Paying it forward

Going through my blog roll recently, I came across an entry that got me all teary.

Here's how The Bloggess decided to pay it forward.

The past few days have been a whirlwind and I’m exhausted  and have given myself hives so please forgive the typos.

A few days ago I put up a post offering $30 gift cards to the first twenty people who didn’t know how they were going to give their kids Christmas gifts this year.  They went frighteningly quickly.  When I got to the twentieth person I saw that there were still a few more people who needed help and my heart sunk.  Then a few comments in one person said “I’ll take care of the 21st person”.  Then another person offered a card for the 22nd.  Then another.  Then it avalanched...

Amazing.  The Washington Post wrote up an article.

I don't feel like I go too big at Christmas, I usually just buy gifts for immediate family and occasionally close friends.  Though I try and come up with a list of gift ideas throughout the year so it's not just a mad dash to find something that will work for the recipient, about half-way through the shopping, that's exactly what it becomes.  Then I tell myself that next year will be different.  Maybe we'll have an agreement that all gifts must be hand-made or set limits on how much we're going to spend or pull 1 name out of a hat.  Bottom line, I think my loved ones enjoy the time spent together over the gifts received.  Need to remind myself of that so that I don't get distracted next year once the Christmas music starts getting played 24/7.

I'll write another entry after the holidays to let you know how the gifts given this year went over.  A couple of them are paying it forward in a way.

Thanks Bloggess for spreading holiday cheer and some major inspiration.

Survival of the Squirrel

Driving to work yesterday morning, along Pacific Avenue in front of Health Sciences, I saw a squirrel running across the road and thought it was doomed.  It had just crossed 2 busy lanes of traffic of oncoming traffic and was at the middle (at the curb barrier) about 2 car lengths in front of me.  Instead of running in front/underneath the vehicle, it jumped up and INTO the side of the passing car.  It bounced off, shook itself off and then continued it's run before the next car came along.  I doubt my explanation sounds as cool as the little clip I can still see in my head.  Was so happy my day started off with quick reflexes (lucky) squirrel instead of squished squirrel.

Happy Valentime!

I'm a fan of 30 Rock and loved the Valentine's Day episode where Jack ends up with drunk 'lady' at the end of the time who wishes folks Happy Valentime's.

Making small talk with a nurse the other day and she mentions she was born on St. Patty's Day, her son was also born on a holiday, Valentime's Day.  Thought I misheard, but she says it again later, her son was born on Valentime's Day.

Ah, it's the little things that keep me entertained.  :)

Key Lime

The house smells so yummy.  Graham cracker crust is cooling.  Limes have been juiced.  Trying out an Icebox Key Lime Pie, recipe from Cook's Country.  Won't be able to try it out until tomorrow, hope it's worth the wait.  :)

Crafty Weekend To Do

Doubt the sun will last through the weekend, so I need to come up with some fun indoor activities to occupy most of tomorrow while D is off to a Husky game.  In no special order (following the format of a blog I follow--can't find the link right now aha):

hit the antique mall for holiday gifts/ideas

take the birdie print to the frame shop

appt for hair cut (short notice for day of?)

copy and send recipes to sis-in-law Paige

gift for baby Ruddel

figure out turkey day plans

update my 35 while 35 list

research wedding venues-is somewhat local, outdoorsy & cheap too much to ask?

make key lime pie!

Question Consumerism

Made a trip to the mall today.  I really loathe the mall.  The traffic, crowds of people, strong smells, cranky kids, and cheaply made clothing most of which have been transported half way across the world.  Usually feel pretty gross after spending much time in a mall, but it was a necessary evil as I've had jeans and bras on my 'need' list for a while now.  Can't help but feel guilty, but I accept that I can't find everything I need at the thrift store.


