Road Trips

This weekend we will embark on another of our famous 'road trips'. Our daughter will join us as we head to the Pacific Northwest to help our son move into his first home.

Dashboard foto found here

Road trips for me began when I was young and my family made our annual trek to Wyoming for my Dad & GrandDad to deer hunt. Road trips continued as both of our kids played competitive sports, so we spent a lot of time on the road traveling to various games/tournaments. I was able to see parts of Washington, Utah, Nevada and Southern California!! Seems rather ironic that although the kids have grown we still spend time on the road to visit... All about family, tho' right?!?!?!?

I really enjoy road trips with The Fireguy - We have some pretty amazing conversations and have surely solved world problems several times over...

I'm wondering what are your recollections of road trips? Funny stories, nightmare long hauls..

MckLinky Blog Hop #4 - FAVORITE PHOTO OF KIDS

This weeks subject is "Favorite Kid Photo" and I am happy to submit this photo taken about 45+ years ago... (you know you're jealous of my red keds!!!) The photo shows my dear Mom and my Sister and me in our front yard on Sharkey Avenue. I have so many memories of this home as we lived there until I was 11. Hope you enjoyed this bit of nostalgia as much I did ~

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks...

I took this photo right after I had The Hubster look to see if he saw anything 'out of place'... He seriously could not see anything wrong!


I'm trying to decide if he is really 'untrainable' or if this is just the difference between men and women or personality traits ~



I left this picture the way that it is for FIVE DAYS as that was all I could handle... (Did I mention I am quite the type A personality?) It was actually quite the comedic challenge at my home. Neither of us said anything but continued to have to walk AROUND the chair... He did 'win' I guess, as I pushed the chair back where it should have been...


What about you, any of you go through a similar situation???

What is your first memory?

I know... totally random but hang with me!

I think that this is an appropriate subject for my 60th post, since it was the year I was born ~ daydreamer found here

I was thinking about this the other day and my first memory is at the elementary school, maybe kindergarten, probably 6 years old. I remember walking in the hallway with a classmate and we were taking the class milk money to the office! This is a memory that I recall often for some reason ~

I was about the same age in a picture taken at Disneyland, but I don't recall the trip!! The only time I was there until I was 32!! and I totally remember each time I have been since !!!!

What about you, what is your first memory?

FAVORITE RECIPE OR DISH - MckLinky Blog Hop #4

This week's MckLinky Blog Hop theme is Your Favorite Recipe or Dish! Once a month we have a buffet at work and I have requests for this little gem each time!!! If you love the yummy Popsicle's of orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream you will be so happy to find this recipe ~

DREAMCYCLE CAKE


1 box orange cake mix
3 tbsp. orange Jello
1 box vanilla instant pudding mix

Mix cake mix according to directions, add pudding and Jello. Bake in 2 (9 inch) greased and floured pans at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

ICING:

1 (8 oz.;) cream cheese, soften
1 (8 oz.) Cool Whip
3 tbsp. orange Jello
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix cream cheese, Jello, vanilla; then add Cool Whip. Spread on cake and refrigerate.

...STOP

Favorite Things - July

I think I am up to date!!! YEAH...

A short list this month... So many things going on and I am preparing a post for that ~ For now, here are a couple of items for my favorite things list!









I have mentioned before how much I love my tattoo artist! She recently bought a studio (Leonardi Tattoo) and is running it on her own. Jenn balances being the Mom of two young children, a wife, business woman and all around great person. Jenn is such a talented woman and she is so gifted at creating a masterpiece out of ideas you bring to her. If you are in the Sacramento area look her up; you will not be dissapointed!!! Be sure to tell her I sent you! No, I don't get anything for it but the satisfaction of sending clients her way.






picture and information found here maui jim

On our first trip to Maui 11 years ago we saw a kiosk at the hotel pool that was selling sunglasses; Maui Jim sunglasses. My sweet hubby bought me a pair and I just love them!! Since that first pair I have purchase three additional pair ~

The special lenses block 100% UV rays and completely eliminates glare that obscures the world's full beauty! On hawaiian islands, you don't want ANYTHING obscured - You must see everything in all of its natural beauty!!

Until next month - enjoy my favs...

MckLinky Blog Hop #3 - THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME (or US)

This week's edition is a true confessions of sorts... Here we go!

My Fireguy and I were both born left-handed ~ Although my parents thought it best to train me to be right-handed (explains a lot, right?) he has remained a lefty and we had one child born lefty and one righty!








We absolutley love sitting on our patio to enjoy our backyard and will occasionally enjoy a cigar from our favorite handmade cigar store Casillas.

