Lemon Yogurt Cake

Even though we've had morning snowflakes, this cake makes me long for spring. It also makes me think of my favorite vacation spot, Italy!
I found this new blog featuring Weight Watcher - Low Calorie recipes on LaaLoosh.com. I bought the ingredients Saturday night and baked it yesterday afternoon. It's just the right blend of sweet and sour, yummy glaze and the calories have been reduced from Ina Garten's recipe to allow yourself a "sweet treat" without the guilt. Check out this blog and find something delicious yet light on the scales.
I found Laa Loosh through ZipList, a great free shopping list and recipe box app for my iPhone. It's a great place to find new recipes. When you add it to your recipe box and decide to try it, a grocery list is created and it sorts it by the different depts. in your store. It's something I always have with me ... better than carrying a list and with items sorted it makes my shopping trip much quicker. I can also pull up a recipe from my recipe box wherever I go. Love this app! I'm also trying some new dinner entrees this week. I'll let you know my review.
Don't have a smart phone? You can still browse the great recipe selection online http://www.ziplist.com/recipes/search Give it a try and let me know what you think!
In the meantime, try this lemon cake. It's like a taste of spring!

A Taste of Peru

Sunday afternoon we celebrated Valentine's Day early with a meal at Andina Restaurant in The Pearl with Donna and Pierre. This was a new experience for all of us and the staff made us feel right at home. The menu was explained and "interpreted" along with sharing some great recommendations.
I love being adventurous in trying new things ... well, I have to admit that I was a bit timid about the octopus listed on the menu : )
Each dish served was a rich combination of tastes and aromas. From our beverage right down to the beautifully created desserts -you do not leave disappointed. We will definitely go back. The menu is full of an array of food and beverages waiting to be experienced. Check out this adventure of Peruvian cuisine and culture here. You'll be glad you did!

Delizioso!

Last week we enjoyed a Christmas gift treat. Tim and Rae gave us cooking classes at Sur la Table for Italian Family Favorites with Chef Ben Witten (thanks again!). This was a wonderful gift idea. Now I would like to take more classes. It's a great gift idea for empty-nesters and would be fun to take with family or a group of friends.
We worked in groups of four on a full Italian menu that included: Saffron Risotto, Sicilian Fennel Salad with Oranges and Arugula, Chicken Cacciatore, and Tiramisu for dessert. We also enjoyed bread with dipping oil, wine and brushetta. It was amazing!
Not only were we instructed in how to make these recipes but we learned about kitchen tools, ingredients and a few new ways to work in the kitchen. The bonus was the end product ... we got to enjoy the meal we prepared. Every recipe turned out so delicious but I was quite surprised to discover that I probably liked the fennel salad most of all. It's something I've been hesitant to try and it tasted amazing!
You have an opportunity to shop between prep and dining. Sur la Table includes a 10% discount for a week following class. I had a gift card (thanks, Brian and Michelle) and picked up several kitchen tools and accessories. You leave class with all of the recipes, a list of equipment and products used to prepare them.
Sur la Table has a calendar of classes available each month. Check it out at surlatable.com and grab a friend or family member to join you. We'd love to go again some time!
We still have a date night for an Italian dinner @ Bugatti's and a movie to look forward to ... thanks to Matt and Kathy. Oh, how I love Christmas gifts that keep on giving : )

What Have You Got to Lose?

Since I have been spotlighting intentional eating, I thought I would share my meal plan. Following my surgery I have been eating the same foods before and during work. I know these agree with me and are very filling. I recently read an article by Dr. Oz stating that people who eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch tend to lose and keep weight off. So, this has a dual bonus! Perhaps many could not do this due to boredom but I actually look forward to these meals every day.
Being intentional in this area of my life has made a few changes. My alarm now goes off at 5:20 a.m. and while putting my salad together I have my breakfast simmering. I keep all ingredients gathered together to enable my morning routine to go a little faster. Some items I have prepped, cooked, or packaged in advance.
Here's my eating plan breakdown:
Breakfast includes a Better n Eggs omlette filled with a mixture of precooked peppers, celery, onion, steamed sweet potatoes, 2 pieces of Canadian bacon and a slice of toast ... all for under 200 calories
Mid-morning snack: 24 almonds 163 calories
Lunch: Salad with tomato, cucumber, olives, shrimp, croutons and ranch light dressing, 3 Wasa crackers and a triangle of Laughing Cow or Sonoma Jack cheese. All for under 350 calories
Afternoon snack: After working out at the gym I enjoy Soy Energy Blend mix 1/4c. = 150 calories
I have been eating a variety of foods for dinner (no boredom there!)
Evening Snack: Sugar-free chocolate pudding 150 calories ... it's like having ice cream : )
This is the first time since my surgery eight years ago that my "symptoms" have calmed down! An added bonus ... I've dropped one pant size.
Give Dr. Oz's idea a try ... what do you have to lose?

