What a wild week it's been. Where to begin. . . I drove down to Colorado Springs to fill in at an office I would KILL to work at. Met more really awesome people and had a pretty disastrous camping trip that actually turned out to be not-so-bad. Found a stray dog. Adopted said dog. Very crazy ten days. I hope you had an awesome end to your May. Here's a list to catch you up on your holidays you've been so desperately awaiting!
May 21 - National Memo Day, National Waiters and Waitresses Day, Rapture Party Day
May 22 - Be a Musical Instrument Day, National Taffy Day
May 23 - Lucky Penny Day, World Turtle Day
May 24 - National Escargot Day, Brothers' Day, International Tiara Day, Morse Code Day | International Morse Code Alphabet!
| | |
Morse-coded necklaces, blankets and scarves - People would have NO idea they say something!!
| | So many Morse code crafts, I don't even know where to begin! I LOVE the idea of crafting hidden messages all over my wardrobe. Maybe some Morse Art coming up next??Also, am I wrong in saying memo = Post-it? Check out this stop motion video of Post-its! Super cute! Happy Memo Day! May 25 - National Missing Children's Day, Tap Dance Day, Cookie Monster's Birthday, Geek Pride Day, Towel Day, National Wig Out Day, Player Piano Day
May 26 - International Jazz Day, Sally Ride Day
May 27 - Sunscreen Day
May 28 - Amnesty International Day, Memorial Day
May 29 - Learn About Composting Day
May 30 - Water a Flower Day
Colorado is suffering from major wildfires right now so it's not exactly the most fun thing trying to breathe outside. I am lacking a need for sunscreen since I'm holed up in my dark apartment to keep the heat (and smoke) out. Let's travel to three places you might actually want to enjoy the sun and NEED sunscreen.
I want to sit on this dock with my feet dipped in the water and lather on the sunscreen until the sun goes does. Would you join me in Hungary for some dock-time? Come on!
| Or maybe Canada is more your style? Watching the sunset over Lake Superior sounds like another one of those times that you would need ample lotion to protect you from the sun. Oh, Lake Superior, how I miss you.
| Last, but certainly not least - a natural swimming pool in Samoa. I'm sure I would have a pretty hard time wanting to leave these crystal waters to reapply sunblock. Alas, I'm a fair-skinned strawberry blonde and would sizzle into oblivion if I didn't!
| May 31 - National Macaroon Day, Save Your Hearing Day, World No Tobacco Day, What You Think Upon Grows Day
Have you read "The Art of Racing in the Rain"?? A quote that pops up a couple of times in this amazing book is "Your car goes where your eyes go" and I think that goes hand in hand with "What you think upon grows" - What an awesome way to live At-Cause in your life! Celebrate the things you have brought into your life and the things you have continued to grow by thinking on them! Congrats!
P. S. To save your hearing - I'm addicted to my Jack Johnson station on Pandora. Perfect for summertime, if I say so myself!
Happy sizzling!
XO
This is a view of the smoke drifting down from Fort Collins. This was the first time I woke up smelling the smoke from a fire over 50 miles away. It's a pretty startling thing. Our fire season has started way earlier than normal and it's also way more aggressive, it seems. Very scary. On to the holidays!
June 1: Donut Day, Heimlich Maneuver Day, Dare Day, Flip a Coin Day, National Go Barefoot Day, Say Something Nice Day, Stand for Children Day, Leave the Office Early Day
Donut day, now that's a given how we should celebrate. Pretty much every donut place in the world offered a free donut or two! Here's a way to make a few healthy ones and a few not-so healthy ones for yourself!
Since there are two holidays this week bringing out attention to our bare feet (see June 4th as well!), I thought a pedicure would be just the ticket!
Step 1: Prepare
Remove an existing polish with a non-acetone remover. File nails straight across and slightly round the corners. Nails should be slightly shorter than the edge of your tow. Buff heels and callused edges using the grated side of the ped egg.
Step 2: Soak
Fill half of a large bowl with very warm water, the other half with warm whole milk. Add 1/4 cup epsom salts - stir to dissolve. Massage olive oil into cuticles. Soak feet for 10 minutes. The salt helps exfoliate, while the milk softens.
Step 3: Groom
Remove one foot and gently push back cuticles using a cuticle stick. Carefully trim off excess cuticles and/or hangnails. Be careful not to pull or cut too much off.