I was a 9th grade cheerleader!!! Yep! That's me on the right (standing). Some of my best memories of junior high were of cheering at basketball games; we did not have a football team...

Heaven in a brick of cheese

My dear sweet is a man of many talents! He loves
to BBQ and has a very large smoker. He has been referred to as the King of anything BBQ'd & smoked!! Hehehe... A couple of Christmas' ago he received a cold smoking tray. I could not see how ANYTHING could be smoked and not melt. Believe me, I was proved wrong... He has perfected smoking blocks of cheese in such a fashion that we cannot keep cheese in the house. He is now receiving blocks of cheese from our daughter and son-in-law to smoke for them! Today at the market with cheese being on sale we stocked up! Also an amazing kitchen appliance that is a must have; The FoodSaver... The cheese will stay fresh and aromatic for weeks in the fridge YUMMY!!!!!

Favorite Things - June

Oh dear, I have done it again!! Almost skipped a month ~

For your entertainment, here are June's edition to my favorites!

Found this little beauty on a whim - Haagen-Dazs 4 ounces of complete heaven!!!

They come in several flavors, but include two of my absolute favorites; Vanilla Bean & Coffee. Unfortunately, at 260 calories per serving I have to really limit my treat amount :-)
Yummy treat tho'...

Next up I have to share such a special little place in my hometown!!

ELLA BLUE ~ This shop has so much for the girl on the go... Nail Bar, pedicure stations, tanning (spray & beds) massages, facials, they have their own make-up line and make-up application classes. All of the technicians are so personable and the shop has such a warm feeling! Check them out and tell them Leslee sent you ~

Finally for June I want to give a shout out to iTunes and their podcasts!! I end up spending quite a bit of time in front of my computer at work and being able to listen to podcasts has helped me keep my sanity! I have found Dr. Joy Brown, The Nutrition Diva and even The Grey's Anatomy podcast. I have even been able to download some of my favorites to my iPhone to listen to while on planes!! So great!

Where's your favorite place to enjoy the great outdoors?

Thought I would get to know you all a little better -

Where is your favorite place???

Mine would be (wait for it...) MAUI!!!!! I love the way that Hawaii makes me feel... No time frames, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Fresh fruits all the time and fresh fish ~ Plus fruity drinks with cute little umbrellas in them ~ !!!!

picture taken by ME

Favorite Photograph

~ My little family ~ Taken at Gas Works in Seattle, WA where my son recently moved. Photo was from weekend trip for Seattle marathon and we met son's girlfriend !! Awesome time :-)

Light Up Dress

Any of you that know me and have spent any time around me know my obsession with electronics! I ran across this spify little number that I seem driven to own ~

Here is the story on the dress:

Every time your cell phone rings, your dress also lights up to let you know you've got a call. Well, you and everyone else.

It's the work of British fashion student Georgie Davies, who worked with Sony Ericsson on ways to merge technology and chic trends. "When you're in a mall or 'superstroe', you can never, ever hear your phone," Davies to Reuters. The solution? A short-sleeved, knee-length white dress that's covered shoulder-to-hip with translucent scales that move and blink. Davies plans for the dress to incorporate Bluetooth technology so that it can wirelessly interact with phones.

This would just exemplify my draw to geeky fashion, no?

Photo found here LIGHT UP DRESS

Happy 4th of July

We hold these truths to be self-evident,

that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

that among these are

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Thomas Jefferson

As we celebrate the birth of our independence, be safe my fellow bloggers !! Celebrate with Safe & Sane fireworks and don't drink and drive.

More home projects

This summer The Fireguy and I have been working at getting some projects completed around the house. Last month was the room makeover and now we have two more scratched off the list!

The largest and most in need was to re-roof! This one was definitely NOT a DYI project... We had it done which took about 10 days. We went from a 20 year old shake roof to a 30 year guarantee tile. The tile has a bit of green color to it and we really love it. We have already noticed how much cooler the house stays!!! The pics are rather weak (taken with iPhone not new camera...), but you get the idea.



















The second project was to update the flooring in the guest bathroom. Here we went from 20 year old linoleum to a pergo flooring that resembles tile. I have to admit that I did not help much on this one. The Fireguy did most of the work while I was slaving away at my desk (HA!!!). I did have a big part in choosing the color of the tile and the new baseboards. :-) Brings a much needed update to this room.

I think it is safe to say that I am pretty comfortable with our projects for the time being. I have small updates that I am working on, but nothing of the magnitude that we have been doing.

Now, to sit back and enjoy the rest of the summer ~