2007 Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
2008 Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov
1/9/2006Black Cherry Vanilla Coke
Well, I tried it. I tried Black Cherry Vanilla Coke this weekend and to be totally honest...
I liked it. Do I like it better than Vanilla Coke? The jury is still out on that one. I think it's a very nice blend of Cherry Coke and
Vanilla Coke. It has a slightly less intense flavor than Cherry with the smoothness of Vanilla. I think it's safe to say that
I will not need to boycott the Coca-Cola Company. But if they soon ditch this product for something ridiculous like Grape Banana Vanilla
Coke I'm done. What I find peculiar about my Vanilla Coke obsession...is that I'm not even a cola addict. I probably have two sodas a week. What can I say, I'm a very passionate person.
add a comment | 0 comments
1/22/2006Our House, Is a Very, Very, Very Fine House
We've decided to move to a bigger house. We put our house on the market almost two weeks ago and placed a contingent offer on a house that's conveniently located one block away from us. We'll gain another bedroom and bathroom upstairs and the basement is currently unfinished which would allow us to eventually put in another bathroom and bedroom and a family room. It all hangs on selling our house so while I'm excited, I don't want to get my hopes up too high.
What I have gotten my hopes up about is that Eric said I can get a
dog after we move. We still haven't nailed down a timeline...one day after we move, two months...six months? Of course I'm pushing
for sooner rather than later but, as with most things in a marriage, it's all about compromise. Right now I'm thinking I'd like
a schnoodle...a mix between a miniature schnauzer and a poodle. They are soooo cute!
add a comment | 0 comments
1/26/2006Ebay
As of late, my ebay passion has been sparked again. It all started with a chandelier. I've been itching for one for a while now, but
I'm very particular about what I want. I saw one on a decorating show that I fell in love with and have been eyeing it on the
vendor's website. Enter Ebay offering me my dream chandelier at a savings of about sixty dollars. There is still some work to do to make my dream a reality...the chandelier is actually a lamp that has an in-line switch. So we need to get a lighting kit to make it work as an actual chandelier. The plan is to put this creation in the new house...but I'm so excited about it I may have to convince Eric to put it in this one and then take it with us. add a comment | 0 comments
2/2/2006It Makes Me Happy
- When someone comes to look at our house
- When I listen to Jack Johnson
- When I feel like a genius...like I did yesterday because I fixed two computer issues in a very, very clever manor.
- When I can laugh at myself...like just now when I spelled genius wrong and were it not for spell check it would remain wrong. Do you suppose a person can be a genius even though they cannot spell genius? Or are they even more so because they use spell check?
- When it's almost Friday
- When I think about February because three of the most important people in my life have birthdays this month...my mom, my friend Kyra, and my friend Jen. I'm sure lots of other people have birthdays in February and you know what...that makes me happy too.
- When someone compliments my wedding ring. One of the ladies did this morning in the cafeteria and it makes me feel good because Eric picked it out himself with hardly any direction from me (I just said I wanted silver and a round stone) and my ring is absolutely perfect for me. Mostly because it came from him, but I just love its simple elegance and uniqueness...I've never seen anyone with a ring like mine.
- When I get emails from my friend Kerri because it feels like we're having a face to face conversation. And because we both laugh at a very disturbing incident in Wisconsin Rapids involving an animal carcass. View at your own risk... Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune
- When it's almost lunch time.
2/9/2006Is It Snowing
I wonder if it's snowing outside. My office is in the basement and there isn't a window insight. I thought it was supposed to snow this afternoon. The current time is 12:12 so if you're reading this and you know if it's snowing or not, email me. I have a training session I'm teaching in an hour, and then I'll be able to see for myself but until then, I'm left to my own curiosity.Not much has been going on lately...this weekend we're celebrating my mom's birthday so that will be fun. I love it when I get to spend time with my family. We have this peculiar dynamic that is very difficult to describe. I once had a boyfriend who had lunch with all of us and broke up with me shortly there after...not sure if there is a connection but we were in rare form that afternoon. Thankfully Eric doesn't scare easily and despite his somewhat sedate nature he fits in perfectly. add a comment | 0 comments
2/21/2006Eric
This is going to get a bit mushy, so read at your own risk.I always love my husband, but lately he has made it extremely easy to do so. Last week on Valentine's Day of all days I kind of lost my wedding ring. It was on my finger before I left work and went I got to work I realized it was not on my finger. I was still in the car when I noticed this, so I knew it had to be somewhere in the house or in the car. After a brief search through the car I got to my desk and frantically called Eric to ask him to search the house before he left for work. I went to a meeting and returned to my desk to find not only my wedding ring, but also flowers, fruit rollups (my latest addiction), a Nutrageous bar (my favorite candy bar), a Starbucks Frappuccino drink (my poison of choice), and a very sweet card. These tokens of affection were all the more appreciated because we had agreed several days earlier that we didn't feel like celebrating Valentine's Day. So it was my favorite kind of gift..."Surprise, here it is!"
