14 people, and there were 5 of us on Tuesday. One couple had school, one guy was working, one couple has a 4 month old baby, one couple has a 5 week old baby, and sadly, the last couple just lost their unborn baby. So it was a meeting that was more sorrowful than usual. My heart hurts for them, and we prayed that they would come together stronger than before in this time.

I feel like I know so many women who have had miscarriages. I just got a call from another friend that she had one around Thanksgiving. So sad. It seems more common that one would think. I think I remember learning it's actually 1 in 3, but some of those include women who didn't even know yet they were pregnant.

I can't imagine how terrible it would be. God give them strength and peace!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Cleaning and Concerts

This weekend was a good one. Hubbs and I finally cleaned our nasty apartment. You know it's been too long when you reach for something on your bathroom counter and your nail scrapes the counter and gets a crusty toothpaste glob under it. EW! So we cleaned one night and brought out the down comforter for the bed.


On Saturday night we went to a friend's house for our annual Elf party. Pretty much just a chance for the ol' college gang to get together, have potluck dinner together, and talk and laugh while Elf is playing in the background. There were a lot of babies this year! But it was great to get together and catch up on everyones lives. Good times!

Two elves


And then Sunday we picked up my grandparents and went to my parents Christmas choir concert.



Afterwards we went to their house and had snacky stuff and talked with my parents friends, it was really a good fun time. They have some funny friends. My favorite is this one lady who told me once that God made her using all the leftover parts. She described it as if God was standing in front of an assembly line... "small, squinty eyes", "check", "big nose", "check", "big boobs", "check", it was hilarious. I really like her.

The not so cool part of this weekend was my car wouldn't start on Sunday. And of course no one is open then either. So Monday I had to have it towed somewhere and worked on while I had to be dropped off super early at work, and get picked up late, because Hubbs and I had to carpool. Anyway, now I'm feeling dumb because it ended up being like a $300 dollar "tune-up", for something like spark plugs that I know how to do myself. Oh well, I'm not a good car diagnoser, and that's half the battle, plus cold outdoor car repair is another serious deterrent.

Anyway, I need to google some 'natural snore remedies'. The last 2 nights I've been woken up by the Hubbs, and then am later subsequently tired and grumpy. I know it's just because he somehow gets on his back and then snores away. Once I read to sew a tennis ball on the back of a shirt because then they will unconsciously not lay on their back- but I can't sew a ball onto his skin. So I just end up waking up and trying to roll him over. Oh well, comes with the territory I guess.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Bathroom Chats

Wow. I can’t believe it’s the first of December already. And I am 30 and 1/3. Geez, time flies.

Yesterday I was in the bathroom at work and I could overhear these women talking about their love for chips. It was amusing.

Lady 1: I love chips
Lady 2: Me too, I could live on them. Although it wouldn’t be healthy.
Lady 1: Have you ever had chip cookies?
Lady 2: No, but I want the recipe.
Lady 1: I like the folded ones.
Lady 2: I like plain.
Lady 1: I love all chips.
Lady 1: Except Better Made chips.
Lady 2: They are a poor excuse for chips.
Lady 1: They don’t even count as chips.

I was in my stall stifling a laugh. It just went on and on! But I totally agree on the dislike for Better Made chips, sorry Detroit, not your best.

Speaking of the bathroom, the other day on the door of the office bathroom stall this poem appeared:

“If you sprinkle when you tinkle, get to your feet and wipe the seat.”

Catchy, no? But something about it bugs me. I also hate coming into the bathroom and having stuff on the seat – although in random person’s defense – sometimes it’s just toilet flushing spray water. Anyway, I kept thinking about a response poem, like “If you don’t like cleaning up after slobs, maybe it’s time to look for other jobs…” I laughed, but I think it’s kind of mean, so I didn’t write anything. Someone’s just trying to make their job easier!

Last night Hubb’s grandpa had a couple minor strokes. Today he is in the hospital for tests. I felt like a listening/supportive failure because that stupid health side of me is just instantly thinking about the health part- and not the emotional part. So I start to ask a question, and then instantly say “nevermind”. But of course, that doesn’t fly in our house, so he kept asking me what I was going to say and I have to ask: “isn’t stroke one of the 3 leading causes of death?” Um… sorry about that. Luckily it was just us, and my husband in the medical field and is real about things, but that would not have been good to say in front of anyone else. And he knows I do care, I’m just awkward. I don’t understand why I can be so cold and factual about that stuff – I do care!!