Step 4: Buff
Dry both feed and gently buff remaining dead skin using the buffing side on the outside cap of the ped egg. Avoiding nails, moisturize feet using coconut oil. Buff surface of nails using a 3-step buffer file.
Step 5: Polish
Appy a base coat polish and let dry for 5 minutes. Apply a color using three strokes: one up the middle and one on each side of the nail. Let first coat dry for 5 minutes. Apply another coat following the same procedures. Finish with a topcoat and let dry for a minimum of 20 minutes.
June 2: National Bubba Day, National Cancer Survivors Day, Drawing Day, Pencil Day, National Trails Day, National Rocky Road Day
On this National Trails Day, I would like to showcase a bit of my more creative decorating - Our Happy Trails frame! After going through pictures from our vacations, I started noticing we had a habit of taking pictures of the trails we had traversed. Eventually it became a bit of a tradition. It's nice to reminisce about the places we've been and to share our travels with our guests.
June 3: Children's Awareness Memorial Day, Repeat Day
Speaking of reminiscing about the places we've been, I would like to revisit my 26 before 26 list for Repeat Day. Are you sick of my list yet? Studies show that repetitively checking the progress of your goals leads to higher success in reaching said goal. (Please don't be mad - I made that up, but I'm sure it's true!)
26 Before 26
1. Climb three more Fourteeners. (0/3) {We haven't made any 14ers our bitch yet, but we're in the planning stages for our first of the summer! This time, a camping trip the night before would be divine!!} 2. Go camping at least five times this summer. (2/5) {We spent part of Memorial Day weekend at Eleven Mile Campground, west of Colorado Springs. We had to leave early because the 50 MPH wind gusts exploded our tent poles! Our first trip of the summer ended similarly in that we were snowed in in the middle of the desert! We stayed at Great Sand Dunes National Park through some of the ugliest camping weather I've ever experienced. Well - we learn new things on each trip and I fall more in love with Justin each time something fails. There! The silver lining!} 3. Go skiing at least once this winter. (1/1) {CHECK!}4. Rent a house. {Won't have to really start thinking about this until October, but I can tell you already I'm ready. This apartment complex sucks. Big time} 5. Ride my bike to Denver. {I have a destination. I have yet to plan the date. I also would love if Justin had a bike and was able to tag along!} 6. Keep one plant alive for an entire year. {I am SERIOUSLY the WORST at gardening. So far, I've kept our money tree alive, but only barely. Pretty much everything else has shriveled and died. Ugh. . . I need help!} 7. Lost 10 lbs OR two sizes. (3/10) {Got back on my workout routine this week and am feeling my muscles for sure! Gotta keep it up!} 8. Read 10 books. (11/10) {CHECK! IT by Stephen King, 11/23/64 by Stephen King, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King, Pandemic, Water for Elephants, We Wish to Inform Your That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families, The Art of Racing in the Rain, B is for Burglar, The Master Butchers Singing Club, The Depression Cure, Do One Nice Thing -- And I'm NOT stopping there!! Maybe I'll have a better goal next year to actually push myself! Ten was WAY too easy!} 9. Document my 25th year through pictures. (17/366) {I am more proud of keeping this blog alive for as long as I have and now that we have hit the halfway point - there's no stopping!} 10. Continue on my path to becoming a Hygenius. (Genius Dental Hygienist!) {I work on this every. single. day. Constant and never-ending improvement!} 11. Run at least one more 10K. (0/1) {We'll probably do another Thanksgiving one, that was pretty amazing last year and a totally perfect task to complete before eating our brains out!} 12. Try 25 new recipes. (28/25) {CHECK! Soft pretzels, cheese sauce, homemade dulce de leche, chocolate cake (fail) x2, buffalo chicken dip, English muffin bread, grilled Portobello sandwiches, peanut butter dip, fruit dip, Greek dill dip, baked sweet potato fries, cheesy pull-apart muffins, garlic cheese bread, fruit pizzas, garlic knots, baked banana French toast, veggie pasties, browned butter mashed potatoes, crockpot beer chicken, strawberry hand pies, chocolate Guinness cake, grilled asparagus, strawberry rhubarb pie, dog doo cookies, pie a la apple, red velvet cookies, strawberry cake mix cookies, brownie pops} 13. Build a bridge with my sister. {Still no headway on that front.} 14. Re-vamp my wardrobe. {New moccasins that I bought like a hundred years ago by now. . . Does my new SHORT haircut count?! I need to get organized on this and take massive action!