Last week was kind of tough for me...projects at work and church kept me extremely busy and we had company over the weekend which kicked me into overdrive as I tried to prepare for them. Went I get stressed the crabby factor kicks in...I'm not always the easiest person to be around. But it never seems to phase Eric and instead of getting crabby back he finds ways to help out...he cleaned the kitchen, he went grocery shopping, and if that wasn't enough, he bought me Chubby Hubby ice cream to soothe my crabbiness. What more could a girl ask for? add a comment | 0 comments
2/22/2006Good Hair Day
I rarely buy the same type of shampoo/conditioner twice in row. Yesterday was no exception. I had been using Neutrogena's Triple Moisture Brand and it was really great. My hair didn't get staticy halfway through the day like it normally does in winter. But my craving to try something new kicked in and yesterday I picked up some Ausie Moist brand...and today I'm having a great hair day! I don't know if it's the shampoo/conditioner or just the fact that I switched to a new brand. I've heard hair can get used to a treatment and almost become immune to it. add a comment | 0 comments3/1/2006Washington DC
We had a great weekend in Washington DC visiting Eric's sister Amy. It
was a lot of fun and the perfect balance of business and laziness. On Friday we bummed around downtown a bit and checked out a couple
Smithsonian museums. I got to see some dinosaur bones which was high on my priority list as well as some cool historical stuff like
gowns that were worn by the First Ladies. On Saturday we did a bus tour and got to see the big ticket items like the Lincoln Memorial.
A good time was had by all. ....addendum on March 10th
I don't feel that I accurately conveyed what a great time we had with Amy in DC...it was exactly the kind of trip Eric and I needed... I can't express how great it's been to get to know Amy more. She has such a great way of making you feel comfortable. I am always adjusting to being apart of a new family, but Amy makes the process so easy.
add a comment | 0 comments
3/10/2006Bad News Good News
Depending on how you wish to receive good news/bad news, I've clearly separated this entry into two categories.Bad News
Last week we found out that someone placed a non-contingent offer on "our house" rendering it not so much ours. Because our current dwelling has not sold yet, we could not drop out contingency and therefore withdrew our offer.
Good News
The realtor of the house we had put an offer on is also the builder. We met with him last Sunday and he has offered to build us the exact same house right next door. The great thing is we get to tweak anything we didn't like about the other house...for example enlarging the dining room and getting a bigger master bathroom. Even better, he'll do it for the same price so we've really lost nothing and gained our perfect house. Hurray! add a comment | 0 comments
3/13/2006Pretty in Pink
This weekend I replaced my cell phone of over two years with something
I have coveted for quite some time...a fabulous pink phone! To give you an indication of how much I wanted it, I sacrificed features for
color. This phone doesn't have a camera phone or caller ID on the outside like my last one...the camera phone is no big deal because I
never used my old one...but the caller ID would be nice. Fashion has its price. I don't use my cell phone that much anyway so the loss
of caller ID will hardly be felt.
add a comment | 0 comments
3/19/2006SOLD!!
We sold our house!! We got a great offer on Friday and filled out the paperwork to accept the offer that day. I think we need to verify the financing, but the buyer is pre-approved so it's basically a done deal. I'm so thankful! The closing date is June 1st and our new house won't be built until sometime in July or August so we'll need to move twice which kinda sucks, but I feel it's well worth the weight of selling being lifted. The plan is to move into one of Eric's rental. In the mean time we're going to be doing some home improvement projects on it...stuff like redoing the bathroom, painting cabinets, et cetera. I'm naive enough to think it will be fun. :) add a comment | 0 comments3/23/2006Something Math People Do
Let me first say that I am not a math person. Never really have been...doubt I ever will be. It's weird too, because when I was single I managed to keep my checkbook in order...never over drafted or anything like that...and yet somehow, I can't manage to add double digit numbers together.My husband, however, is a math person. Very much so. Recently I noticed something that he often does and I realized I've seen several "math people" do it. So let's say I ask him to add 13 and 35...he'll say something like, "Well, 10 plus 35 would be 45 and three more would be 48." (by the way that's correct for all you other non-math people grabbing for your calculators) He breaks it down into smaller, easier number first. He's so smart!!
I'm always trying to visualize the numbers...so in my head it goes something like..."Okay, you can do this. You can do it. You just need to focus. Crap, what was the first number? 12? no...13...yeah, 13 plus 35. Okay...5 plus 3 is...um...8 and then the other numbers I have to add are....try to visualize the numbers....5 and 1?...so 6.....what was the other number I said? 8....so 68. 13 plus 35 is 68."
And now you understand why I'm not a math person. add a comment | 0 comments
3/30/2006Happy
I'm very happy today. One of my dearest friends Kerri is getting married! I've known about the engagement for a little bit but didn't feel it was my place broadcast it all over my website...however, now that it has been broadcasted all over hers for a coule days, I feel welcome to follow suit. :) Brad and Kerri are both dear friends, a great couple, and hold a very special place in my heart.In other exciting news we're making progress on plans for the new house. We picked out cabinets on Tuesday and hopefully our flooring choice will be finalized by the end of the week. It's exciting to customize things but in other ways it's a lot of pressure...we're picking styles and colors that we have to live with for the next ten to twenty years and if we don't like them we have no one to blame but ourselves. The pictures below are of our land and the site of our eventual dwelling.
