End of Week Musings

I haven't posted much this week because I haven't had any witty, entertaining blog topics to write about. But rather than leaving you hanging, I thought I would touch base on some things that I have been thinking about or doing this week.

I have been using my menu board again. There is something about it that just keeps me on track so much better. Maybe it's because it helps me put together a good shopping list, or maybe it's because if I write something on the board, I HAVE to make it... either way, I've been eating a lot better this week.

Yes I realize that we have Christmas napkins in our napkin holder.

I have to say, I understand Washington is a wet, rainy place for 88% of the year. But why can't it be wet and rainy during the week, and then nice on the weekends? I get so damn angry when it's nice and sunny when I am stuck at work, and then as soon as I make plans for the weekend to be outside or to spend time on the farm or something, this crap weather comes back. This is bull shit.

Yes, I understand that 70* is not very hot to most of the country, but for us, 70 is GREAT when it's not raining.

It pretty much sucks that the 4th is on a Wednesday. It doesn't get dark out until, like, 9:58 which means that if you want to watch any fireworks, you have to stay out WAY past your bedtime (unless you are one of those lucky people who doesn't work or got the day off).

Still playing the waiting game on this house situation really is not my favorite thing in the world right now. I get that these things take time, but isn't there some way to speed this damn process up? I mean, the bank isn't allowed to look at any other offers until they respond to ours, so it's not like they have all sorts of things out there on the table right now. Can't they just force the home "owners" to sign the paperwork they need? Or kick them the eff out already? They haven't paid on the place for a year, for Christ's sake, get them out of there!!!

Dear sponsored bloggers... I get that you have a responsibility to your sponsors to get their blogs out there in the world for your readers to see, that's the whole idea. But, from a reader's point of view, if you have TOO many sponsors, it's not fun to read your blog anymore. Ya know why? Because all I feel like I'm seeing is sponsor post after sponsor post after sponsor post. I'm not longer seeing the content that made me want to follow you in the first place. Just sayin'...

Please look at this beautiful horse:

Photo courtesy of Diamond J Training

She is currently a visitor at the farm while one of Chad's aunt's horses is off being trained. She's just about one of the prettiest horses I've ever seen in real life (aside from my pretty Indian Princess, of course), and I wish I could keep her.

Okay, sorry for the long post, I just had a few things going around in my brain that I felt like writing about. 

Toodles!

Another Double Review

I've got another couple books to tell you about today.

The first one is Playground by Jennifer Saginor

Here is what Amazon says:

You are six years old. Everyday after school your father takes you to a sprawling castle filled with exotic animals, bowls of candy, and half naked women catering to your every need.

You have your own room. You have new friends. You have an uncle Hef who's always there for you.

Welcome to the world of Playground, the true story of a young girl who grew up in the Playboy Mansion. By the time she was fourteen, she'd done countless drugs, had a secret affair with Hef's girlfriend, and was already losing her grip on reality. Schoolwork, family, and "ordinary people" had no meaning beyond the gates of the Mansion, where celebrities frolicked, pool parties abounded, and her own father - Hugh Hefner's personal physician and best friend, the man nicknamed Dr Feelgood - typically held court.

Everyday was a party, every night was an adventure, and through it all was a young girl falling faster and faster down the rabbit hole - trying desperately hard not to get lost.

This was a good book. It wasn't what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a lot more about being in the Playboy mansion, but it was more so a story about what being in the mansion opened her eyes to. I liked this book a lot, but I have to say it was sad. There were so many things going on that made me say "I can't imagine if that was my life". I mean, this girls dad was unreal. I don't want to say too much and give it away, but let's just say he was NOT a good parent figure.

Overall, I recommend this book, but not for a light read. It's got some pretty intense moments, so be prepared.

Up next, Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand

This was one of the books that I got in my book swap.

Here is what the back says:

Every summer the Newton family retreats to their beloved home on Nantucket for three months of sunshine, cookouts, and bonfires on the beach. But this summer will not be like any other. When Archer Newton, a prominent New York attorney, dies in a plane crash on his way home from a business trip, his beautiful widow Beth can barely keep things together. Above all, though, she decides that she must continue the family tradition of going to Nantucket, and at the same time fulfill a promise that Arch made before he died.