} 15. Complete 10 DIY projects. (6/10) {Bowties, gold wineglasses, braille art, watermark tee, photo collage, Valentine chapsticks - Gotta get a list together of my MUST-DOs for the next 6 months!} 16. Get a smart phone and not kill it. {So far, success!} 17. Go on a cruise. {I don't think this one is going to happen this year. Justin's mom is planning one in February! It'll be my first!!} 18. Go on a hot air balloon ride. {We had planned on going on a hot air balloon ride, but after getting Riddle, our new pup, we have to make a few monetary sacrifices. . . It may still happen, just not anytime soon. Bummer!} 19. Get all eight Harry Potter movies. (8/8) {Now I want to watch them all again! Justin and I officially started playing the last Harry Potter video game, but I just can't get into it.} 20. Call one family member per week (not counting my mom or dad!) (2/52) {Pretty much calling my mom and dad regularly, then my papa and my aunt Deni. Other than that, Facebook keeps us together.} 21. Volunteer for at least one dental event. {I've started looking into local and international volunteer opportunities, so that's a start!} 22. Have a dinner party. {We had our friends Kate and Sarah over for an official dinner party! We had Portobello sandwiches and it was such fun! Also, since then I've had my friend Jules over for taco night, but I'm shooting for a much more elegant theme/menu to officially say I've had a dinner party!} 23. Celebrate three years with the love of my life. {Two months to go!} 24. Take one vacation by myself. {It's on my list. I'm going to make it happen.} 25. Buy (and use) one new attachment for my KitchenAid. {Nada} 26. Turn 26!! {6 more months! Time is flying} June 4: Audacity to Hope Day, Do-Dah Day (Salute to Silliness), Barefoot Day
June 5: Hot Air Balloon Day, World Environment Day
June 6: D-Day, Drive-In Movie Day, National Running Day, National Tailors Day
June 7: VCR Day, National Chocolate Ice Cream Day Enjoy your week! I'm stumped!
Happy repeating!
XO
I love planning. And I don't know if you've noticed or not, but I now love planning my whole week of celebrations at once so I have a better idea of what I'm going to celebrate and when. I hope you like the new breakdown! Enjoy!
Tuesday, May 15th- National Chocolate Chip Day, Police Officer's Memorial Day, International Day of Families
For today's holiday, I bet you're thinking I'll have some decadent chocolate chip recipe. I know you all have enough chocolate recipes to last you a lifetime and I also wanted to spotlight a very important person in my life.
Today I have my very first guest writing for my blog, my very dear friend, Victoria VanBlaricom. As soon as I started going through the holidays for May, I knew I wanted to include her on May 15th's Police Officer's Memorial Day. She has an incredibly heart-breaking story, but it never ceases to amaze me how people emerge from terrible tragedies to become incredibly beautiful and forgiving people. There is no shortage of grace in this family and I am so honored to know even one of their beautiful members. Here's to you, Vicki! <3
 Vicki and her husband, Jeff Remembering my father, Officer Daniel John Dubiel
Where does one begin when discussing the tragic loss of her Father? I should start off with a little background on my wonderful family. My mom and dad were high school sweethearts. They married young and had four kids - Tamiko, Chris, Myself (Vicki), and Heather. My mother was pregnant with a fifth child whom she was caring as a surrogate. Her name is Corey and she is a wonderful baby sister!! My mom was 7 months pregnant with Corey when the news was delivered that my father had been killed while on duty. Here is the article describing the details on my father’s death:
July 9, 1987 ~ Officers Near Tears
Inkster, Mi-Police found the bullet-riddled bodies of three fellow officers inside a rundown motel room early Friday after a 70-year-old woman and her three heavily-armed sons emerged from the barricaded room and surrendered. The discovery, after a 10-hour siege punctuated by gunfire and a tear gas assault, dashed the hopes of law enforcement officials, who had been assured by the woman that her police hostages were still alive.Buckley said Friday it appeared that all three officers, who had gone on a routine call late Thursday afternoon to the motel to serve warrants on the woman and one of her sons for passing bad checks, had been shot to death with automatic rifles as soon as they entered the woman's motel room. Buckley said the woman lied to police negotiators about the killings until she and her sons surrendered at about 3:30 a.m. Friday. The woman, identified as Alberta Easter, 70, and her three sons, all in their 40s, were being held in the Wayne County, Mich., jail and were scheduled to be arraigned today.