add a comment |
0 comments
4/3/2006Sore
I know I'm getting older because any out of the ordinary activity makes me sore. This weekend we started work on the duplex...Eric ripped out the non-tile (it wanted to be tile but it wasn't...it was this weird plastic sort of material but it was starting to flake off and was very gross) in the bathroom and I started the refinishing process on the kitchen cabinets. I may have bitten off a bit more than I can chew. I used a chemical stripper to get the varnish off the doors so I can eventually prime and paint them. But it took me two days to get the front of one door stripped and let me tell you, it was not an easy process. The kitchen is small...but the thought of doing this again on five more doors and probably 15 drawers makes me doubt my abilities and determination.As a sub-topic I must once again return to my yogurt obsession. Way to go Yoplait!! This weekend Eric found me some Thick & Creamy Light. They have 4 flavors so combined with my Dannon brand I have a total of ten to choose from! (However, it should be noted that I have yet to find an Eau Claire store that carries all of the Dannon flavors) The Yoplait brand uses splenda and I can taste it...I forget if Dannon does or not. One thing I noticed about my Yoplait is a disclaimer at the top that says "Avoid stirring to maintain Thick & Creamy texture." So of course I just stirred it and lo and behold the yogurt, while still creamy, is no longer thick. add a comment | 0 comments
4/10/2006Productive
We had another productive weekend at the duplex. I think I've gotten the hang of this cabinet refinishing process...it's still quite labor intensive but I've kind of got a system down. However, I find I'm very impatient with the project. We haven't finished getting the varnish off all of the cabinets and I'm already anxious to start priming and painting...I think it's because of my desire to multitask. I like working on several things at a time and get antsy if I work on one thing for too long. add a comment | 0 comments4/18/2006Hole in the Ground
Right now, you wouldn't know our new house from a hold in the ground. But that's the exciting news! We have a hole in the ground! They started digging today (pictures soon to come) and the new house is finally feeling like a reality. Also giving me a good dose of reality is our closing date...we've moved it up two weeks which means work on the duplex also gets bumped up. I do think we're making very good progress. We've stripped and painted the kitchen cabinets and yesterday started putting them back up. I'm amazed at how good they look! (pictures soon to come) The bathroom in the next major project but I think we should be able to complete that by the end of next week. That gives us two weeks to move in. Gulp. add a comment | 0 comments4/21/2006TV Obsession
Anyone who knows me well knows that my number
one tv obsession is Alias. Well folks, it's back and
while not quite better than ever, it's better than it has been in a long time. However, I must have
upset the TV gods in some way because I almost missed part of my beloved show. We have a DVR which is The Dish
Network's version of TiVo. Since September we have had a timer set for Lost which airs Wednesday's at
8:00pm. Every week without fail the show tapes and all is well. Last Wednesday Alias' grand return (after
a five month hiatus) aired in a two hour episode and the second hour aired in place of Lost. So I
created a timer for the first hour and left the Lost timer in place...no big deal...or so I thought.
Somehow the timer that has worked fine for seven months...the timer that works flawlessly when Lost is on...the timer that's one and only job is to work properly DID NOT work properly. It just didn't tape the last twenty minutes of the show. No errors...nothing obvious is broken...we didn't lose satellite signal... it just didn't tape the last twenty minutes. Can you believe that? The one time I need this thing to work and it totally screws me over. Thank heavens for iTunes...you can buy individual episodes a day after they've aired for $1.99. A small price to pay to indulge in the last twenty minutes of tv heaven. add a comment | 0 comments
4/25/2006What's the Saying?
Is it "Burning the Candle at Both Ends" or "Burning the Wick at Both Ends?" Well, whichever one it is we're doing it. It's not all that bad...especially since this is just for a couple more weeks. We're just spending a lot of time at the duplex fixing it up plus trying to get our house packed and we just found out the new buyer wants to move up the closing another week. We're agreeing to it because we know we can get everything done in time...but now I'm wondering at what cost. I think the bathroom should be finished this weekend or next week and in reality everything else can wait until we move in...it's just a lot easier to fix up an empty apartment than one crammed with a whole house's worth of stuff.On a more positive note, there is much progress on the new house. I've created a photo diary and will be adding to it when stuff changes...check it out! add a comment | 0 comments
5/10/2006New Arrival
Well folks, the day is finally here.
We have a new addition to our home. Our dog Fozzy joined us last night. I am SOOOO excited!!! He is a
year and half old cockapoo (cocker spaniel and poodle mix). We picked him up last night and he was so
sweet on the car ride home...it was about an hour and twenty minute ride and he just laid on my lap
the whole time. I was surprised at how well he did last night...snooped around the house most of the
evening but around 9:00 he settled down with us on the couch. He slept in a kennel during the night and
not a peep we heard from him. He's such a cute little thing. Getting a dog has been a huge deal for me,
I've wanted one for a long time but the timing wasn't right. Finally he's here!! More photos to come...
add a comment |
0 comments
5/11/2006OCD
We think the dog has a touch of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He scratches and licks himself all the time...it's so funny! We'll take him to vet for a checkup soon and we'll make sure it's nothing serious but I'm pretty sure it's just silly dog behavior. Fozzy seems to be adjusting very well...he loves Eric...follows him around everywhere. He also loves his "baby" which he carries around whenever he gets excited or nervous.
add a comment |
0 comments
5/22/2006Time to Say Goodbye
Tonight is the series finale of Alias. tear. I'm bummed the show is ending because it was my favorite, perhaps of all time, and yet it's time...it's had a great run but aside from the last several episodes the last few seasons have been on the decline. Goodbye Alias, goodbye.In unrelated news, the dog is doing wonderful. We recently made the executive decision to change his name to Richard. We think it suits him very well.