Beth invites Marcus, the son of Arch's final and most challenging client, to spend the summer with her and her teenage twines Winnie and Garrett, who have mixed reactions to sharing their special summer place with this stranger. Always a place of peace before, Nantucket becomes the scene of roiling emotions and turbulent passions as Marcus, Winnie, and Garrett learn about loss, first love, and betrayal. And when they stumble upon a shocking secret from Beth's past, they must keep it from destroying the family they've been trying so hard to heal.

This is a book that I never would have picked up on my own. But I really enjoyed it. It's a very light read, so it's a great book to read when you have a few minutes. One of the things that is a little different is that it is narrated from more of the omniscient point of view... you knew what was going on without actually being inside anybody's head.

It was kind of a predictable story line, but not so much that it was boring.

Another thing I really liked about it was that it has a good ending. It gives really good closure, which is something I look for in a book (although I do like a book that leaves me wanting more, but only when it has another book that follows).

Overall, I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I Won $50... and Other Happenings

First and foremost, I want to rub in your faces share with you the fact that I won $50 on SaveUp! I know I mentioned it a while back when I first joined, but basically it is a website that you link you bank accounts/credit cards to and you earn credits that can go towards winning prizes. Mostly all I've ever won was extra credits, but the other day I actually won $50! I was quite happy, and promptly ran to tell my coworkers.

Anyways, if you want to join or check it out, go here. (No I'm not sponsored by them, I just want to share it with you).

As far as my weekend goes, here is kind of the breakdown:

Friday:

Friday at work was CRAZY. I was pretty busy most of the day, but at least the time went by fast. For our weekly eat out lunch, we tried a new barbecue place close to my work called Mo Barbecue. That's right. It was GOOD too. I had a smoked meatloaf sandwich and fries. Both left me happy.

Friday was also my mama's birthday so we (meaning Chad, Sister, Sister's fiance, and myself) took her out to dinner at the same restaurant Chad and I took her for Mother's Day, Wild Fin American Grill.

It was excellent, just like the first time we went. We shared an appetizer tower that consisted of crab cakes, calamari, and their AMAZING smoked salmon, artichoke, spinach dip. For my entree I got the fish tacos with a side of their cougar gold shrimp mac & cheese. Honestly, I was full from the appetizers though.

I did have plenty of room for two cocktails though...

All in all, it was a great dinner.

Saturday:

We spent a majority of the day on Saturday cleaning out some parts of my house. Chad and my sister's fiance Matt spent the day in the basement going through my mom's old tools and splitting them up. While they did that, Sister and I were dealing with my dad's music collection. He had a HUGE collection of vinyl records. So, to free up some space in his old room, we split them in half and took them outta there. My sister also ended up taking his stereo and all his CDs (close to 400). 

During some down time, I managed to snap this picture of some pink lilies growing in my backyard

Chad and I ended the day with a couple hours of fishing (didn't catch anything) and then to bed.

Sunday:

Today has been a pretty mellow day. I stayed home all day, aside from going to the farm to check up on my horse. Mostly I've been doing laundry, dishes, and watching Lifetime Movies. I feel like I've come down with a cold or flu virus, so I'm hoping if I hit the hay early tonight, I'll feel okay for work tomorrow.

I hope you kids had a good weekend!

Book Swap!

So, a few weeks ago I signed up for a book swap.

Because I LOVE me some books.

When it was time to be assigned partners, I was hooked up with Amanda over at Life According to Amanda.

I will let you go check out her post to find out what I got for her, but right now I am going to share with you what she got for me.

There's the goods.

I was really excited to see that two of the three books I had never heard of. That may sound strange, but when I do these swaps I always look forward to getting things that I would never buy for myself.

Here is how the books fit into the requirements:

The Book She Loves: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Book she Hasn't Read: Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand

The Book she Thinks I will Love: Uncharted TerriTori

I am currently reading Summer People and I am really enjoying it. I'm a little over halfway done with it, so I will probably have a real review for you next week.

Anyways, that's what I have to share with you,

Amanda, thank you so much for these books (even if you had to send them in an extremely large box...) I hope you like what I picked for you, and I'm enjoying learning more about you through your bloggy blog!