The slain police officers were identified as Sgt. Ira Parker, 41, a 15-year police veteran; Officer Daniel Dubiel, 36, a 13-year veteran, and Officer Clay Hoover, 25, who had joined the Inkster force in March. Each was shot twelve to fourteen times, police dispatcher Philip Rogers said.
Hoover and Dubiel had gone to the motel to serve the warrants at about 5:15 p.m. Thursday and then requested the help of Parker, their supervisor. As soon as all three police were in Easter's motel room, the motel manager heard a volley of about 20 shots from automatic weapons and called police. Four more officers responding were then fired upon with automatic gunfire and retreated. Buckley said that the gunmen then fired hundreds of rounds from the motel room. The shooting stopped after police responded with tear gas, but the gunmen were apparently well prepared for a siege; they donned gas masks and continued their holdout.
Over the next 10 hours, as hundreds of police, state troopers and FBI agents converged on the motel room, Alberta Easter continued to insist that she and her sons had taken the officers hostage. Wayne County Sheriff Robert Ficano said police had remained hopeful throughout the night that the officers were still alive, although Easter had never offered any proof. At one point, Easter negotiated with a local television reporter, who failed to persuade her to surrender Thursday night. Buckley said that she and her sons finally surrendered in the middle of the night, because of a combination of "time, fatigue and reassurances that they would be safe." I was only 5 years old when this incident took place. Growing up without a father is not an easy journey - a little girl always needs her daddy. We, as a family, are VERY close. We cherish each and every day we have with one another and our families. I am now a wife and a mother of two boys. I do not take one day for granted that I get to spend with them. Each day is a blessing. It brings me to tears to think of the senselessness of the loss of fathers, brothers, husbands, sons over something as trivial as a $286, but I am so proud to know Vicki and her amazing family. Thank you Love! (And a note on justice HERE) I have SO many pictures of trees saved on my Pinterest it's not even funny. And, not that I ever need an excuse to wear purple, here is a super awesome color combo from Ampersand Design! Purple and tangerine, yum! | Wednesday, May 16th -
Love a Tree Day, National Sea Monkey Day, Wear Purple for Peace Day, National Employee Health & Fitness Day, Turn Beauty Inside Out Day
Thursday, May 17th - Pack Rat Day
| Check out Apartment Therapy's Travel Tips including tips on preparing to leave, packing and traveling with pets. Here is their Packing Lightly: 5 Best Packing Tips. Also, head over to Onebag.com for even more helpful pack(rat)ing tips! Oh, and one last thing, an Interactive Packing List never hurt anybody! 1. You do not need to wear something different everyday, you do need to be comfortable and appropriate: With that in mind, I use a packing formula: 3 bottoms for 1 week, 3 tops per bottom, 5 bottoms for 2 weeks, deduct 1 top and 1 bottom for each dress. 2.If you are going sightseeing or to a city, always, even in the heat of the summer, bring a cardigan (women) or a dinner jacket (men). Not every place in the world is as informal as the United States. On that same note, always pack one thing to dress up. 3. Unless you are going to Antarctica or camping, there will be stores where you are going and you can always get what you need or forgot there. Apart from contact lenses or prescription medicine, you will be able to buy it at your destination. And, if you're in a foreign country, the replacement product will likely be more interesting than what you're used to. 4.Forget the pack flat or roll debate. Bundling is best: Check out this method. Not only is it a space saver, it is genius at keeping your clothes from wrinkling. 5. Pack one space saver bag: Just in case you buy a lot while you're away, the space bag may help you avoid having to buy an extra piece of luggage to bring it all back in. Friday, May 18th - International Museum Day, National Bike to Work Day, No Dirty Dishes Day, Visit Your Relatives Day, Endangered Species Day, I Love Reeses Day, NASCAR Day, National Pizza Party DayLeft to Right: Portobello Pesto Pizza by Brown Eyed Baker; Deep Dish Pizza by Eat, Live, Run; Garlic Bread Pizza Crust by How Sweet It Is; Mexican Pizza by Ready, Set, Eat!I wish with my whole heart that I could be visiting my relatives today. Instead, I'll have to settle for a phone call or two and distract myself by planning my first ever PIZZA PARTY! It's not going to be today, but I AM inspired to plan one thanks to this awesome holiday! Sunday, May 20th - Be a Millionaire Day, Pick Strawberries Day, Neighbor Day
Happy picking!