In even more unrelated news, progress on the house has been made. We have a subfloor and one wall. This week they should get walls and trusses up, photos to come soon. I'm actually very much enjoying living in Eric's rental property. It's cozy and reminds me of college. I think part of its charm is that we did so much work on it ourselves. We're not done...this weekend we tackled the lawn that is crying out for help. Dandelions had taken over so we addressed that issue and now it just needs some tlc and some major cleanup...there is some really random stuff in the yard, car batteries, several mufflers, old doors, buckets, et cetera. In some ways I think I'll be sad to leave, but we've yet to experience the summer heat with no air conditioning. I also miss a dishwasher and a bedroom closet big enough for two. add a comment | 0 comments
5/23/2006Bath Time
Richard got a bath last night. He was so good. Afterwards he was VERY hyper and ran around the house like a wild animal. It was hilarious.I'm not yet ready to talk about Alias...perhaps in another post. Right now it's just too soon. Thank you for your support.
Check out pictures of the house...we have a wall!! By now we should have more than one, but we haven't been over there since last week.
5/31/2006Rants and Raves
First, my raves. I am so proud of my mom. After many years of hard word, she got her bachelor's degree this weekend. Her dedication and perseverance is truly something to be admired. Way to go mom.My second rave is ebay...I'm totally digging it lately. I've found some great deals on everything from JCrew jeans to Kohler faucets for the new house. And also, I like peanut M&M's
My rant is related to Crystal Light...this morning I bought an "On the Go" packet to add to my iced tea... first of all, I paid way too much for it, 75 cents at the cafeteria which isn't really Crystal Light's fault but there it is nevertheless. The thing that really made me angry is the serving size...the Nutrition Facts inform me that there are 5 calories. Yet, on closer examination, there are 2 1/2 servings per packet. Why can't they just adjust the serving size on the Nutritional Facts? I mean, really, the difference between 5 calories and 12.5 calories isn't going to shy me away from the product. Didn't the FDA weigh in on this issue? add a comment | 0 comments
6/2/2006I Love Candy
I have a sweet tooth the size of Cleveland. I could easily four or five candy bars in one sitting. The same goes for my other vice, Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Chubby Hubby is God's gift to salty sweet addicts. Eric buys it for me when I'm having a bad day. Regarding candy, here are my top choices...not specifically ordered but generally my favorites are at the top:- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
- Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs...they come out at Easter and blow the "standard" cups away
- Peanut M&M's
- Peanut Butter M&M's
- Fruit and Cream Starburst
- Nutrageous
- Twizzlers Strawberry Licorice...this is hard to find at the right softness but when it tastes "fresh" there's nothing better at the beach or on a hot day
6/5/2006Lukewarm
Some things are better lukewarm:- string cheese (it's stringier and tastes saltier)
- salsa
- chip dip (when it's too cold my chips always snap in the dip)
- black olives (yum)
- pizza (sometimes...hot is my preference but I like it lukewarm better than cold)
In other exciting news I recently
bought an iced tea maker. I've made two batches thus far and I must say it is a genius invention.
It's really quick and easy and the tea tastes great. Let me just give you my iced tea plug, it
naturally contains no calories, fat, or sodium, when you drink it without adding extra ingredients.
It’s a great-tasting, healthy alternative to soda and other sugary drinks. Now, I almost always add
sugar and sometimes lemon but I usually add about a tablespoons which gives this drink about
25 calories...not too shabby. At first I didn't like iced tea but when I tasted it brewed at home
rather than unsweetened from a restaurant the improvement in taste was notable. So the moral...give
tea a chance! I've read two issues of Every Day with Rachel Ray, a cooking magazine, and they've been very enjoyable. She has a show on the Food Network but I've never seen it. Last night I made a chicken and pasta dish that was pretty easy...I used a couple items that are not normally apart of our everyday routine (red peppers and lemon zest) but the meal was great. Both Eric and I liked it a lot (although Eric didn't eat the red peppers). I think I'm going to try a few other recipes and I'm considering subscribing to the magazine. Although I have to be careful...I'm a magazine junky and I don't want to push Eric over the edge. :) Right now I subscribe to Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, and I just sent in a check to Home Magazine. Also, every month I buy Domino which is basically subscribing to it. add a comment | 0 comments
6/9/2006Coming to a TV Near You?
I got a letter from Menards this week asking if I would be willing to appear in one of their tv commercials. I was in a play with a local theatre guild a couple years ago and they got my contact information from them. The commercials appear all over the Midwest...I could be famous! I sent the guy my contact information along with a photo (they requested one) and told him I was very interested. Who knows if it will amount to anything but it would be cool if it did!Also, if any dangerous bags try to attack us, we know we are well protected thanks to do the dog. Dangerous Bag add a comment | 0 comments
6/16/2006Lovely
I received the loveliest flowers from my husband yesterday. He's been in Boston this week at a Microsoft Conference so he sent me some to let me know he missed me. Isn't love grand? :) I'm picking him up tonight at the airport so hurray! I've allowed the dog to sleep with me for "security" this week. He's only 18 pounds and wouldn't be able to do much more than lick an assailant but security is in the eye of the beholder I guess.Last weekend I tried a new drink, a Tom Collins and it was great! I'm very picky about my alcoholic beverages ...I only drink about twice a month and I usually only have one drink (two is my limit) so if I'm going to a have a drink, it'd better taste good. Currently, I can handle Amaretto Sour, Baileys and Cream, and Woodchuck. But now I have another drink for my arsenal...and it's kinda fun to order. For those who are interested here are the ingredients: 2 oz gin
1 oz lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar
3 oz club soda
1 maraschino cherry
1 slice orange
add a comment | 0 comments
6/21/2006Pete and Repeat
First day of summer, hurray!Now that that's out of the way, on to the topic at hand. Repeats. It's funny the things I will buy or do over and over again. For example when I get a song in my head I usually listen to it over and over and over again...like 50 times (as is the current case with my newest song obsession, Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield). Also when I find the perfect fitting underwear, or bra, or better yet jeans I'm willing to buy many of the same thing. Running shoes is another one. After trying a couple different brands I'm now hooked on Saucony and doubt I'll buy any other brand.