It's Okay... to have a bloody mary for an afternoon snack (when I'm not working, obviously)

It's Okay... to sometimes wish I had a back office job so I wouldn't have to deal with people all the time

It's Okay... to really look forward to Dance Moms (and Dance Moms Miami). Fun Fact: one of my sister's old friends posted a picture on FB of her kids with Abby Lee from Dance Moms! Apparently they were staying in the same hotel somewhere

It's Okay... that after 10 years, I still get really nervous before a bell choir concert

It's Okay... to get jealous that Chad can eat gas station food like pizza sticks and corndogs for breakfast, but if I ate that I would gain 500 pounds (literally, 500)

It's Okay... to get really freaking frustrated by this damn short sale waiting game

It's Okay... to still be nursing a sore hip from my 5k on Saturday

It's Okay... to forget that the 4th of July is right around the corner, and not have any plans yet

Peanut Butter Cake: A Recipe

So the other night I was perusing Pinterest and got the urge to bake (go figure).

So, I went into my kitchen and concocted whatever I could with the ingredients in my baking cupboard. 

Once my baking itch was scratched, I realized that I needed someone to eat said cake (since it's pretty damn obvious I don't need to).

So I brought it to work.

The next thing you know, people are wanting to know about my recipe for this amazing creation that I clearly worked hours on.

So, here I am sharing with you the recipe for my amazing Peanut Butter Cake.

The Goods:

The next step is to mix up the batter according to the directions.

Then throw in some butterscotch chips and reese's pieces.

Then bake it.

While you're doing that. Scoop some peanut butter into a bowl and mix in the white frosting until you get it to a consistency that you like (definitely use the whipped frosting because it's a lot easier to work with... the regular stuff would be way too thick with the peanut butter).

Then when the cake is done, slap some frosting on that beezy (once it's cooled some, of course). If you want to get REALLY crazy, you can toss some chocolate sprinkles on top.

You're welcome.

Since I've been able to keep up with blogging a bit better lately, I have also been able to do a little pinning.
(Warning, this new blogger interface is really effing with my formatting, so sorry it looks like I did this with my feet in the dark)

Source: customglamgirl.com via Carly on Pinterest

Source: via Carly on Pinterest

Source: jennysteffens.blogspot.com via Carly on Pinterest

Source: beverlyworkman5.blogspot.com via Carly on Pinterest

Source: someecards.com via Carly on Pinterest

Source: slr61386.polyvore.com via Carly on Pinterest

Source: squidoo.com via Carly on Pinterest

Sometimes & Always

It's been a while since I've linked up with Megan, so I thought today should be the day.

Sometimes I don't get up until 7:00 to get ready for work

Always I set my alarm for earlier, just in case I have the energy to squeeze in a workout

Sometimes I go to the grocery store before eating dinner

Always I end up buying a bunch of crap food

Sometimes I can't wait to move out of my house

Always I realize how much I adore this house and DON'T want to move out

Sometimes my mom's dog pees all over the house

Always we forgive him quickly because he's so damn cute

Sometimes I want to take a sabbatical from work and just go to the gym all day, every day

Always I realize that I can't afford to not work... got bills to pay!

Some Things about the Weekend

Aside from "running" in a 5k on Saturday, I did have some other things that happened.

Friday night, we had to go to Dick's Sporting Goods to get something for Chad's dad for father's day. 

On the way out of town, I see a guy mowing his lawn next to the road with his sunglasses on. The first thing that comes to my mind? "Who would let a blind man mow the lawn, especially so close to such a major road??" 

Obviously I am not used to people wearing sunglasses around here.

Anyways, after wandering around looking at lots of fishing lures and finally picked a knife out for Chad's dad, we decided to get something to eat while we were in Renton.

We ended up having our first Five Guys Burgers experience. The burgers were good, but the french fries that everybody get so excited about, not so much.

So that was Friday.

Saturday, as you well know, was Fall City Days and that fateful "fun" run. After surviving that, I went to breakfast with my sister and a few co workers before the parade. Then, after crying to myself and trying to make the pain go away, it was time to go back down to the festivities. I always want to spend so much money down there! Between the food trucks and the neat booths, I could spend hundreds of dollars. Good thing the only thing I bought was a pair of earrings for $20.

LOVE THEM.

Anyways, after a while it was time for us (Chad, Sister, and Sister's fiance) to head out to get dinner with my mom. Since yesterday was my dad's birthday, we decided to have family dinner at one of his favorite restaurants in his honor. 

There was lots of food... yum.

After dinner, Chad and I headed to our friends' property for their annual Fall City Days party. We watched some horseshoes, chatted and had some beverages. It was a good time, but I was quite tired and in a fairly significant amount of pain, so we headed out around 9:30 or so.