XO
Happy Friday!! This weekend is FULL of really awesome reasons to celebrate! Eat what you want day? Count me in! National babysitters' day? I babysat my way through middle and high school! And then, of course, there's mothers' day! I hope you have a fabulously relaxing weekend full of good food, fun crafts and thanking Mom for everything she's done!
Friday, May 11th - Eat What You Want Day, Military Spouses' Day,
Twilight Zone Day, National Windmill Day
Saturday, May 12th - Birth Mother's Day, Fatigue Syndrome Day, International Nurses' Day, Limerick Day, Hug Your Cat Day, National Babysitter's Day, National Mini Golf Day, Odometer Day, Stay Up All Night, World Belly Dance Day I like to think I was the greatest babysitter in my day. Looking back, I was probably a little on the boring side - letting kiddos do pretty much whatever they felt like without much structure. I wish I would have had access to the awesome crafting ideas for fun things to do back then, but I bet they still appreciated their freedom at least a little! Above you'll find Tie-Dying Basics (for the older ones) and DIY Kid Plates (to ENCOURAGE playing with their food! I bet Mom and Dad would have really appreciated THAT!) Sunday, May 13th - Frog Jumping Day, Leprechaun Day, Mother's Day I'll make this quick because I know your google reader is getting blown up by mother's day stories and tributes. If you feel like hearing a little more about the mothers/women in my life, check it out HERE. I sent my mom this really beautiful silver infinity bracelet and she had to wait WEEKS to open it for mother's day. I LOVE surprises!!Monday, May 14th - Dance Like a Chicken Day Last, but not least, for dance like a chicken day, I'd like to share my new favorite dance song. I am not one to dance in the car, but I find myself bee-bopping around to this tune. I love love LOVE The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti & Spearhead. It makes my heart sing!! Happy weekend and work week!
XO
Alright, folks, here's another jumble of holidays to celebrate!
Don't you just LOVE having 73 things to celebrate? Life is good, people! Let's celebrate!
May 1, 2012 - May Day, Loyalty Day, Mother Goose Day, Save the Rhino Day,
Batman Day, Lei Day, National Dance Day, Silver Star Day
May 2, 2012 - Baby Day, Brothers & Sisters Day, Great American Grump Out,
Roberts Rule of Order Day | | Check out this elegant nursery over at Desire to Inspire! I can't imagine this ever being messy. . . That doesn't seem right! | May 3, 2012 - Lumpy Rug Day, World Press Freedom Day, Garden Meditation Day, National Day of Prayer, National Day of Reason, Paranormal Day
May 4, 2012 - Bird Day, International Tuba Day, National Candied Orange Peel Day, Renewal Day, Space Day, Intergalactic Star Wars Day, No Pants Day,
Respect for Chickens Day May the Fourth be with you! I may not have mentioned it before, but in the spirit of National Day of Reason, I'm probably going to have sixteen boys when I get around to having kiddos. Justin has all brothers and I'm going to get (stuck with) lucky and have more boys! In honor of Intergalactic Star Wars Day, here's a Star Wars nursery and Admiral Ackbar sock monkey. More Baby Day and for my National Day of Prayer, please Lord, don't overrun my household with smelly, sweaty, wrestling, red-headed boys! Please! Amen. May 5, 2012 - Cinco de Mayo, National Hoagie Day, Oyster Day, Cartoonist's Day, Join Hands Day, Kentucky Derby, National Homebrew Day, National Scrapbooking Day, Totally Chipotle Day
May 6, 2012 - Beverage Day, National Tourist Appreciation Day, National Nurse's Day, No Diet Day, Buddah Day, No Homework Day, World Laughter Day, Motorcycle Mass & Blessing of the Bikes Day
May 7, 2012 - Astronomy Day, National Tourism Day, Accountant's Day Mint, lemons and blueberries in ice just in time for summertime from Culinary Tribune! I'm thinking strawberries would kick ass, too! Yum! | Lemonade Punch Frozen lemonade + ice + fresh lemons + Sprite + pineapple juice . . . . . . . . . .