A Little Surprise!

During the holidays I tried to use technology to help with my Christmas shopping and to create a personal Wishlist on Amazon. You've got to love technology for this time-saving benefit.
EXCEPT ... in early January I got an email from Amazon. They keep track of what you look at so they sent me a link for a great deal on this wii product. Curious, I checked it out on the iPad. I didn't realize it was logged in to Walt's Amazon account. Anyway, there was a quick shop button so I clicked away thinking I would look it over. Hhmmm ... red flags waved in my mind. Should I be concerned?!?! I looked in my shopping cart ... empty. Whew! Nothing ordered; just "window" shopping on a Sunday afternoon. The following Thursday I pulled in the driveway and noticed a package on the front porch. Well, my first thought was that Walt must have ordered some books from his wishlist. And ... anyway ... HIS name was on the package! But as it sat on the counter I had a flashback regarding that quick shop button. No, it couldn't be ... I slit the packing tape to peek. OH, NO ... yes, it was the wii game! No books inside! Dang!
Target sells this item for $39.99 and I got it for $20.00 so I am convincing myself it was a great deal >clears throat< and guess who feels obligated to "party yourself into shape"???? Yes, that would be me!
Moral of the story ... never click the quick shop button. I'm thankful it wasn't a $200.00 item. On the other hand ... I suppose if you really wanted something it might be tempting .... hahaha. Only kidding!

Wasa! Where Are You?

What a surprise! While grocery shopping after the beginning of the year I was a little shocked to see the shelf at my store was bare where the Wasa Crisp and Light crackers are located. Did everyone catch on to this tasty treat?!?! With only 20 calories per cracker they are the perfect match with my 35-calorie Laughing Cow cheese wedge. I have been enjoying this in my lunch each day. Walt had to drive to a WINCO near his work to find them and now we buy several boxes at a time.
Sounds like others have made New Year's resolutions to eat healthier!

Goodwill Finds

I love finding "treasures" at Goodwill. Last week I found this fun red Nine West purse --in perfect condition, a black Banana Republic merino wool sweater, an Ann Taylor top, and a piece of my wedding registry glassware ... yes, it was on my M&F registry nearly 40 years ago. I would love to find more for my china place settings. I will patiently wait and look each visit. There must be more out there! Using all of my discounts and gifts cards, I only had a balance of $13.00 out of pocket.
I had an opportunity to make a quick stop at the Cornell store recently and found these items pictured below. The lemons remind me of Italy and I purchased this sweater in black last year at a Nordstrom's sale for $20.00. This sweater? $6.99 ... Love, love, love this!
Thanks, Donna for the Christmas gift card that keeps on giving. You know the joy I find in a bargain!

Living With Intention -Healthier

Living with intention changes many of my food/meal choices now. When I grocery shop I am reading labels, looking for calorie content, sodium etc. It takes a little longer to go up and down each aisle. It takes time to return home with bags of food and then spend several hours prepping, chopping and cooking items in order to have the best food choices available.
While looking at cans of refried beans I was a little shocked to see the sodium content. I guess that makes it tasty so we will continue to buy their product. So, I decided to buy pinto beans in bulk and look for a recipe online and make my own. I used to make them in the 80's when I lived on the Covert Bailey Fit or Fat diet. I had an idea that there might be a crockpot recipe that would cook them while I'm at work. I tried the following recipe but I didn't have a jalapeno on hand ... they were tasty anyway. The next time I make them, I think I will eliminate the salt all together.
Beans are inexpensive and a good source of protein. They are easy to make and freeze well. Give them a try. It's one small step to a healthier ... and richer YOU!