To top it off, grabbed some fast food on the way home.  Boo.  I think I've just been a negative nellie most of the day since I had to go to work this AM (skipping out on yoga).  Not a fan of working on the weekends.  :(  Hmm, what sort of job is out there which would actually energize me, be something to look forward to?  My job isn't all bad, but I must admit I'm not feeling great about it.  It's become just a job.  I've passed the 2 year mark (honeymoon phase?).  I worry about funding.  Half of my salary now comes from the department as my boss couldn't afford to keep me full time.  But again, it's a job, which helps when I need to go the mall to shop (oh yeah and helps out with mortgage payments, groceries, benefits).

Ok, off for some yoga before bed.

A plan

Guess I should have come up with more of a plan if I want to blog daily.  My life just isn't that interesting.  So, 2 big projects on my plate right now:  wedding & kitchen redo.

Wedding basics.  D & I have been together for over 10 years and engaged for more than 2.  We both want to be married, but neither of us are very good at planning and I am way too indecisive (I'm a libra, I like to make other people happy).  Could just elope and get married by a justice of the peace.  Sounds appealing as neither one of us like to be the center of attention, but I'd really like our family and friends to be a part of this celebration.  A few things to keep in mind:  small budget, large extended family, and most folks are local.

Kitchen basics.  The kitchen needed work before we moved in and it's only gotten worse.  Biggest problem is the counters which were in bad shape when we bought the place and now it's 4 years later, they've only gotten worse (peeling, can't tell if it's clean or dirty, cheap-o laminate).  An option we came up with in the past was a huge redo, tearing out cabinets + moving the oven + other misc = expensive!  We had other ideas along the way, but were never quite satisfied with either the end product or the cost or both.  It wasn't until the latest Ikea catalog showed up when a huge light bulb went off.  We just needed the right unit in our kitchen to make it work!

Time to get organized and get planning!

Unknown

2nd day in a row of waking up early.  3rd day in a row of yoga.  3rd day in a row of blogging.  And I've been yawning all day.  And I'm sad because one of my best friends is going through a really shitty time.  A time where chatting online isn't enough and I need to go visit and give her a big ol' hug.

How do you out there in the blogsphere take care of yourself when life dumps on you?  How do you take care of someone who's hurting?

Day 2...

of yoga and blogging.  Alarm went off at 6, rolled out of bed at 6:15, and proceeded to roll out the yoga mats.  Darren suggested we get up early for some yoga before work.  Yeah!  We rock.  I admit, that this likely isn't going to be the norm.  Or who knows, maybe I will surprise even myself.

To help me on my yoga 'journey', I purchased a new yoga mat yesterday after class (30% off at my local studio, I think it was meant to be).  My old one was more for show, it was technically a mat, but wafer thin.  Yay, to a big girl mat.

Really enjoyed yesterday morning's class.  Sheri, the instructor of the all levels class, is very welcoming.  One of my favorite parts of Sheri's class is how she has us congratulate ourselves for coming to class.  There's just something about a structured class, a knowledgeable instructor, and getting out of the house early on a Sunday morning which makes the effort worth it.

Can't say I was as enamored with the yoga lesson we practiced along with this AM:  Basics & Headaches via Netflix On Demand.  Was a bit choppy, I prefer a bit more flow.  I didn't always understand the instructor and I didn't feel comfortable during the inversion poses.  I, ahem, have lost a bit of core strength over time and I can sure feel it.  But, still got a lot of stretching and basic poses in and I was feeling much more awake for the first half of the day.

30 Days of Yoga

One of the items on my life list is practicing yoga for 30 days in a row.  I go to a yoga class now and then and I have everything I 'need' to practice at home, but I still don't make time for it on a regular basis.  I've heard that it can take 30 days to break or start a habit, so why not try this with yoga?

I might have found just the thing to help me out with this one!  30 Days of Yoga.  This is a really great idea, love that I have someone to help me on this journey to get me back to my seattleyogi self.  Ha, maybe I can combine this along with 30 days of blogging.  :)

Now, off to walk the dog in the rain, then a yoga class (in a studio where I have already paid money for classes yet it's been a couple of months since I have attended!), a possible stop by Gather, a lovely little consignment store in Columbia City, then back home to sign up for my month long yoga class!

Good feeling about this one.