Holy crapoli, my taste buds are weeping!
| | May 8, 2012 - Iris Day, National Teacher's Day, No Socks Day, World Red Cross Day
May 9, 2012 - Lost Sock Memorial Day, National Receptionist Day, National Train Day, School Nurse's Day, Donate a Day's Wages to Charity
May 10, 2012 - Clean up Your Room Day Have you ever thought about donating to a charity? Many people donate to charities simply because they are pressured to do so by being approached. Here are a few things that could help you choose a charity to donate your day's wages to, or even establish a regular donating schedule to feel good about. Charity Navigator has a top ten list of everything you could ever want to know about charities. HERE is their Top Ten Tips for Savvy Donors. I am torn between Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society and Dumb Friends League in Denver. SO - I'm going to split my donation in two and donate to both! Happy giving!
XO
Well, I have returned from vacation (dead porcupines, snow in the desert and ghost towns just to name a few of the fun things we experienced) and am already planning our next trip! I know I've been gone for a while and instead of bombarding you with ten separate posts to sift through, I'll do a quick recap of the last week and get us caught up on the next few days! Apologies and enjoy!
April 20 - Look Alike Day, Volunteer Recognition DayFor Look Alike Day, I would like to share Irina Werning's BACK TO THE FUTURE (1 & 2) series as well as something I only found today - Dear Photograph. If you've seen it before, you know what I'm talking about when I say "Holy tear jerker!" Here are a few pictures I was thinking of trying to duplicate. April 21 - Kindergarten Day / April 22 - Girl Scout Leader Day, National Jelly Bean Day
Now, I know what you're thinking - "Enough with the old pictures!" But it's Kindergarten Day!! And Girl Scout Leader Day!! Just one more. . . or maybe two.
I LOVE OLD PICTURES!!
| I think this was right around Kindergarten age -
I can't seem to find my school pictures from this
year though!
| My mom's girl scout troop!
Heather Falker, Amber Foster, me, Danielle Rubis, Danielle Brandenburg, Angela Falker
and Jessica Shega-Fox.
Oh, and our apple turkeys for Thanksgiving!
| April 23 - Lover's Day, National Zucchini Bread Day, Take a Chance Day, World Laboratory DayWhat could possibly be better than a big hunk of zucchini bread for breakfast? Did someone say Zucchini CAKE?? Yes! That could possibly be better. Thanks to Elise on Simply Recipes for her grandmother's zucchini cake recipe!On a semi unrelated subject - In honor of Take a Chance Day, I'm thinking about jumping on the "I'm going to do a triathlon" train. For the past month I have been taking swim lessons to learn to lap swim and I CAN DO IT! This was always the leg that was the most intimidating, but now I really think I could handle a sprint triathlon. I'm not going crazy and signing up for a full length or even an Iron Man just yet, but baby steps are still pretty exciting! My research starts today!! Starting April 24, we went away on a mini-vacation to southern Colorado. While it wasn't exactly a dream every step of the way, it was the perfect Pig in a Blanket Day celebration!Day 1: Dropped Odie off at his favorite buddy's house (THANKS KATE AND SARAH AND LITTLE MAN!) then started the drive to South Fork, Colorado. Justin bought me a voucher for a two-night stay in a jacuzzi suite at the Spruce Lodge for my birthday and it was time to redeem that baby! We had the Rio Grande suite (most of the pictures in the video on the website show our room!), ate at The Shaft right next door for dinner and soaked it up in the hot tub (or luke warm tub, but who's counting?).Day 2: Hiked to Treasure Falls, tried hiking to Opal Lake but the road was closed. Enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Tequila's in Pagosa Springs. After our morning was enjoyed, the weather turned nasty and we headed back to "home". Day 3: Off to Great Sand Dunes National Park! Tried hiking to the top of High Dune, but a monster of a thunderstorm squashed that idea. So we watched bad-ass lightning over the dunes from our stellar campsite with a view! Then it rained all night. We slept in the car and awoke to SNOW in the DESERT! Crazy, stressful, testing vacation, but I know who I want to be with during the next thousand crazy, stressful and testing vacations to come. | |
April 25 - Administrative Professionals' Day
April 26 - Hug an Australian Day, National Pretzel Day, Richter Scale Day, Take Your Daughter to Work Day PLEASE try these for National Pretzel Day!! Please! | For Take Your Daughter to Work Day, I would like to showcase my dad. My dad is the best mechanic in the whole world. He has been the best mechanic in the world for over thirty years but, last year, he got hurt. His back no longer wants to put up with lifting humvee tires, giant engine blocks or any other plethora of heavy machinery. A few days ago, he got a new job! No lifting, twisting, crunching or grunting necessary. I am SO proud of my padre. He has worked so hard and deserves every ounce of good that comes his way. My progress so far - I feel that my pictures tell a better story than my words ever could.