• 1 onion, peeled and halved
• 3 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed
• 1/2 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 5 teaspoons salt
• 1 3/4 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin, optional
• 9 cups water

Directions

1. Place the onion, rinsed beans, jalapeno, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin into a slow cooker. Pour in the water and stir to combine. Cook on High for 8 hours, adding more water as needed. Note: if more than 1 cup of water has evaporated during cooking, then the temperature is too high.
2. Once the beans have cooked, strain them, and reserve the liquid. Mash the beans with a potato masher, adding the reserved water as needed to attain desired consistency.

Amount Per Serving Calories: 139 | Total Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 0mg

Words With Friends Wow!

I am still a novice but I was pleasantly surprised when my word: succeeds added up to 128 points. I don't think any of my other words/plays has beat that record. Oh, how I love this game!

2012 Word of the Year

in·ten·tion·al

/ɪnˈtɛnʃənl/ Show Spelled[in-ten-shuh-nl]

adjective

1. done with intention (an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result) or on purpose

This is my word for 2012. I want to live all areas of my life ... physical, spiritual, mental and social with purpose. I want to be intentional in my habits ... eating better, regular exercise, getting enough sleep. I need to focus more on my spiritual growth, spending time in the Word and work on being more balanced mentally and socially.
Last night I had the opportunity to spend time with the ladies from our REACH group sharing and praying for one another. It was a great way to focus on the new year, encourage and support one another in areas where we want to grow. I know these ladies will be checking on me and asking how I've been intentional in my daily walk. Keeping me accountable.
Here's to a new year ... a new page ... a new adventure. Looking forward to 2012!

Words With Friends

I started playing Words With Friends over the winter break and now I am addicted : ) I'm still getting the hang of it but as I play each game my losses aren't quite so steep. I was beat by 100-200 points while playing my first few games but now I am narrowly losing/winning.
It has been fun to connect with friends and spend a few days playing back and forth. I'm still a little shy about playing with the "pros" but I'm working at building my word skills.

A Reading Milestone

2011 was a great reading year. Thanks to my reading group I was able to finish 44 books and it wasn't only the number of books but they encouraged me to expand my reading taste. Our theme this year was the Northwest ... books or authors. We each picked four titles for the group to read (a total of 12 books). I read several books that I would have bypassed at the bookstore or library. They became some of my all-time favorites! An added bonus ... a monthly dinner to discuss our current read. Great insights and conversation. Thanks, ladies for sharing this fun adventure with me!
2012 has a new theme ... a mixture of humor, fiction, classic, non-fiction. From our list I know I will be challenged but I'm looking forward to getting lost in a good book in the coming year.
To view the list of books I read this year click the Libarything or Goodreads link on the right sidebar.
Have you read a good book this year? I would love to add a few new titles to my 2011 list!

Christmas Pizza Toss

Years ago we moved away from a formal Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. It felt like we'd just finish cleaning up breakfast dishes and it was time to prepare another big meal. Actually, we were still quite full from breakfast plus I really didn't want to spend all day in the kitchen ... I wanted to enjoy my family. We came up with the idea of "Build You Own ____." Over the years it has been sub sandwiches, burritos etc. but this year I thought it would be fun to try "Build Your Own Pizza." The grandkids love pizza and with two former Bellagio Pizza makers in the family it seemed like the perfect plan.

I tried to think of every possible pizza topping with the exception of anchovies!

The grandkids were a great help to the "Bellagio Bros." in rolling out the dough just right.

Preparing the pizzas for baking takes some time. So many choices!

Here's a fun clip from our pizza kitchen ...

The pizzas were delicious ... a great idea that also incorporates FUN in our day.
Good memories!

Just What I Wanted!

We always enjoy Christmas morning brunch with the family. Seems like we start talking and storytelling, forgetting we have a tree full of presents. Last year I went all out with the 12 Months of Christmas but this year we decided on a Date Night theme and several of us received gift cards for dinner and a movie. We also received Italian cooking classes at Sur la Table and many nice, thoughtful gifts. Our best gift ... what was written in the cards, seeing the excitement on the grandkids' faces, love shared and time being together. This was our greatest gift!

This Was Not Planned!

Another Christmas surprise ... Brian and Walt are dressed alike : ) It was not planned but we had so much fun taking pictures and having a good laugh!!

A Special Christmas Surprise

What a wonderful surprise! A Christmas morning visit from the Weckerts. We finally got to meet baby Luke. He is such a cute baby boy ... full of smiles and laughter. Eric was always like a 4th son so it was nearly like holding another grandson.
What JOY to see those who "grew up" playing at our house, spending time with our family and now are parents with their new baby boy.
It was a perfect way to start our Christmas morning. Thanks Eric, Whitney and Luke for stopping by!