Today hasn't been too exciting. Chad and I went to his dad's house so Chad could give him the knife he bought him, and we chatted and played with his puppy for a while. Then we came home, did a few little chores and I have been vegging out ever since.

Wait, that's not entirely true. I did take a nap.

The goal for the rest of my evening is to get caught up on everybody's blogs and hopefully be able to get some sleep tonight without too much pain.

The Day I Almost Died

Since I'm mildly retarded, I decided last week to sign up for our Fall City Days Fun Run 5k.

I'm a moron.

A couple of my coworkers were doing it, and I was like "oh, that's a good idea" but I was really torn because i haven't been training to run, I've just been working out on the elliptical and stationary bike, so I knew that I was going to struggle with it if I decided to do it.

Then Sister said "oh, yeah I was thinking about doing it" and then BFFL was like "Well, I made the decision for you and you're doing it". 

There you have it kids.

I'm a moron.

So I've been stressing out about it the past few days and last night I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I realize that this is just a race and there's no reason to panic, it's not like I'm having open heart surgery or something. I set my alarm for 8 this morning, since the race started at 9:15 and I live a whole 2 minutes away. But, when Chad got up to go fishing this morning, my nerves wouldn't let me go back to sleep. So I was up at 6:45 or so freaking out about my certain demise.

I'm a moron.

So Sister and I get down there so she can register (she waited until this morning) and I picked up my race packet and sweet tee shirt. I seriously considered staying in the car and sleeping while Sister ran. She wouldn't let me though. Then I played out in my mind all the possible outcomes. I could break my leg and need an aid car. Or throw myself off the bridge into the river to have an excuse not to do it. Sister wouldn't let me do that either.

Boo.

So, it comes time for the race to start. We jogged for the first 1/2+ mile before I had to walk because I could taste that familiar metallic flavor from the blood of my surely burst lungs. So, we walked to the 1 mile mark while I tried to get my lungs to stop screaming at me and the squeaky whistling noise coming from my mouth to subside. 

Then, as we reach the 1 mile mark, we can see all these people in red up ahead. Sister tells me they're cheerleaders.... cheerleaders WITH WATER. Hell yes I can jog to the nice cheerleaders with the refreshing water! I hobble my ass to them and thank the dear sweet girls for my water and walk until I finish drinking it (which took longer than I had anticipated because its hard to drink water when you can't breathe). 

After the water station, we jog until the turn around point, and then we start walking again. We obviously come up on the perky cheerleaders again with their screams of "you're almost there!" "Just keep going!" "You can do it!!!!!"

Bitches.

I tried to run again after the cheerleaders, but I made it about 20 feet before my legs literally couldn't handle it anymore and I was sure I was going to fall flat on my face, and not be able to get up again. So Sister said we could do a speed walk. I'm good with a speed walk. So we speed walk the majority of the second half, but once we got halfway across the bridge back to town, it was crunch time. So, I can proudly say I jogged the rest of the way and made it across the finish line to the screams of a few of my coworkers.

And that's when the aid cars showed up because I collapsed right across the finish line.

I kid, I kid.

But seriously, it was really freaking tough. And here I sit, over 12 hours later and the whole left side of my lower body is screaming in pain. Both of my hips are done for, and my left knee and foot have had enough. 

I managed to hobble my way around Fall City days later on with Chad and got some cute earrings and we had a few drinks with Sister and her fiance, and I was able to make an appearance at our friends' annual Fall City Days party.

But now, as I wait for my painkiller to kick in, I am icing my aching joints in hopes that I will one day be able to walk without a limp.

Book Review x 2

Since I've been too busy to blog the past few weeks, I have two books to tell you about today.

1. Between, Georgia

I've passed this book up a few times, but when I saw it at a garage sale, I figured I should probably read it, and I'm glad I did.

Here's the description from the back:

Nonny Frett knows the meaning of "rock" and "hard place" better than any woman ever born. She's got two mothers, "one deaf-blind and the other four baby steps from flat crazy." She's got two men: her husband, who's easing out the back door; and her best friend, who's laying siege to her heart in the front yard. And she has two famililes: one who stole her and raised her right... and one who lost her and won't forget they've been done wrong. In the middle of a feud that's igniting a stash of highly flammable secrets, Nonny must now make some hard choices about who she wants to be-and which way is truly home.

I really enjoyed this book... I don't know what else to say about it to explain WHY I liked it. I just did. It had an unusual plot, not something you read about in every other "chick lit" book. The only thing that I struggled with was figuring out what place in time we were working with. I mean, somethings that were said made it seem like this was happening a long time ago, and then other things brought me back to the reality that it was more modern than that. Maybe it just has to do with the setting... a little town in Georgia that might be behind the times. But I don't know. 


Overall, I really liked the book and would give it probably 4 out of 5 stars.


2. Breaking Silence

I got this book on a whim at Costco while i was spending my mom's money.
Here's the synopsis:


The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane-gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers evidence of foul play. Who would want to make orphans of the Slabaugh children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?
Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. The state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship, and together they search for the link between the crimes -  and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.


This book gave a new twist to your common crime novel. The only thing I wish I had known before was that this is the 3rd book in a series. So now I have to go back and read the first 2. Hate it when that happens...


So, both these books were good. Definitely worth the read.

Here are some things that are on my mind lately, but in no particular order.

1. Damn, working out feels so good. I mean, clearly not while I'm doing it because I can't breathe and I'm passing in and out of consciousness while my lungs and brain struggle to get enough oxygen to sustain normal bodily functions, but after that...

2. Why are some people so god damn pushy? I mean, seriously. People seem to think that they are the only thing I have going on in my work day, therefore they deem it not only acceptable, but completely NECESSARY to call me 20 times before lunch. I fracking told you I would call you when I am done and have something to tell you! I can't fathom why you must leave obnoxious voicemails that last 3 seconds. You know the ones I'm talking about... the ones where someone waits until the very last moment to decide NOT to leave a voicemail because they don't have anything worthwhile to say, due to the fact that they are already well aware that I am going to call them when the time is right and that if they did leave me a voicemail saying "just checking in... call me when you get a minute!" I either a) wouldn't call them back anyways, or b) I would call them and in no subtle way tell them no, I haven't finished, which is why I haven't called them back yet.

3. Why is compassion such a forgotten practice. Honestly, I think they should teach it in school. Yes, I get that a little drama can be entertaining every now and again, but when someone is seriously hurting, there's no reason to stand by and kick the when they're down. Put yourself in their shoes, ask yourself if you'd you like some inconsiderate assholes taking advantage of your precarious situation. The answer is NO.

Anyways kids, those are a few things that I've been thinking about the past few days. 

I hope you've all been having a wonderful week... 

I Love It

I swear you guys, I am trying to get back to my blogging ways. So today I thought I would update you on what I'm loving right now.

I'm Loving... that Pretty Little Liars is back. Seriously! 

I'm Loving... reading. Don't you just love it when you find a book and you can't stop reading it. But then it is over and there are other books in the series that you want to read, but you can't afford to buy them :( that is something I do NOT love.

I'm Loving... Grey's Anatomy. In case you hadn't noticed. I just saw the episode where they guy shoots himself with a bazooka and then it explodes after they get it out of him. WHOA.

I'm Loving... paying off some debt. Since we have our offer in on our house, the mortgage guy told us not to put anymore money into our savings accounts because the USDA (that's who we're getting our loan through) is really questioning deposits after the approval. So that means all that money I was dumping into savings before gets to go towards debt.

Anyways, those are some things I've been loving lately. I should be back later this week, since I have TWO books to tell you about.

Ohh... hi there...

Soooo...

yeah. I haven't posted in a week. Nor have I really been reading anybody else's blogs that much. I don't have a good excuse. Do you want the real reason why I haven't been here?

Grey's Anatomy.

I know. I'm late to the party. But I just started watching it about a week ago on DVD and I can't freaking stop. And our DVD player in our family room doesn't work, which means I have to use my laptop, which means no blogging.

Pathetic, I know.

Sorry I'm not sorry.

My Life as a Movie

Has anybody else thought about who would play the people in your life when the time comes that a movie is being made about you?

These are the people that I think would be the front runners.

Lucy Hale

She's cute, young, and I enjoy her.

Although I've only ever seen her in Pretty Little Liars as Aria, so I don't know if she has the acting abilities to achieve my personality.

Mila Kunis

"Pretty" doesn't even begin to describe her. 

I know she's got what it takes to achieve my personality with her acting, however I think maybe it would be a little over the top for her to play me, since my looks and hers aren't even on the same planet.

If I could somehow combine the two of them, it would be PERFECT.

Now, I just need someone to write the screenplay about my life.

What about you? Anybody thought about who would bring honor to your name on the big screen?