April 27 - Babe Ruth Day, National Prime Rib Day, Tell a Story Day
April 28 - Great Poetry Reading Day, Kiss Your Mate Day
Justin and I have way too many kissing pictures. WAY too many.
April 29 - Greenery Day, National Shrimp Scampi Day
I hate shrimp. Like LOATHE shrimp. So, I'm celebrating Greenery Day
with all things wonderful, tasty, beautiful and GREEN!
Pistachio Cake by The Sugar Turntable (she has tons of other adorable cake recipes and ideas!)andFaroe Islands waterfall thanks to Something Beautiful . . . wish I had a tiny cabin directly behind where the photographer was standing. | | April 30 - Hairstyle Appreciation Day, National Honesty Day I will be leaving you with some wonderful hairstyles to appreciate for Hairstyle Appreciation Day. First, A Beautiful Mess. Last, but not least, Great Length's funky and fabulous PURPLE underneath! Happy bombarding!
XO
April 18, 2012 - International Juggler's Day, Newspaper Columnists Day
April 19, 2012 - National Garlic Day, National High Five Day
I'M OFFICIALLY ON VACATION AS OF TODAY!
(Keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get picked for jury duty over my vacation. . . Oh, jeez)
I am definitely in need of some relaxation / pamper / free / ME-time. Phew!
Happy high-fiving!
XO
Blah, Blah, Blah Day, National Cheeseball Day,
Pet Owners Independence Day Yesterday, I discovered Stephanie Cooks. She used to love cooking with cheese, but has more recently begun dairy-free recipes as well - which I think is pretty cool. Diversity! Anyway, the first two recipes are hers and the last is by the lovely Delicious Meliscious. | | I'm not really sure what Keugal is, but it sounds divine. Cream cheese, butter, sour cream - count me in! You may need to prep with a quick 10k jog to offset the calories, but I bet it's totally worth it! | Pierogi Lasagna - holy crapoli. Easier than taking an entire day to make "real" pierogi, but probably not the same. Who cares. They look deliciously cheesy and buttery and bad-for-you. . . -ey. Yum! | Pierogi, Wojcik-style. I'd share the recipe, but it's a family secret. Oh ok! Flour, water, eggs, salt and pepper for the dough - That's all I can give up! Maybe someday I'll share the rest! Ooooooh, the suspense is killing me!
| Last on the list of National Cheeseball Day celebration recipes. Restaurant-Style Queso Blanco thanks to Delicious Meliscious! I cannot WAIT to try this! Happy cheesing!
XO
National Eggs Benedict Day, National Librarian Day, National Stress Awareness Day, Patriot's Day
I may be taking jobs away from librarians worldwide by telling you about this awesome website (that is, if you haven't already heard of it!) but I can't resist. WhatShouldIReadNext.com is going to be my new best friend. I've kind of been in a reading rut - I went on a Stephen King kick and now I want to get back to reading grown up books. Books for ladies. Books that make me want to buy them in order to have them as a part of my collection. I'm in a rut. I need help! Pass along your favorite reads and I would owe you my first-born! Check out my Readables Pinboard for some other excuses to go see your favorite librarian. Happy searching for your next favorite book! (and sharing your current favorites with me!)XO
Rubber Eraser Day, Titanic Remembrance Day, Diamond Month
Sorry, folks, I got nothing. Zero motivation. Zero creativity. Zero energy. I'm all funned out. Have a wonderful Saturday and take a second to appreciate the great things in your life. Maybe start planning a cruise to pay homage to the Titanic =) Ha! Probably not.
Happy remembering!
XO
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