Christmas Eve ... Tradition

Our day began with breakfast at 9:00a.m. at Season's and Regions with Bryon and Heather. The food was excellent and it was fun eating on the heated patio. I highly recommend this restaurant and I'm thinking it would be a fun place to have a monthly Saturday breakfast.
After breakfast we drove downtown and met everyone at Pioneer Place.
A great stop for the grandkids to see Santa and have their picture taken. We also had the opportunity to shop for those last-minute Christmas gifts. The kids loved throwing coins in the fountain and making wishes.
Following tradition there is always a stop at Starbucks for our annual hot beverage. The weather was so mild and dry. The perfect day to hang out at Pioneer Square. We also shared the square with Syrian protesters ... a first. It was also a pleasure to run into Jeff Myers while getting coffee. We haven't seen him in years!
Our next stop was Rock Bottom for dinner. This has been an annual tradition for several years, especially now that Hi-Hat closed.
For those brave few ... an 8:00p.m. movie at Bridgeport. We enjoyed MI4 ... quite a bit of action to keep us going until midnight services at church. It was nice to see a full service at TCC. We always love this candlelight service and the focus on the reason for the season --the birth of Jesus. We got home after 1:00a.m. A long but lovely day!

Our Christmas Card to You

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

We Rule Still Rules

It has been six months and I am still playing We Rule. It continues to hold my interest and I have not gotten bored with it. I am now up to level 59 and enjoy "managing" my kingdom. The game is available on the iPad and iPhone. If you give it a try, my user name is kdgee. Did I also mention it's free?!?!
Come on ... you know it will be fun : )

Village People

In the early 90's I painted an entire ceramic Christmas village. It took hours but it has been fun to display each year over several decades. This year our little Village Elves had such fun rearranging the town, playing with the people and making it "snow." I never dreamed another generation would have such fun with it.
It's nice to have decorations the kids can play with and not have to worry about breakage etc. I remember how fun the decorations were at my Grandma's house ... especially the aluminum tree and color wheel. It was so fascinating!
Maybe someday our grandkids will inherit this little village and carry on the tradition in their homes.

Christmas Home Decor

We have so many lovely decorations but you may wonder about the story behind this one.
One Secretary's Day while I was on staff at Archer Glen a second-grader drew a picture of the three of us with big red lips so it was kind of a joke with the staff.
Our music teacher, Mr. Greiner was quite comical and used to stop by my desk several times a week and ask how my new album was coming along. If you know me, you know I do not possess the gift of carrying a tune so it was quite the tease. He even went as far as to put in his sub notes ..."ask Karen in the office about her new album." So, being that our secretarial team was very clever we decided to get him back. We made a CD of Christmas carols and created our own album cover. We made a tee shirt with our picture on the front and Sherwood concert dates on the back. It was hilarious! We presented it to him for Christmas and it was the first and only time he was totally speechless!
Those were golden years ... work was fun!
And that's the story behind this fun Christmas decoration!
P.S. Credit goes to Donna for providing a lifetime of wax lips!

Secret Shoppers

For the past few years we have taken the grandkids out for an evening of dinner and Christmas shopping. This year our little shoppers chose Sweet Tomatoes for dinner and boy, was there a crowd! After our meal we drove over to TCC to check out the Drive-Through Nativity. It was our first time attending this event. When we arrived we were greeted with a cup of hot cocoa ... the kids loved it. As we drove through the different stations, we read the verses and enjoyed the Christmas scenes with people from the church and live animals. When we got down to where the sheep were displayed Walt drove on the wrong side of the cones and hit a small concrete curb. He backed up and ran over a large cone dragging it down the parking lot. It not only made a loud scrapping sound but he had to stop to try and remove it. This required backing up, going forward, backing up etc. It was quite comical : ) I do not know how the shepherds or wise men kept a straight face during this comedic routine. I would have been full of giggles! As we neared the end of the display, there's a place to stop and drop off prayer requests and as we rolled down our window, we were told, "We already know what to pray about for you ..." hahaha I know it will be a great family Christmas "legend" to pass down for generations!
We were successful in purchasing and wrapping gifts for mom and dad. While driving them home, Calleigh leaned over to Colin and said, "Wouldn't it be great if Grandma and Grandpa had kids!" LOL! We love this annual tradition with the grandkids!

