2016 Ornaments

I know Christmas is technically over but that's not going to stop me from doing a few Christmas posts!

Mitch and I continued our yearly tradition of buying a Hallmark Keepsake ornament; this year's addition was the Caroling Piano.  The keys light up while it plays one of three songs: Deck the Halls, Here Comes Santa Claus, or We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

Mitch, my parents, and I took a trip to New York City after Thanksgiving (I may get around to blogging about that in a few years - seems to be my posting average nowadays) and this is the ornament we brought home with us.

Nine Years

Throughout the day on my birthday, Mitch posted memes on my Facebok wall.  I figured I'd repay him on our anniversary.  Since we celebrated nine years today I posted nine different memes on his wall.  Here are just a few:

January Recap

Between starting the Harry Potter series again (I haven't read the books since they first came out!) and convincing Mitch to watch "The Middle" reruns with me every evening (I think he now enjoys the show as much as I do!), I haven't made much time to blog.  So, like usual, I'm behind with posting and, like usual, I'm doing a recap to catch up.

1.  I bought myself a little planner for 2016 - I think it's the first time I've had one since I was in high school - and I'm having fun with it.  I know my phone has a calendar and there are plenty of apps I could use instead but for some reason I need to have the physical object, the "hard copy," in front of me to remember to stay organized.  I obviously can't be the only one since there are still so many planner options out there!

2.  Some girlfriends and I celebrated our "Girls Christmas" at the beginning of the month.  I was introduced to a new dice game called "Tenzi" which I HIGHLY recommend.  So much fun!

And one of my artsy-fartsy girlfriends gave personalized paintings on old cabinet doors (she has access to old cabinet doors at the interior design store where she works - yay for giving old things a new life instead of letting them end up in a landfill!)  Isn't my painting absolutely perfect?  Crickett and a book!  It's going to look so wonderful hanging up in my library.

3.  I had to take a CPR and first-aid training class for work.  You know, for all those times accountants need to perform life-saving procedures.  I kid - I know crazy things can happen anywhere at anytime.  While it was a long day out of the office, the information was interesting and the instructor was hilarious.  Plus, I now have a certificate saying I can save your life.  Just kidding, I'd recommend finding someone else to help you out in an emergency!

4.  Mitch hung up my "Librarian Crickett" canvas in the entry of my library.  I love her face; it looks as if she's shushing anyone who enters!

5.  Mitch and I bought a new mattress.  Our old mattress was about ten years old, had a big hump in the middle, and was making painful creaking noises when I would get into bed (not a great self-esteem booster!).  We decided to break out the big guns and splurged on a memory foam Tempur-Pedic mattress.  It's pretty darn wonderful.  We also got new pillows - super fancy, expensive pillows (never in my life did I think I'd own a pillow that cost more than five dollars).  Those are also pretty darn wonderful.  So, sleeping is a much more enjoyable activity now . . . except when your husband decides to dust the headboard when you're in bed for the night.

6.  Mitch got to celebrate his birthday a day early on the last day of January.  We went out for dinner, ate some homemade cake (for the record, I did not do that frosting job even though it looks like something I'd do), and apparently Mitch was good enough to get presents.  His gnome collection has been started - and not even by me!  Isn't he adorable?!  (The gnome, not Mitch).

Dusting Fail

Last night, at that beautiful moment when I was about to enter the lovely world of sleep, I felt the bed moving close to my head.  Upon opening my eyes, I saw my husband standing over me.  When I asked him what he was doing, he responded with "Dusting the headboard."  I believe my exact words were "Are you kidding me?"  Because seriously, who thinks the perfect time to dust the headboard is when their wife is trying to sleep?

Dusting fail.  Serious dusting fail.

Thankful Days 7 & 8

Thankful Day 7:  Today I'm thankful for Saturday morning breakfasts with my husband and parents.

My parents have long been "regulars" at the diner we frequent Saturday mornings and Mitch and I have joined those ranks during this past year or so.  The waitresses and cooks know all our names and orders, share stories about their lives with us.  It makes the experience even more enjoyable.  And did I mention the food is absolutely wonderful?  Diners are the best!

Thankful Day 8:  Today I'm thankful for sunny Sunday afternoons.

One of the little reasons I enjoy weekends is being home to watch the sunshine travel through the house.

Alaskan Vacation, Day 4

The fourth day of our Alaskan vacation was a "fun day at sea."  It was just a travel day but the ship had a variety of activities going on to help keep guests entertained throughout the trip.

Mitch and I decided to watch an ice-carving demonstration

and then Mitch participated in the Hairy Chest Contest!  (Apparently this a well-known, very popular thing on the Carnival Cruise lines.)

Meet the contestants!  Some of the men were pulled out of the crowd by the women chosen to judge (hence the ones with little to no hair on their entire bodies; hard to determine what is under a shirt!) and others - like my dear husband - volunteered for the task.