But then there are other things that I almost never repeat. Shampoo. I hardly ever buy the same shampoo twice in a row...I'm always trying new brands and even if my hair feels great when it's out I can't resist trying something new. Same with face lotion...I always shop around. add a comment | 0 comments
7/5/2006Sewing Pockets??
Since when did they start sewing the pockets together on women's pants? I bought a pair of khaki's for work and I was wearing them while on a walk with a coworker during break. I commented that I didn't understand why they would put in fabric for back pockets and then sew together the opening. My coworker started laughing and said, "You're supposed to rip open the seams!" So I'm left with several questions:- Huh?
- How was I supposed to know this? Should my mother have explained this phenomenon to me?
- Why on earth would they sew pockets shut? As children we are taught not to unravel seams or pull at loose threads for fear of creating holes in our clothing. Now at 25 I'm supposed to throw caution to the wind and rip a seem in my pants? In the butt no less?!
7/7/2006So Cute!!
Richard needs a haircut but he's turned into this adorable ball of fluff which just melts my heart! He's in doggie school at Rude Dog University and he's doing really well. He's very smart and picks up on this very quickly...getting him to obey outside the classroom has been the challenge. He's not really naughty, he just has his own agenda. This week we're working on Come, and Down Stay.
7/24/2006Weekend
I had such a good weekend. I was in Minneapolis bridesmaids dress shopping for Kerri's wedding and it was so much fun. Becca and Elizabeth are the two other bridesmaids and the four of us have such a great chemistry that no matter what we did, we had a great time. Being in Minneapolis didn't hurt either...I love that city. The weather was beautiful and there are so many great places to eat and bum around that any weekend can easily become an adventure.I don't exactly get it. I've heard this ad on Cities 97 about not passing gas...about there being a right and a wrong time but then they turn it around and start talking about second hand smoke. They give this website: Don't Pass Gas. I understand that they're creatively trying to warn people about the effects of secondhand smoke, but the whole passing gas thing made me think the commercial was a joke the first couple times. But then again, I did visit their website and now I'm telling all of you, so perhaps their marketing campaign wasn't too off after all. add a comment | 0 comments
7/28/2006I'm On Time Out
The past few weeks have been incredibly stressful. I've over committed in my personal life and with the chaos of the new house and going full time at the Tech it seems every aspect of my life is pulling me in a different direction. My mom and Eric probably bear the brunt of my subsequent crabbiness and whining. So, my mom put me on time out. I'm not supposed to do any work tonight and I'm not supposed to commit to anything new for a little while...or at least not without careful contemplation. To help me on my journey, I purchased a book called "Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. It has yet to arrive but I look forward to reading it. add a comment | 0 comments8/1/2006Moving Soon!
It's almost here! We close on the house this Friday! For those who are interested in some heavy lifting, we're moving on Saturday morning. :) In general, the process has gone quickly but the last couple of weeks have kind of dragged...most of the work left on the house is busy work and it's putzy so we don't huge amounts of progress on a daily basis.Also, as I look at other people's blogs I see lots of photos...so to follow that trend, here's a recent one of Eric and I.
add a comment |
0 comments
8/2/2006My Nephew
We have a new addition to the family. Congratulations Jake and Mis...can't wait to meet him!|
Isaac Truth Hansen August 2, 2006 11:18 PM 9 pounds 3 ounces 21 1/4 inches |
 |
8/11/2006Disappointed
I'm disappointed. Richard came in last place at dog school graduation. Let me just give you my excuses:- He missed last weeks class because we were getting ready for the move.
- We haven't worked with him at all over the last two weeks because of the whole moving thing.
- He was distracted by a barking dog during the down/stay portion of the test.
In other news, the house is really starting to feel like home. I'm currently focusing on window treatments and then will move on to furnishings. I'm looking for a small sofa to replace our red loveseat...I'm a big fan of Rowe Furniture (www.rowefurniture.com), especially their mini mod collection. I wish they had their own store, but looks like other companies just sell their line.