Gift Bags

Years ago I used to paint gift bags but as the years went by the project became too time consuming during the holidays.
This year I found a great idea on a blog. I downloaded the jpg but forgot to flag the post in my RSS feed so now I can't give credit where credit is due. Anyway, I opened this file in PSE9, ran white paper bags through my printer and you can see the pictured results.
I used them for my cookie exchange and gift giving at work. I loved how they turned out and I am now thinking of creating files for birthdays etc. I have a large stash of white lunch bags just waiting to be transformed into something fun!

A Little Bit of a White Christmas

On one of our many Christmas shopping outings we were amazed to see a beautiful winter scene in the Wilsonville area. It was limited to a small pocket surrounding the Costco area. It was so beautiful that we saw a family get out and take pictures in front of a treed area of the parking lot.
While it would have been nice to have a White Christmas I guess we need to find JOY in this small area of winter not far from our home!

Delivering ... Frustration

December 8th was our scheduled furniture delivery date. Walt had to take the morning off to accept delivery between 10:00 and 2:00. I had asked if they could come after 2:00 when I would be available ... the answer was a solid "NO!" So, I relieved Walt of his "shift" at 2:30 and they did not arrive until nearly 3:30 ... I started feeling a little frustrated : )
The delivery guys brought the sofa into the garage, analyzed the room, doorways etc. and said it would not fit through the door and wanted to return the sofa to the warehouse. Now I was not only frustrated but a little angry. I called the store and the clerk talked to the delivery guy. He told him to take the packaging off the sofa and move it in the room. The guy refused saying it would get damaged. The clerk got back on the phone with me and said the delivery guy wasn't even trying. I contacted Walt and he was very frustrated as he had just arrived at work and would now have to fight rush hour traffic to return home to deal with this.
The delivery guy wanted me to sign the delivery form stating I refused delivery. Now, I couldn't do that ... that would be a lie : ) because in actuality he was refusing to do his job and I would be stuck with the $80 delivery fee if he took it back. Finally he called his dispatcher and then sat in his truck. He couldn't leave until I signed the form. It was a battle of wills and I decided to make dinner and let them sit out in their cold truck!
When Walt arrived he told them to take it into the garage, unpackage it and he would help them get it in the family room. First the dispatcher said we had to sign a form stating that they would not be responsible for any woodwork or wall damage (really!?!?!) Well, with Walt's help they had it in the room within minutes. Such drama ... and frustration!
We love the new look and we are thankful to have that whole episode behind us. It's only now that we can laugh about the whole thing.

Well, it certainly has been awhile ...

Instead of going back to where my blog left off, I thought I would pick up around Black Friday and move forward from there. Seems like the speed of life picked up during the holidays. It took all my "reserves" to keep up with work, social events, food prep, shopping etc. but it has been so delightful to get the rest I need during the second half of my winter break in order to be ready to face the new year.
Black Friday is a fun tradition we share as a couple. We do get some shopping done but that's not our only goal. It's a taste of the season, enjoying friends and family and the beginning of the Christmas celebration.
We started our day at 5 a.m. We just can't miss the sock sale at Fred Meyer : ) and then grabbed a small, energizing breakfast. This year we were on the hunt for a new sofa for the family room. We decided to check out the sale at JC Penneys and after "test driving" each one ended up with our eye on a leather sofa ... which had not been on my consideration list. We wanted to make sure the color and size would work for that area. We then met friends for lunch at Red Robin. It was fun to see everyone after the busy Thanksgiving schedules. After running home, dropping off packages, taking measurements we drove over to meet the kids at Bridgeport for the tree lighting. It's always festive with "snow" blowing, live music and Santa's appearance. This year featured a group playing the oldies and Colin wanted to dance by the stage. He has some pretty good moves for a 7 year old ... and he's very brave to dance in front of such a large audience.
Since Penneys was open until 11pm we had just enough time to drive back over and write up the sale for the leather sofa. Well, 16 hours later ... we were ready to crash but what a fun day! Couldn't wait to see the new sofa in our family room. It has been more than 15 years with all plaid furniture.