After some "walking the catwalk" performances and judge inspections of the chests, it was narrowed down to the top three hairiest men (I was not surprised that Mitch was included in this group).  These three guys then had to compete in a little game and the last one to get his balloon filled was eliminated.  What you don't see here, however, is that the rules changed and the guys weren't allowed to use their feet, they had to set the pump on the chair and use their butts.  It was quite entertaining!

Mitch made it to the final two!  These two were given a very short amount of time to go around to the women watching this performance and convince them to offer a piece of clothing so they could make an outfit.  I'd say neither guy did a great job at this but it did look like quite the challenge; I mean, would you want to give up any piece of your clothing to a strange, hairy man with no shirt on?  So after that activity and a little voting from the crowd, the winner was announced.

As I'm sure you can imagine, I was so very proud!  Mitch was recognized the rest of our trip as the "winner of the Hairy Chest Contest"; it was rather humorous.

And here are a couple random photos and tidbits since there isn't much else to say about this day of our trip.

One of may favorite places to visit on the ship was "Swirls," the ice cream machine nook.  I love soft-serve ice cream cones; my record was three in one day.

I thought the little signs that they set up at the buffet lines in the evenings were cute.  Notice that "Swirls" was allowed to stay up all night! ;)    

Thankful Day 1

I am thankful all year round - there's no doubt about that - but I really enjoy taking a little extra time in November, the month known for showing gratitude, to stop and reflect on those things for which I'm thankful.  So from now through Thanksgiving, I will be sharing those things that make me feel so very blessed.

Thankful Day 1:  Today I am thankful for a husband who wouldn't let me back out of our "work-out date."  It felt great (hard, but great) to start running again.

I haven't been taking very good care of myself for quite some time now.  I quit roller derby in the summer of 2014 and haven't exercised since (despite the fact that I have two free gym memberships through my employer!).  Combine my lack of movement that with my love of sugar and you have clothes that don't fit anymore and a constant feeling of uncomfortable blah.  I know I need to make changes, I'll be the first to admit that, but I always find a "reason" to put off the hard work until another time.  I'm honestly not even sure why I make excuses because I know how good it feels to take care of yourself.  So, knowing I couldn't count on myself, I enlisted my husband to help keep me accountable.  Mitch has been working out diligently for the past year and doesn't listen to excuses (about anything, ever!).  I knew if I scheduled a date with him to go to the gym, I'd have to keep it.  I was right, he didn't let me skip; believe me, I tried!

So, Mitch and I ventured to the gym and each got our running (and lots of walking for me) done this morning, him on a treadmill and me on the indoor track.  I'm starting out slow and steady using my tried-and-true walk to run program.  Even though I didn't do much running, it felt wonderful to do those few minutes that I did.  I'm really excited about getting back into this activity and then crossing some of those running goals off my 101 in 1001 list!

Alaskan Vacation, Day 3

On the third day of our vacation, Mitch and I boarded the ship and began our cruise to Alaska.

All aboard!!!

The shower actually wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be when I first saw it.

The toilet, however, was a little jarring the first couple of flushes.  Such a loud, violent sound!

Our view of the Space Needle from the pier.

View of Seattle from our balcony.

While waiting to leave shore Mitch and I explored the ship.  I felt like I was in a multi-level maze and never did figure out how to navigate the ship by myself!

Leaving port!

See you in a week, Seattle!

Sailing off into the sunset.

Alaskan Vacation, Days 1 & 2

Time for some catching up on this ol' blog!

At the end of May, Mitch and I took our first cruise.  I certainly never thought my first cruise would be to Alaska but it was a very fun, incredibly beautiful way to see the state and I'd highly recommend it.

The first stop on our trip was Seattle.  We spent two days in the "Emerald City," the first day wandering around downtown and buying supplies to take with us on the cruise and the second day doing a couple of the touristy activities the city is known for.  Our hotel was within walking distance of both Pike's Place Market and the Space Needle which I thought was great because it gave us a chance to see parts of the city, cool buildings and quaint shops, that we might not have seen otherwise.

A few photos from Pike's Place Market.

Being a piano player myself, this man caught my attention.  Not only was he playing beautiful music but knowing he had to transport his piano up and down the hills of the city to and from this corner was very impressive.  Anyone can carry a guitar; not everyone will haul a piano!

Where were Carmen Sandiego and Waldo on May 25th, 2015?  At Pike's Place Market in Seattle, Washington!

Great bluegrass music!

Mitch and I decided to have lunch at the market and we found the perfect place: Beecher's Handmade Cheese.  You can't go wrong with a cafe dedicated to cheese products!  Mitch and I both had a grilled cheese sandwich (I thought it was absolutely delicious!) and their "world famous" macaroni and cheese (I didn't care for it at all!).

While eating we got to watch the company's cheese-making process in action.  Very neat!

A few photos from the Space Needle.

Great views!  After conquering (ha!) the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, the Space Needle's height was a piece of cake for me!

The cool (and skin-crawling) roof of the Seattle Center Armory.  Interesting article about the artist here.

Tomorrow we board the ship!