Anyway, we are hoping and praying for good test results today for grandpa.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

it's beginning to look more like Christmas (in our apt)

When I came home last night Hubbs wasn’t feeling good and was napping on the couch. If I had a dollar for every time I came home and he was laying on the couch- I’d pretty much be a dollar richer every day. Must be nice. I feel like I’m always rushing around making dinner, doing errands, etc.


Last night we didn’t go to small group because we got a text from our group leaders that their basement had flooded. Again! They were almost done with their basement remodel after the last flooding a few months ago, and now again. I feel bad for them, that must be so frustrating. So instead I got to spend an evening at home with the Hubbs. That was nice too. For dinner I tried to make this noodle thing that my mom always used to make. It’s pretty much just elbow macaroni, beef and tomatoes. Mine was ok, but mom’s is super good. I don’t know what her secret is. I also tried to make a apple stuffed acorn squash side dish that my friend Liz made last year and was awesome. I’m not a big squash fan, but hers was super good. Mine was good, but not “Liz good”. That seems to be a phrase I often say after trying one of her recipes unfortunately.


Then we played my favorite Christmas music while we set up our Christmas tree. As we’re setting up Hubbs asks me if the songs are in English. I was really surprised because they are singing, but I couldn’t understand how he couldn’t understand the words. Beautiful singing fail. Now our apt is nice and holidayesque.




Also, after our Toronto trip, I am the proud owner of two new squashed pennies for my Penny Passport. The CN Tower penny and the Casa Loma penny.


It's crazy how some pennies get squashed so much longer than other ones!
Behold my collection:


So I was scared when I peeked out the window this morning after all the 3-5 inches talk last night, but there was just a dusting on the car. Soon enough winter will be here!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Toronto

Anne and Andrew’s trip of fun (and hunger and dehydration). Andrew and I went to Toronto for the long weekend. He had gotten me a city pass back in August for my birthday, and this was the first time we could go. So we packed our bags Friday and headed up to Canada. We did not pack very well. We had plenty of clothes, but the snack bag was not well thought out and I had a hungry Hubbs on my hands! Plus what is up with Canadians not drinking water!? Everytime we went to get something to eat we’d ask for water and would receive a tiny Dixie cup of water. And there was hardly a water fountain in sight any touristy place we went. So yeah, the first night had a pretty bad headache, but otherwise a great trip.


On the bridge to Canada


walking around town

The first night we went out for Thai food, yummy, and walked around the city a bit. The next morning we started out at the Royal Ontario Museum, and then walked to Casa Loma and toured there. Then we took the subway (our dogs were barking!) downtown and went to the CN Tower. I remember when I went there for the 7th grade field trip that there was a “ride” (pretty much a big screen, but the chairs move so you feel like you’re on a ride) and it was the Indiana Jones Temple of Doom mine scene. I was so excited to see if they still had it. Well, 15 years later, you are now a mined log on a journey to the river. Why anyone would build a roller coaster for their logs…. but hey, I guess the designers got to use the same code. I think my stomach is a bit touchier than when I was a kid because it made me a bit nauseous. But it was really neat to see the Toronto skyline at night. Pretty!


Tiger at the Royal Ontario Museum


Casa Loma


CN Tower (the ever flattering neck view ;))


on the CN Tower observation deck, so windy!

The next day we went to the Toronto Science Center. It was my favorite museum. There was a lot of hands-on fun interactive stuff. Really neat. We then went to the nearest grocery store to get some dinner and to find my favorite Canadian cereal Red River, which we could not find. Tear! It’s yummy, and only available in Canada. Since my last box of Red River fell prey to the pantry moths I have been needing another box, but alas, cannot find.

Rats, google says Red River had a recall because they had undisclosed soy in there. So slap a sticker on it, don't deny people who don't have soy allergies!!



science center


same picture- in bubbles!


a side trip to the Taj... jk

Anyway, another great trip with my favorite traveling buddy!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Weekend Review

Since this guy was out of town on a hiking trip with his brother


I mostly spent the weekend with this guy


And it was nice.

To "prepare" for the new Breaking Dawn movie I re-watched the 3rd movie Eclipse, which made me want to watch parts of New Moon, and also parts of Twilight. I pretty much watched all 3 movies again. And of course it made me want to re-read the books... The problem with these movies/books is that it speaks to women's need to be loved and appreciated. And I get that, God designed us different from men that way to need that more, but it makes it seem like being worshiped is something that we should expect and that I think is dangerous. My husband loves me, would sacrifice himself for me, but he does not worship me. And he shouldn't. That's the only thing I don't like about the books - unhealthy relationship! But otherwise I do love the story. I should have made a mark on the movie for every time I've seen it- I have probably seen Twilight at least 8 times. Don't judge.

There was one part in the movie I laughed out loud- when Jacob (in wolf form) was standing up to the alpha wolf and his voice sounded like he was being autotuned or speaking into one of those kid's microphones. And his 'wolf vision' also made me laugh. It was supposed to be serious, but I couldn't help laughing, it just seemed silly.

Since Hubbs was gone this weekend I pretty much kept meals low key. But after my third meal of scrambled eggs I decided to make some chili



my pot was getting so full! and just as I was wondering if that was the biggest pot I owned, I remembered the corn-on-the-cob pot


much more appropriately sized :)


I used up the turkey burgers that we bought, but are always too dry, and added lots of spices and it was pretty yummy.

Hubbs came home with all of his fingers and toes unfrozen and we had a nice night catching up.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

He's on a Bike!

I was laughing last night when Andrew came home and told me about his biking adventure. He said he and the other therapists got on their bikes and started to leisurely ride through the city. Andrew said he was instantly panting and sweating and still falling behind everyone. He said they were like, "you can run a marathon but you can't ride a bike?!?" Finally another therapist got on the bike to adjust the gears, but noticed that they were fine. It was flat bike tires!!! Luckily someone had a pump and he was able to ride with ease the rest of the way.

His impression was so funny!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Bike Lights


Today after work Hubbs is going to “Bike Lights” with his co-workers. They all decorated their bikes and they are going to ride around together through the city looking at Christmas lights. How fun! I love that he is in a place where people are friendly and fun and like a community. I do like a lot of the people at my work, but the most I’ve ever done outside of work was to be exploited at a candle party, lol.

So last night he wheeled his bike into our apartment and we decorated it with the lights. At first the strand wasn’t lighting up. We make sure ever bulb was plugged in, but still nothing. I looked inside the battery box part and it looked like the wire wasn’t really touching the battery so I told him he should try squeezing it with the pliers- and it worked! He then told me “thanks babe, you could be an electrician”… awwww….

He has been so super helpful lately, I really appreciate it and feel so lucky to be with someone who helps me and makes life easier. I actually was home last night in time to make dinner and he just asks me “what do you want me to make?” and starts chopping up the food. Love it! World’s greatest husband!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Weekend Recap

Geez, it’s only Tuesday and I can hardly remember what I did already. Friday night Hubbs and I went out to Applebee’s where he got free dinner for being a Veteran. Saturday we went to my grandparent’s house to clean. In the evening my parents came and joined us for dinner. They will be out of town on Thanksgiving, so we still wanted to get together. I brought scalloped potatoes that were still a bit crunchy and needed to go back in the oven. My grandparents are really going to think I’m a bad cook after that and the fact I almost served them raw chicken when they came to visit a few weeks ago! Saturday evening we went to Andrew’s cousins for a gender reveal party. Pink icing, it’s a girl! So that was fun. Sunday was a pretty lazy day with plenty of Dexter watching. We are now up to season 3. It’s lost some of its initial interestingness, but still good. Some eats from the week


french onion soup


beef stroganoff with broccoli


blackberries on sale, only 50 cents a tub!


blackberry shake for Hubbs


blackberries & ice-cream for me


vegan raw 'caramel' apple dip and a US weekly mag


and my cute dishwasher :)

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Book Club

Last night was book club. We read the book The Language of Flowers, which was really a great book. It was my turn to host. This time I could not think of anything I wanted to make- so I decided on new recipes. Always a risky gamble, but mostly turned out well. I made a pot roast, garlic roasted brussell sprouts, a upside-down potato onion tart and for dessert, Ultimate Chocolate Chip n' Oreo Fudge Brownie Bar. The dessert was super rich, but yummy.

The pot roast recipe was from one of Hubb’s co-workers. It asked for a whole jar of horseradish to be spread on top. It was like, “don’t worry, the flavor will mellow after hours of cooking and your guests will wonder what the delicious flavor is”….. Well, the flavor wasn’t horrible, but it was still pretty strong and I felt like the horseradish took away from the delicious flavor of the meat. But the sprouts were good and the tart, although I should’ve baked it in the nonstick pan instead of the metal pan because it kind of stuck when I tried to flip it, were tasty. Poor Hubbs went to our small group last night without me, and before he was leaving he kept saying “I like food” and “how come I don’t get fancy food” :( I try Hubbs! I do try! At least I did make a menu for this week and we have had good food every night, so I think I’m doing good.

Anyway, we were talking last night about how hard it is to make friends once you’re older and it is true. We have made some friends through church, and Hubb’s work friends, but otherwise not so much. We were just sharing last night about how much we love our book club, and the fact that being ‘forced to hang out once a month’ has really bonded us. I’m so thankful for girl friends!

Friday, November 4, 2011

still lazy

Lazy slug-ness continues. I don’t know what it is. I’ve had a cold this week, but otherwise I just could not get my behind out of bed this week. One time I did a pilates video, and one yoga video, but those don’t really count as exercise in my opinion. Especially yoga…

There was a time when I exercised every single day (well, except Sundays). If I missed it in the morning, I’d do it in the afternoon. But now if I miss the morning, there’s no hope for that day. I don’t know when I became so lackadaisical. It’s funny; I look and weigh pretty much the same, although I don’t have my fat calipers anymore, so I am curious how my body fat composition has changed. Anyway, need to get back on track. I feel better, and stronger when exercise is a constant in life. And I know it’s healthier for my bones too.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

sleep- or lack of it

I don't know what's going on this week, but so far I cannot sleep! Hubbs works the early start the next couple weeks (he either starts at 6:30, 7 or 7:30am) so this week he wanted to go to bed early. Which means I go to bed early too. This past weekend we went to bed both nights at 2am, which is pretty rare, but could that be the reason now that when we went to bed last night 10-ish I lay there till 12?? It seems that when I do finally fall asleep, I can't stay asleep that long. It stinks. And this morning I woke up to my nose bleeding. Random!

The past few nights I have had crazy realistic dreams. The night before I was on a boat and we were trying to secretly rescue these dolphins and sea turtles. Last nights dream I was trying to find a class to take an exam. There was an information desk where I stopped to ask for directions. I remember I had to fill out this form which was in German, but it didn't really make sense anyway. Then as I'm clearly in a hurry she is offering me a pouch of seeds for sale and I whacked them out of her hand and yelled at her for offering me seeds when I'm in a hurry. Then she was so nice to me and said that if I missed the exam turn in, my teacher was her neighbor so she'd take it over if I needed. And I felt guilty for being mean to her. I finally get to class and I'm crying, and the exam had started and my teacher had this awesome bell music box that was playing and it was so relaxing. Anyway, then I noticed my nose bleeding and woke up. Dreams are so strange- these dreams were so real, and then when you read it, they just make no sense.

Anyway! My mom is bringing over my humidifier, so maybe that will help against future nose bleeds, but otherwise I guess I just have to adjust to the shift. But hope I can soon, it stinks laying there awake all night!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween

Mock - yeah

Ing - yeah

Bird - yeah

Yeah - yeah





The Halloween party we went to on Saturday was pretty fun. I brought witches fingers


and we hung out with some of Andrew's work friends, and played flip cup. I had never played before, and it was actually kind of fun. Besides the stress reminiscent of high-school gym class relays, it was more fun with beer I guess. I'm not a big drinker, my cup always had like 1/2 inch in it, but the new Bud Light Lime is actually pretty good I discovered!

Before the party we mostly spend the day prepping for the party after sleeping for 11 hours!!


Hubbs learned to use the sewing maching and hemmed his suit.

The most disturbing thing at the party was we met a lady, a neighbor of Andrew's work friend, who started telling us she met her husband when he was married to someone else and traveling here on business. She explained how they started talking, and went out for coffee, and 'that was it' she said. It was the oddest conversation. We both were awkwardly like 'um, great'. What do you say to someone who just told you she helped divide up someone's marriage? Of course in these situations I feel the guy is more at fault, he was the one actually breaking his marriage vows, but still, is this something that should be celebrated? We liked the people, but I just didn't know why she was so up front about something we did not ever need to know.

Anyway

Today Hubbs left for work dressed like this


Dopey the dwarf!

He and the other therapists are going to work today dressed as Snow White and the 7 dwarfs. So fun. They even watched part of the movie the other day to 'get into character'. He was singing 'Hi-Ho' as he marched around the apartment the other day. How fun, and how nice to bring a smile to his patient's faces.


Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 28, 2011

food, delicious food

So my healthy food blog girl is back in. Earlier this week we strayed from our usual making butternut squash soup from the butternut squash my mom gave me, and we roasted it instead, and made black bean and butternut squash burritos. You might wonder if we were skeptical, and yes, we were. First of all, squash in a burrito? And secondly, blog girl said this was her first time making burritos... ?! But well done blog girl, well done.


Delicious. We used regular cheddar cheese instead of her special cheese, but otherwise, pretty easy recipe. And delicious lunch leftovers.

I came home last night to another one of my all time favorites meals


I don't know why I love this so much, but I do. Pierogies, turkey kielbasa, and broccoli, all dusted with cayenne pepper. Yum.

And Hubbs tried the Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier, I thought it had a little too much beer - not enough blackberries, but Hubbs liked it


This weekend is shaping up to be a good one.

Tonight Red Wings game (eh) with friends (yay)

Saturday ....errands...relax... Halloween party

Sunday ... church... grandparents over for lunch... relax

Sounds perfect to me!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

work it out

I feel like I've been the laziest slug lately. I used to be so good about exercising everyday. Although in my defense, this is my first time working full-time, but regardless, busy Anne = lazy exercise Anne.

The fact that it's now darker when it's time to get up isn't helping, want to stay in bed!

Anyway, the past couple days I've been forcing myself out of bed and doing one of my old videos. I'm liking it better this time around so far.


I'm still not crazy about her personality. And as someone who has a minor in exercise science, I was taught to give your muscles a day of rest - where this video has you do the same workout every day all week - that I don't agree with. So I do her video and alternate days 1, 2, and 3. So everyday a muscle is being worked, but just not the same exact muscle for 5 days straight.

Anyway, it is a pretty good workout. My shoulders are in pain right now. But it's good. A friend says she has another one by Ms. Micheals and I'm excited to do a video trade. I like the variety and the fact that I can try another video without spending $15 :)

Monday, October 24, 2011

everybody's working for the weekend...

Myself included.

This weekend was so nice. Friday night we had another couple over for an impromptu game night


We played Taboo, which is actually more hard than fun in my opinion, and then my favorite all-for-one pictionary. Yay!

Saturday we met up with other friends for lunch at a Vietnamese place my friend is always raving about. My dish was kind of strange. It was skinny white rice noodles, chicken, veggies like lettuce, carrots and cucumbers and a sweetish sauce- but it was cold. It was ok, I think I was expecting more like thai or chinese. Hubbs got the traditional 'pho' which was like a broth meat/noodle/veggie bowl that he really liked. We also got half of our halloween costume, exciting!

After that we went and got icecream and played Farkel at our favorite icecream place where they have both of our faves, me: eskimo kisses, hubbs: amaretto cherry


Next we stopped by Hubbs' parents for a quick visit, then went back to our apt and watched a blue box movie, Pelham 123, (ok). We wanted to see Bad Teacher, but they charge $3 for new movies apparently, so we didn't.

Movie snacks:


The forementioned homemade crackers (ok, so they are good with cheese) and a cranberry chocolate chip muffin.


ahhh...love....

Sunday we went to church, and then went up to my parents for lunch. It was nice, haven't seen them in awhile. We showed them our Peru pics and then showed my dad how to add/confirm friends on facebook. He was ruthlessly 'ignoring' people. It was funny. We all went on a walk together and then we went home. Hubbs had basketball and I had pumpkin donuts to make.


At first I thought they weren't that good. But that was pretty much because they had cooled down too much. I tried one more, microwaving it for a few seconds before dipping it in butter and cinnamon sugar


tasty!


Last night we watched the premier of 'Once Upon a Time' which I thought would be a different fairy tale in each episode, but it seems like a season long story. Which makes sense I guess, they want you to keep watching. It was ok, maybe worth another try.