Great Finds in Bend

Our Sunriver tradition is a Friday trip to Bend. We have our favorite stores and routines. I happen to love perusing the racks at the Bend Goodwill. I found so many amazing things this trip but narrowed it down to this:
Nike Capri workout pants: $4.99
Black jacket: $9.99
Eddie Bauer Shorts: 3.99
Liz Claiborne dress: 6.99
... and I got a discount with my Club Card. I spent under $25.00 for four great wardrobe additions.
All items appear "new" and in perfect condition. I really needed workout pants for the gym and the Eddie Bauer shorts are brand new. I wear the same style/fabric in capri length from this store. I love the dress ... I am thinking I'll wear it with a white cardigan next summer.
I love building my wardrobe off of great bargains I find at Goodwill. I can't believe the things I find there. I am pretty much a "label-snob" as I only buy certain brand-name clothing there. The store in Bend never disappoints. I always leave happy. In this economy it's always a joy to find the perfect "treasure."
The weather here today is perfect ... sunny and warm. Loved sitting out in the hot tub and just relaxing ... watching the trees sway in the breeze. It will be hard going back to reality tomorrow!

Crockpot Applesauce

While packing for Sunriver I added a few new recipes to try including ingredients to prepare them. Today I made Crockpot Applesauce, a recipe I found on a Skinnytaste.com, a blog I subscribe to. The author "started Skinnytaste back in 2008 in an attempt to help her stay healthy, experiment with creating skinny recipes, and develop her photography skills to expand her own background as a digital photo retoucher."
The applesauce cooked for 6 hours and it turned out delicious ... the perfect fall accompaniment for our dinner this evening. There are only 65.9 calories per 1/4 cup and 1 point (Weight Watchers). Check out her blog ... you'll find this recipe and many more.

What A Day For A Daydream ...

Only seems right to have another bike picture follow my last post ... only this one is 52 years later!
We enjoyed the first day of our Sunriver fall getaway. Seems like it takes one day just to unwind before enjoying our time here.
It was nice to sleep in, read a book, look through stacks of magazines ... no agenda; no schedule; no to-do list. The sky here is blue, the color palette of the fall foliage is breathtaking and the air is crisp and clean.
Late this afternoon we rode bikes to the Village Mall. It felt good to be outdoors cruising down the bike paths. The song, "What a Day for a Daydream," by the Loving Spoonful kept playing through my mind ..."Dreaming 'bout my bundle of joy. "What a perfect day! It's nearly November and I love that we still need to wear sunglasses.
From the bike path it is fun to see how things have changed since our stay last fall. The Mall has been completely remodeled, an aquatic recreation center is under construction and several homes are being remodeled or listed for sale.
This is our ninth year to enjoy a fall break in Sunriver ... enjoying the same house ... same traditions!

Beast

Yes, this photo is of me ... 1959. The first day I rode my bicycle "solo." What a great memory. This photo was taken in front of our home. We lived on 30th near Killingsworth with a mix of homes and businesses. It was a fun place to grow up. Such a busy place with buses and pedestrians passing by -- a lot of activity! In the picture you will notice a Coast to Coast Hardware store, a small barber shop and a market on the corner.
Back in July we planned a birthday dinner date with the Dehazes and Auxiers to dine at Beast in my old neighborhood. My, how things have changed on the block I grew up on!
Beast is owned by Chef Naomi Pomeroy, who competed on Top Chef last spring. The dining room is very simple with chalkboard walls and communal dining tables. It is a very cozy, intimate dining experience while watching the chefs in action as your 6-course French cuisine meal is prepared. There is a fixed menu that changes weekly -- but substitutions are politely declined! Fortunately, our menu included Grass Fed Carmen Ranch New York Strip Loin ... from Wallowa : ) It was wonderful!!
I have included the menu from our visit to show you the foods we enjoyed and the wine pairings.
Each course was delicious and the portions were just the right size.
I will honestly tell you ... this is a pricey dining experience. Bring your VISA Gold (LOL) but you also must factor in the atmosphere, the kitchen experience, the delicious food ... and the wonderful company of great friends!
For me it was more than just dining and celebrating ... it was an opportunity to see my childhood neighborhood transformed into a trendy, upscale, happening place. Fifty years ago ... who would have thought?!?!?
Happy Birthday Donna! It was fun celebrating YOU.