35 before (end of) 35

I came across a blog post of 30 things to do before turning 30.  I love lists though I'm not always so good about following through.  Since I turn 35 in 39 days, I won't be able to be quite as ambitious, but  I've come up with 35 big things I want to accomplish while 35 (I have until October 15th 2011).  I'll cross items off the list as I finish them.

1. Make a decent pie crust from scratch
2. Repaint the office
3. New blinds and/or curtains for bedroom
4. Finish curtains for office (or move from bedroom)
5. Research our possible rewire
6. Insulate the attic (get the insulation out of our garage)
7. Park a car in our garage (see #6)
8. Build a work bench for garage
9. Hem my big stack of pants
10. Take a road-trip with Darren
11. Yoga everyday for 30 days
12. Wake up early to work out
13. Go to bed earlier on a regular basis
14. Golf lessons
15. Buy a bike
16. Print out pictures to put in albums (and/or create photo books)
17. Take pictures everyday for 30 days
18. Blog everyday for 30 days
19. Plan a trip with Tina
20. Have people over to our house more often
21. Map the yard
22. Build a raised garden bed
23. Plant sunflowers
24. Update rock garden on side of house
25. Plan a Bisset & Flint gathering (before the wedding)
26. Window box outside kitchen window
27. Plan date nights with Darren
28. Gather family stories and history
29. Sign up for an art class
30. Sign up for a dance class
31. Sign up for a cooking class
32. Work on deck (reinforce, replace boards, repaint
33. Update kitchen
34. Stone steps in yard
35. Create another list for 36!

Playing around

I haven't read the manual for my camera (Canon S5) yet.  I should probably do that, as it can do a lot more than what I use it for on a regular basis.  For example, I played around with the Manual mode the other day.  Found the built in light meter.  Figured out how to change the f stop and shutter speed.  Found the super macro function (vs macro).

Playing around with the f stop is cool because the smaller number you choose, the shallower depth of field you will have for your picture.  Meaning, the subject you're focusing on is the only thing is focus, the background and possibly the foreground is out of focus which gives a much different feel/look to your picture.  Something which I see a lot in professional shots.  Just need to remember to turn back to Auto mode when I'm just out and about taking quick pics.  Had a few fun shots come out too dark or light--woops.

Haven't done any side by side comparisons (or as I mentioned, read the manual!)  of macro vs super macro but in general I love macro shots for taking pics around my garden.  Super macro shots will be even more awesome right?

Eye of Otto

Michaelmas Daisy

Artichoke bloom

Summer Fun

chompers
Originally uploaded by SeattleYogi

Summer Fun in Eastern Washington with my boys. Blowing huge dandelions puffs for our dog, Otto, to catch and chase. Love it.

Photo Friday

I know, it's not Friday, but I was looking through old posts and came across an entry for Photo Friday.  I used to post pictures for that site fairly often.  Um, 4 years ago?!  Was it really that long ago?  Being that one goal I currently have is to do more with my pictures and another goal is to blog more often, I will start posting pictures once again!  Yay!

Homework: Blogging

I'd like to get some more focus into my life. I feel pulled in many directions and don't think this scattered energy is very helpful. Though I'm doing, I'm not accomplishing. I haven't blogged here in over a year and I wonder if by organizing my thoughts here again, I can 'breathe in, and breathe out' a little easier. I'll be working on:

• planning a wedding!
• continuing to run on a regular basis even after I complete my half marathon at the end of the month
  
• signing up for another race (possibly a sprint tri?!)
• more yoga
  
• photography (pics with a purpose, projects, organizing and sharing)
  
• learning more and educating others about Aplastic Anemia (a rare blood marrow disease that my fiance diagnosed with in November of 2009)
  
• meal planning with our once-a-week CSA food delivery from Full Circle Farms.
• becoming more self-sufficient and sustainable at home (energy efficiency, growing our own veggies, installing drip irrigation)
• simplifying

On that note, I will sign off since I can't find my list I wrote up the other day regarding this post. It must be in one of my piles. :) Looking forward to sharing here again.