8/14/2006Deodorant
I've been using Dove's Ultimate Clear deodorant this week and I gotta say, I'm impressed. I got
the original clean scent and every once in a while I get a whiff of my armpits and they smell really
good! I wonder if I'll get used to the scent soon. Also, as advertised, there are no white marks on
my clothes...it truly is the ultimate clear. Furthermore, Dove deodorant in general keeps your
armpits very soft which I find helps keep razor bumps away.
add a comment | 0 comments
8/16/2006Gremlin
When you flip Richard's ears up he looks like
a Gremlin...and this morning he certainly lived up to that name. I was getting ready for work and
I heard some commotion down in the basement. I went to the living room to check things out and I
called for the dog...he came bounding up the stairs with something in his mouth. On closer inspection,
it was a light bulb!! He thinks everything and anything is a toy, chapstick, paper, water bottles...but
this was a little crazy if you ask me. Thank heavens he actually came when I called him and allowed me
to take the "toy" away. Probably five minutes later Richard found another toy in the basement...one
of my My Little Ponies (no, I don't still play with them)...this time the release of the toy was
not so easy. He wanted to be chased but I ignored him and later was able to tempt him with an actual
dog toy. We've really got to learn to "baby" proof the house or we're going to be horrible parents.
add a comment |
0 comments
8/25/2006Blinds
One of the challenges of owning a new home is the daunting amount of windows that need treatment. Even though we owned a home previously all the windows are different sizes and we also left some of the curtains and shades at previous residences. We bought blinds for the bedroom before we moved in and had those up right away but the rest of the house has been a work in progress since. Last weekend we got up a bathroom blind and although I ordered one for the kitchen I ordered the wrong size...I don't want to talk about it.Last night, the new kitchen blinds came and also the blinds for the living room. I'm quite excited. The living room blinds are a woven wood; many thanks to the courteous staff at JCPenneys for their patience and excellent customer service. Eric was kind enough to hang the living room blinds right away and below are the results. I may add some sheers to soften the look, but I'm not sure yet.
Not much else new here. We've really slowed things down this month which has been wonderful. September has the potential to be quite busy, but it'll be our choice if it is. I start Yoga next Wednesday and I'm excited about that. Never taken Yoga before so I'll keep you posted.
add a comment |
0 comments
8/31/2006Dog Days of Summer
Well, it's the last day of August and feels like summer is over. Not really because of the weather, but
there's this shift when schools are starting and nights start cooling off...and my brain just registers fall.
I don't mind fall, and I'm looking forward to it for many reasons, but one particular reason is we'll get
to use our fireplace. Richard loves the fireplace hearth and we often find him sitting or sleeping there. He
may not like it as much when the fireplace is on so we're enjoying this idiosyncrasy now. Lately Richard has been getting into trouble. He's been finding "toys" all over the house...this morning he got into Eric's pool table stuff in the basement and was playing with a brush used to de-lint the felt. He also was trying to get the chalk squares but "mom" took them away. He's also fond of grabbing the small white caps that cover the screws on the base of the toilet. Basically he'll grab anything that he thinks will make us play with him. I was saddened earlier this week by the loss of my favorite chapstick. He got into my purse and chewed that to bits. I really like that Dr. Pepper chapstick because it smells yummy and adds just a hint of color to my lips...sadly, that's all just a memory now.
I had my first yoga class yesterday. I liked it. I'm hoping it'll be a little more of a workout in the future...this first session was a lot of sitting around and breathing. But several of the positions made me realize how weak my arms are. Also, there was some of the, "feel your energy" crap but I either ignored it, or used the time to pray. At the end of the class the instructor asked if we wanted to be adjusted. I thought it was some kind of chiropractic thing so I was thinking fine...but then she came over and pressed on my head and some other weird stuff and I realized she was adjusting my aura...yeah. add a comment | 0 comments
9/16/20061:00am
It's 1:00am. I should be sleeping but I'm not. Insomnia, you ask? No, not insomnia...the only reason I'm not sleeping is my insatiable addiction to Prison Break. We rented the 1st Season last week end and tonight we can't stop watching. I think we're gonna finish the season tonight. I just love good tv... especially when there are no commercials.It's now 1:38...we're starting the last episode of disc 4. add a comment | 0 comments
9/18/2006Muffin Failure
I'm a muffin failure. This morning we had a sort of office celebration at work and I volunteered to bring muffins. I had never made muffins and thought they would be pretty easy to make. I've had some kind of applesauce muffins previously that were really moist and tasty, so I thought I've give them a whirl. I typed applesauce muffins into google and found a recipe at Cooks.com WARNING: DO NOT make these muffins. They are not tasty at all!! In fact, quite the contrary, they taste like nothing...like cardboard. So this morning I went to Mega Pick N' Save and bought muffins. :( I'm a muffin failure. But here's what you can do to help. Please send me your yummy muffin recipes if you have them!add a comment | 0 comments
9/25/2006Small Appliance Queen
I'm the queen of small appliances. Today I have used the following:- toaster (bagel for breakfast)
- Presto pizza maker (lunch)
- Kitchen Aid food processor (pureed a homemade bbq sauce)
- crock pot (slow cooking bbq chicken for dinner)
- iced tea maker (self explanatory)
add a comment |
0 comments
10/2/2006Richard
Well, Richard has been very busy as of late. He learned all about technology when he "investigated" my usb thumb drive. I guess he decided not to use this one because there wasn't enough file storage.