Gloves ... The Perfect Accessory

Well, it certainly has been a while since my last post. It has been a month of intense work with the start of a new school year. It's good to see the hope of routine ahead as we get ready to flip the calendar to October.
I'm breaking my number one blogging rule ... I'm posting about work. In the past, school district employees have been required to watch a bloodborne pathogen training video each year. They are pretty cheesy. I remember one year having to watch the required video in the staff lunchroom. Pity those who were trying to enjoy their break or eat their lunch ... blood displayed everywhere on the TV screen! It was not a pretty sight.
Well, yesterday I got to experience one of the scenarios the BBP video highlighted ... but as a main character. I won't go in to much detail other than to say that I sliced my right index finger on a piece of equipment and there was a lot of blood. Nope ... none of us had gloves in our pockets at the ready as the video always described in the scene -haha! I did end up going to urgent care and thankfully did not need stitches or a tetanus shot but my finger is wrapped to three times the original size. I have to leave the dressing on for three days making it difficult to work ... or type. So if my typing doesn't make sense ... I will blame it on that.
Anyway, for fun I went online and found a modern version of the Bloodborne Pathogen video ... much more entertaining than the one we had to watch. Just a reminder ... don't forget to accessorize each day with those much needed gloves. You never know when you will need them in the workplace :)

Choose Joy

One way I have been using technology this summer is with daily devotions. I discovered Kay Warren's site through another blog. She is the wife of Rick Warren from Saddleback Church in CA. While visiting her website you can sign up to have a daily video delivered to your inbox each day for 30 days. Each video is only 3-4 minutes in length and the focus is: Choose Joy. Who couldn't use more JOY? I have enjoyed listening to her each day ... her insights, suggestions, the verses she shares ... all stick with me throughout the day. Click here for more info on her site. Spend a few minutes each day learning how you can have more JOY in your life.

Go Big or Go Home

Since we have watched so many theater movies this month, I've noticed how some people in the audience are making themselves right at home.
We now have our favorite seats (thanks to Michelle's suggestion) located on the row just in front of the rail. It makes it easier to get in and out and no one is sitting in front of you.
Tuesday night after the theater darkened and the movie was beginning a guy came in with a large popcorn and giant beverage in hand. He spied one of the only seats available in the crowded auditorium ... next to me. He had to climb OVER the rail to get to his seat ... keep in mind, he wasn't a small guy! I believe he was going to ask me to hold his refreshments while he got settled but decided to set them on the floor in front of him. As the movie was playing, he started talking to me, asking me questions, explaining the movie (yikes!) all while making his popcorn more gourmet with seasoning he brought in with him ... "Would you like to try some on your popcorn?" I pretended to sprinkle some in my bag. So I'm thinking he's settled and ready to watch the movie. Oh, no .... he then removed his shoes and placed his stocking feet ... not on the bottom bar of the rail but the top bar ... asking me, "Do my feet block your view????" O.K. ... so at that point I felt like I was part of a Saturday Night Live skit or something. Where's the hidden camera!!!
The theater has a slogan, "Go big or go home." I think this guy already thought he as there ... making himself right at home!

We Rule

This summer I have joined a couple of Templeton "retirees" in playing an iPad online game with them.
We Rule is a social game played on the iPad or iPhone. It's a chance for you to govern your own kingdom as city planner, landscaper, builder, farmer, tax collector etc.
Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I would get hooked on a social game but I am enjoying it : )
Sometimes in our busy schedules we need to make time for PLAY!
Wonder what will happen to my kingdom when I return to work!?!?

Summary of My Summer

Here's a summary of summer events from my calendar. I gave Tagxedo a try in creating this. You could spend hours trying new fonts, color themes and layouts ... and browsing creations already posted in the gallery. The shapes intrigue me and I hope to get back to this site and give it a try.
Only a few calendar squares open before I head back to work. Summer break is coming to a close!

Summer Movie Date Night

I've been a bit off the radar with my blog this summer. It seems like all the calendar squares have been filled with people, projects and fun events. One activity we have enjoyed during the month of August ... $5.00 movie night at Regal Cinemas in our area. We've also received several freebies with our Regal card -- popcorn, beverages, $2 popcorn. This has made for a standing Thrifty Tuesday Date Night.
When we went to see The Help we worried about crowds since it had only been released a few days. We quickly drove by Taco Bell for dinner and when we arrived at the theater we discovered we were the first ones there. The total price of that date night for two including dinner, movie and popcorn: $17. You just can't go wrong at that price. Here are a few of the movies we've seen this summer: