New Computer

Well not really. Chuck fixed my sick one. Thanks Chuck! It's working beautifully now.

I leave in about a week for California to see my family and I am so excited! I was going to do a Detox this week but I want to do it right by slowly introducing foods back into my diet and figure out what it is that makes my stomach hurt on a daily basis. The problem is most of vacation IS food, so I don't want to have to think about it while I'm on vacation so I'll detox in a couple weeks.

Tara and I went to Ikea, I only spent $17, thats a record for me at Ikea, I usually want to buy the whole place! The girls were so good, Chloe was happy to just ride in the cart and eat my entire tube of burt's bees chapstick and Lucy played in the kids area for the whole hour. I also picked up my dress form! It is really fun, even if I never make a dress its a fun accessory for my room :).

I am going to make grilled flat bread tonight and dinner for my parents. I better shower and get ready to head into town, I have grocery shopping to do and an easter dress to find.

I am so happy I know how to cook! I left work today starving. I didn't want to eat there, the idea of spending money I just made on food I have been staring at all day just doesn't make sense. I contemplated going to Taco Bell, (why) didn't. So I headed home knowing there wasn't anything "easy" to make. So I got home and dug in the fridge and freezer and came up with a delicious, easy and satisfying meal. I'm not sure why this makes me so happy, it just does.

There have been so many happy things in my life, I really feel blessed. I have a job, that pays pretty good too. I have gotten to spend some quality time with my mom and sister lately and that was really nice. I have my tickets booked to visit my best friends in California in April! I got to make some yummy treats and fun art at Tara's and the kicker, they loved it! It is real simple but looks great in the new kitchen. I have had good luck at thrift stores (and been able to shop a bit at that.) I'm discovering fun new places to visit, like Rachel's on the East Side, LOVE that place; good food and great service. I got to see two plays this week including Klahowya's Fiddler On The Roof, it was so good, and I had great company. Sherry is back. Brian and Norma are out. It's been a good week for sure. Looking forward for next week to see what it has to offer.

On the menu tonight...

Legally Blonde was so fun, much needed quality time with my mom and sister! The show/cast/set was better when I saw it in California but it was still really good, and funny!

Tonight is Project Runway and we are having our weekly dinner party. Tonight we are making Thai Curry Chicken with broccoli carrots and Jasmine rice. Then for dessert we are going to make red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. It is going to be delicious.

In other news, early next week I will be driving to South Center Mall to meet a woman who I am buying a dress form from off of craigs list. I am so excited! My mom might think I'm crazy and hates the fact that now there will be a dress form in her basement but pinning dresses on myself is very difficult. This way I can better execute my plans! Hopefully I have many dresses made after I get the proper tools.

Legally Blonde

...no, I'm not; but I am going to the play with my wonderful mom and sister tonight. I have seen the show once already and it is so cute! I am very excited.

Lately I have been making some great scores at the local thrift stores. I have discovered fun fabric for creations, a cool gift for my nice (a Simpsons family suit case (kids size:)), dishes (which I don't need but love to buy), and 2 pair of Puma shoes. I am attracted to funky Puma shoes and I always look at them in TjMaxx but they are usually around $40. I found 2 different pair on separate days in different stores, both under $7. Treasure.

Missing days already...

I missed yesterday because I was working and spending time at Tara's, weird, me at Tara's?

I gave Lucy the hat I made her, she loved it and wore it for a whole 10 min (she isn't a hat girl like Chloe.) I'll post pictures of the hat's soon.

Lets see...at this moment I am extremely thankful for Pirate's Booty, I was starving and this hit the spot!

Hi-Lo

Met Tara, Lucy, and Chole for lunch at Hi-Lo Cafe. That place is such a little gem! It was a beautiful day with great (and adorable!) company.

Today I woke up to my alarm and didn't precede to hit snooze for the next hour. It sadly has been a while since I have done that. It feels good to get up at a decent time, I have the whole day do to... well... nothing. Since I have graduated from college and moved back from Ellensburg I haven't really made any friends. I'm back in my home town but no one I was friends with is around or I have nothing in common with anymore. So here I sit, likely with a Friday night off and I have nothing to do. I spend most of my free time creating something, on the computer browsing what the internet has to offer as far as career ideas or fun treasures, or with my friend Tara and her little cuties.

I have been so thankful for Tara. Not only has her house been a way for me to get out and not go crazy and become super lonely but we have been such a support for each other though hard times lately. A friend like her couldn't have come back into my life at a better time. The best part is as things have improved we have someone else to share our joy with who truly understands. Not to mention her kids who make me laugh and bring a smile to my face every time I'm there, even if it is the fact that Lucy has just bossed me around like our rolls have switched and I'm the 3 year old.

Its only 8:45, I'm starting on a high note.

Let hope today is pack full of little nuggets of joy.

Smile

In a world that has the tendency to be lonely, scary, sad, negative and frankly, disappointing; we all need to step back and find joy and happiness in the little things. The everyday (and not so everyday) things that make us smile. I decided to start this blog to remind myself of all the reasons I am happy and so blessed. Everyday something good happens. Everyday is filled with blessings; we just need to see them and enjoy them even in troubling times. When times are hard (and often they are) we are so blinded from all the good and beautiful things surrounding us.

My goal is to find something beautiful and wonderful that brings me joy every day. Some days will be easy and the beauty will flow out, others will be hard; but I like the challenge. A lot of my personal joy stems from creativity; I love to cook, sew, knit, bake, anything I can get my hands on. So I will likely be posting a lot of pictures and crafts I’m working on.

I am going to start this thing off right away: what made me smile:

Today I am feeling very grateful to Alexander Grand Bell for inventing the telephone. I talked to my brother today on the phone and it was wonderful to hear his voice and make plans for my upcoming trip to see him and my sister in law (slash best friend) and my perfect nice Grace. With our busy schedules and the inconvenience of life our conversations lately have been less than 5 minutes but today I got to talk to him for a good half hour and it filled a hole that has been in my heart. I also got to see my sister yesterday and it had been far too long since I’ve seen her so that was a blessing as well. This visit I would have to give credit to Karl Benz for inventing gasoline automobiles. I not only love my family because it’s a feeling that is built in us since childhood but I ENJOY my family and miss them when I don’t hear from them; in saying that, it has been a great couple days.