So tomorrow I'm going to the Twins playoff game against the Oakland A's at the MetroDome. Even though I haven't followed them this season I'm so excited. Baseball's not so great on tv, but a live game...and the playoffs no less...plus who could resist those stadium hotdogs!
add a comment | 0 comments
10/6/2006Girls Weekend
I'm very excited because I'm hosting a girls weekend this weekend! My very good friend Kerri is getting married in December and we've planned a bride/bridesmaid weekend Part Duex. Our last weekend together was so much fun-- I hope this weekend can measure up. I don't have anything too exciting planned...just a few cheesy girl movies, and perhaps a visit to the Farmer's Market. I am going to brave muffin making again. My dear friend Kyra was kind enough to send me a recipe that I'll be trying. I will also be making chili, which I've never done before...so it will be a culinary adventure.Kerri is bringing our bridesmaids dresses ...I'm quite excited. The dress is very flattering and I feel kinda glam in it. I've been very fortunate in the bridesmaid department as of late. I'm in Neysa's wedding next weekend (on my birthday in fact) and she let us pick our bridesmaid dress as long as it was black. I got this great dress from Dress Barn that's got a vintage feel to it-- I love it! add a comment | 0 comments
10/9/2006Last Minute Panic
I'm teaching a training session at 7:30am tomorrow. I worked on the lesson plan last week and have been trying to focus on it all day today...but I just can't seem to get organized. For whatever reason, I can't get it out of my head and onto paper until it's crunch time. Around 4:00 today I'll start hammering away at it...or tonight in front of the tv. It's that last minute panic sensation that gets my creative juices flowing. (see Calvin and Hobbes cartoon below)Man, what a good weekend we had. We four girls have a great chemistry and somehow manage to be goofy and insightful all at the same time. Some of the highlights:
- The Farmer's Market
- Richard...he was very well behaved (despite stealing Kerri's oatmeal (twice), her hairclip, and "playing" with the strings on our bridesmaids dresses).
- Ice Cream Cake
- "Yoga" in the living room
- Decorating shows
10/15/2006It's Happy Time
We decided October 10th was Richard's birthday. To celebrate, we got him a bone. But not just any bone ...a bone that's almost bigger than he is. It has been so fun to watch him drag it around and chew on it...
It was my birthday on the 13th. We were in St. Cloud for Neysa's wedding but Eric was sweet enough to still work in a party for just the two of us. We got to the hotel after the wedding kinda late but he still decorated the room with balloons and streamers and had cake and ice cream waiting. What a guy. :)
10/16/2006Fall Decorations
We had a really good time at Neysa's wedding...the bridal party was great to hang out with and the event was low key enough that we could relax but formal enough that it felt special. Congratulations Neysa and Brian--I hope you're enjoying your honeymoon and married life!!Another great thing about the wedding, was the decorations. And Neysa was kind enough to give me some of her extras which I prompted displayed:
Richard's apparent chapped lips have reared their ugly head once again. My favorite chapstick, my Dr. Pepper was eaten in August. Well, once again Richard got ahold of it and my Dr. Pepper is no longer. He also got some Chapstick All Natural stuff and he must have really like that because not only is the plastic part chewed to bits, but he actually ate the chapstick portion as well. I have learned I cannot leave my purse on the floor or on the couch under any circumstances.
10/23/2006Surprise Treats
This is the second time in a week that I've had surprise treats on my desk at work. Last week I came to work one morning to find a chocolate muffin waiting for me. It was very yummy with some sort of glaze on it ...I ate the bottom of the muffin first so I could savor the top. (Top of the Muffin to You!) I eventually found out who dropped it off (thanks Steve).Today I found two cookies sitting at my desk ...chocolate ones with butterscotch chips. Of course I've already eaten them despite my trying to eat healthy and they were heavenly...kind of salty and I love salty-sweet. I don't know who would have dropped these off ...I left my office on Friday around 4:45 and was one of the last ones to leave so I'm thinking they were dropped off this morning. Whoever is behind this kind gesture--thank you! I love surprises, especially the here it is! kind. I don't like surprises that I have to wait for ...but surprise, here it is! Now, that's a whole different thing.
In other chapstick related news, the bookstore here at CVTC has a whole display dedicated to product - flavored chapsticks. They probably have twenty varieties ranging from Twinkie (yes, Twinkie) to Reese's Peanut Butter Cup to Cinnabon. After much deliberation, I decided on the Frosted Strawberry PopTart brand. Unfortunately the chapstick is all broken, but as long as I don't push it out too far it still sorta works. It tastes and smells very yummy but I must say the consistency is not as good as my Dr. Pepper (which was strangely vacant from the selections).
I just found out who my cookie fairy was! Thanks Kim!! (man, I have great co-workers!!) add a comment | 0 comments
10/25/2006Socks
One of Richard's favorite things to grab and run around with is socks. Especially my socks...but it could be that I'm the only one in the house who leaves my socks laying around (Eric is much neater than I am). Being that he likes to play with socks so much, we thought he would like to wear them... not so much.
After we got done playing with him a couple things crossed my mind...like, will playing with our kids be this much fun? And then I thought about Richard...when we have kids, will he get any attention? I always feel bad for dogs that get completely ignored when kids come around...no walks, no affection...are we destined to follow the same path? I also worry that what are funny and cute actions now (stealing socks, eating chapstick) will turn into very annoying traits once we have kids. Will socks turn into rattles and baby toys and eating chapstick become eating nooks and baby bottles? add a comment | 2 comments
11/6/2006Kinda Blue
I'm a bit blue. We spent most of the weekend painting the living room...and I don't like it. Our first step was to paint the fireplace wall a copper color (copper kettle to be exact).
11/8/2006I Do Exist, and I Voted
Before I get into the main content, let me update you on the status of our living room. On Monday night we spent a couple hours returning the paint color to its original copper kettle. We very much like it and there is no sign of the disastrous metallic paint.
Luckily, I remember that the satellite bill is in my name, so I go back to work, print it off from their website and hurray!! I can vote!
On an unrelated note...I was surprised to read yesterday that Britney Spears and Kevin Federline are divorcing. Well...sort of surprised. I'm not surprised that it happened, but so soon after the birth of their second child...it's actually kind of sad. add a comment | 0 comments
11/15/2006We're Number 1!!
Today I typed in "Eric and Jodi" to google and we are the number one result! We rule! We are better than all the other Eric and Jodis out there. Okay, that's probably a little harsh, we're not better than them...just more popular. It's weird to think that there are other Eric and Jodis out there...I know there are other Jodi Stevens out there...I think a lot of them. It's hard to find combinations of my name that aren't already taken when creating usernames. Even the domain www.jodistevens.com is taken by some country singer. It's weird because when I was Jodi Hansen I rarely had trouble...I would think Hansen is just as common as Stevens but apparently not.
11/21/2006Too Early
Two of the radio stations I listen to have begun playing Christmas music non-stop. They started this last week which is waaay too early. I mean, how 'bout a little moderation here. Could we start with a sprinkle of Christmas music, and couldn't it wait until after Thanksgiving? The holidays are a crazy time as it is, we don't need to force it on people.Speaking of the holidays. We're heading to Rhinelander for Thanksgiving to spend time with Eric's family. We're leaving Richard with some people from church. This will be the longest we've left him with anyone so I'm kind of nervous. Chalk it up to separation anxiety. add a comment | 0 comments
12/4/2006No TV
Eric and I have been too busy as of late. The sad thing is most of our business is not real business, it's actually laziness that feels like business. What I mean is, we spend way too much time in front of the tv and at the end of the night we feel like we were to "busy" to spend quality time together. So we've made a pact, a pact that this week we will watch no tv. Not even a little bit, not even at all. For Eric this means sacrificing ESPN's Pardon the Interruption. For me it means sacrificing a ton of mindless entertainment and two shows that I have been watching quite diligently as of late: HGTV's Get Color and Everwood reruns airing on ABC Family.
In tv's stead we hope to accomplish tasks around
the house (i.e. putting up the Christmas tree) and spend quality time together and with Richard.
To help reach our goal, we purchased the board game Othello. I used to play it in high school--I
hope it is as enjoyable as I remember.
add a comment | 2 comments
12/11/2006TV Update
Well last week's TV fast was hard but well worth it. Othello was played, walks were taken, a Christmas tree was put up...lots of productivity. So much productivity in fact that we've decided to deny our tv watching desires for another week. It will be hard but well feel it's necessary and well worth the sacrifice. My dad often says 'If you can give it up, you own it; if you can't give it up, it owns you.' Wise words, my friends...wise words.Richard has been enjoying the Christmas tree...twice now he has taken off ornaments and ran around the house. We think the fascination has passed however as he left it alone all weekend. He is very much looking forward to Christmas as one of his favorite activities is tearing up wrapping and tissue paper. add a comment | 0 comments
12/12/2006Christmas or Clowns
Well, either Richard doesn't like Christmas, or he doesn't like clowns. For the most part he's left the Christmas tree alone but last night he decided to take vengeance on a poor clown ornament. Granted it is/was a little creepy but come on! He chewed the arms off! The clown was holding a present which has been mangled, along with the tiny little bow tie. Bad Dog!!
12/19/2006Kerri 
Brad and…
I the Culligan water cooler at work. Firstly, Kerri and Bradford got married this weekend and it was a joyous occasion. The wedding was splendid and actually reminded me very much of my own which tugged at my heart. I was able to squeeze into my bridesmaids dress and although sitting down was difficult at times, I looked great as did Becca and Elizabeth. Secondly, I love the Culligan Water Cooler at work. It's so thoughtful and willing to bend to my every whim. If I want hot water for my oatmeal or cappuccino it's ready and willing...if I want a refreshing drink of cold water it's patiently standing by. I just love it. add a comment | 2 comments
12/22/2006I Have Conquered
I have conquered one of the most difficult tasks that a woman faces. Today, after trying on about 15 pairs of jeans I actually found a pair that fits! Funny thing, I actually found two styles of the same brand that fit. Other than the wash, the only difference was one was bootcut and the other flare. Not a huge difference, right? Well, the price difference between these amazingly similar jeans is $30! Crazy, huh? Of course the cuter ones were the more expensive and the ones I ultimately purchased because as every girl ones, when you find a pair of jeans that fit--you buy them. add a comment | 3 comments12/29/2006I won!
Richard is getting his hair cut this morning. His appointment was at 9:00 so I went into work a little late. Every morning I listen to the radio while I get ready, and this morning was no exception. My station of choice is WWIB, a local Christian station. I turned on the radio to hear the question, "What high profile sports figure said this quote: I don't have to worry about what people think of me, whether they hate me or not. People hated on Jesus. They threw stones at him and tried to kill him, so how can I complain or worry about what people think?" I knew the answer was Terrell Ownens so I decided to call in. Much to my surprise I was immediately patched in and my correct answer was confirmed!! I didn't even know what I won until after the fact. I can pick up my Margaret Becker book and compilation cd anytime. Cool, no? I'd like to thank my husband Eric for his love and support and his love of Pardon the Interruption on ESPN. Without which, I would have never known the answer to this bit of trivia. add a comment | 2 comments2007 Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
2008 Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov