Defensive Lineman Seeks Weightlifting Class

As the weather has been warming up, it's been so wonderful to be outside more and more.  One of our favorite things to do is put our little 9 pound shih tzu, Lilly, in my bike basket and take her on rides around the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, the warmer days means that if I'm going to go out for a long run (I'm slow, so it takes a while), then I have to start earlier in the morning.  I'm not much of an athlete, so running suits me fine.  The only other sports I've done was sit idly in right field on a few softball teams, a brief stint in kickball in Portland last summer, and play intramural football in college at Biola University.

I found these photos (which were from the pre-digital era) and I thought I'd share some of those powderpuff football days.  They were anything but powderpuff, or atleast that's what we'd like to think.  There were quite often broken bones and countless bruises.  It was NOT just fun and games.

 

Our team (which, by the way, I will not tell you our name...no one but us knew what NPA stood for) did pretty well the two years I played, and one year, for playoffs, one of the dads donated pads and cleats.  We were pretty stoked.  Until after the first game, the refs brought out the intramural playbook and told us that while we didn't have to forfeit our first win, we couldn't wear the gear anymore.  That was a real bummer for the dad who bought them, since now everything was used and he couldn't return it.

I like to brag that my dad was a football player in college, my older brother did in high school, and I can proudly say that I too joined the ranks of familial ballers.  Don't I look tough, by the way?  Apparently I believed that if I just bent my elbow I would grow a muscle.  I think I'll stick to running...slowly.

Tron Reconfigured

Listening to this in my art classes today.  Not sure if more drawing or dancing is getting done.  Either way, I dig it.

I liked the original movie; it reminds me of my older brother and my dad. 

I liked the remake; it reminds me of my club-hopping techno days *sigh...to be young again*. 

I like Daft Punk, but I like this remix version of the soundtrack much better.  It makes me want to go work out, and that is always a good thing.

Oh, Honey

I always preferred a Peanut Butter and Honey sandwich over PB&J.
My uncle's family started Miller's Honey.  When I was little, my aunt would mail my mom a tub of Whipped Cinnamon Honey, sometimes even the stuff with a bit of the comb still in it.

I've never been afraid of bees, and I suppose their stings don't affect me as much as the average Jill.

Honeycomb screenprint by amazing artist, Cecily Sakrison

I think this all set me up for a love of bees.  A few years ago when I learned about the severity of hive collapse I called my cousin to see how easy it would be to raise a hive.  We decided it was more work than I could afford, but the dream is still there.  Maybe one day I'll get to raise some, and then I'll surely be consulting this great resource (with a lovely cover design...yes, I judge a book by its cover sometimes).

And how about this sister title on Canning and Preserving...that's a one day endeavor too.

For now, I'll have to settle for a bee hotel like this one and try to passively help the bee population in my neighborhood.  Before I do this, I'll have to take our neighbors into account, as we don't have much property, and I don't want to put anyone with allergies or real aversions at risk.

Breathing

I'm taking the day off today. 

Because life needs to happen and I need to free myself from working at work so I can go work on life.

Not sure naps are on the list for anyone but the cats, but at least I'll be able to breathe a little easier to get ready for the Spiritual Day Spa I am teaching at this weekend.

This is a great way to start March; spring is just around the corner, friends!

I Resolveth Not

 

I know I'm not the only one who doesn't make New Year's Resolutions.

I do believe that the New Year is a great time for a New Start.  I've already started off with a Daniel Fast, mostly as a support to my non-vegetarian friends, seeing as how it's not much different from my normal eating habits.  I definitely miss sugar, bread, cheese, and caffeine (a little...not much as I thought I would).

For those of you who are thinking about eating healthier, I have this one bit of advice: do NOT think of it as a diet.  Anything that is meant to be a permanent change is not meant to have a semi-permanent mind set.

Any of you who are doing something like the 21 day Daniel Fast (which mimic's Daniel's diet while in captivity, refusing to eat non-kosher food, instead living off mainly veggies, and still ending up looking stronger and more handsome than anyone else in prison), or any other temporary goal I have this one bit of advice: you can do ANYTHING for 21 days!!!  I mean it!  If you can wrap your head around the fact that you can run really hard for just 5 minutes, or not eat something for just one day...you are powerful, and a force to be reckoned with!

Take this New Year by the horns, and do something you never thought you could.  Don't make a resolution that is out of reach; most people have already dropped theirs by now.  Choose to make each day new, and know that God's mercies are new each morning.

A Full Retrospective

 

Goodbye 2010.  You were a very full year.  Full of love and romance,

God provided for us, in His timing, a new house to call our own,

And to fill to the brim with sunshine, love, and too much stuff.

Lots of crafts were made...paper, stitched, crocheted.  Too many to count, in fact.

While we weren't yet blessed with little chicks of our own, we've cuddled many a good substitute.

Spring brought a new song to our hearts, full of optimism and merry-making.

Being back in Oceanside to stay meant we could act like tourists in our own town.

Arts and culture were sandwiched in between good restaurants and the good ole Coastal Lifestyle we love.

July meant discovering Portland, and rediscovering most beloved family.

August was filled with too-short days of foreign-family visits. (Seriously, too short...always is.)

I spent our summer (and our money) decorating our bedroom and I quite like the results!

Not nearly enough time was spent painting.  Lilly and I were both a bit exhausted from other responsibilities.

School means back to the grind...where even parties are work.

This girl had a milestone birthday, ushered in with a non-surprise party which ended in smiles and rollerskates.

The year ended with my first ever Christmas Eve dinner hostessing.  (It was a smash hit.)

Guess Who's 30 Today

Give up?  

Me.

That's who.

Drink a toast to a brand new year, this should be the best ever.

Cold, White, Magic

When I was very young my family lived in South Florida.  I would watch Christmas movies and dream of places that had white winters, icicles, foggy windows, and just a few steps removed from the North Pole.

On my birthday, December 21, 1991 my family moved to Salt Lake City.  I longed so much to make my first snowball that as soon as a glistening embankment was spotted on the highway, we stopped just to touch.

I think that to celebrate my birthday next week I'll watch my favorite Christmas movie, Little Women, and imagine putting on my winter skin on a snowy hibernation day.

Merry Christmas.

Bumps and Boos

Lots of babies and new life. I'm so proud of these mamas.
My sweet cousin in law in Portland is really starting to show a bit of a belly at 16 weeks!

This dear friend in Sweden posts weekly pics and has titled the documentation as "From Poppyseed to Watermelon."

And yesterday little Katherine Ryan arrived, ready to play with her big sister, wrap around Daddy's finger, and snuggle for ever with her lovely mama, my college roommate, Kelli.

Ladies: My heart is so full with excitement as I get to share in your victories; your difficult ones and those of a few more who have yet to announce their own accomplishments.

I hope this is encouraging to those of us who are waiting for a Stork-y visit of our own, and may I share my new outlook:

The fact that this can happen is celebration for me too;

I get to share in your victory because

the GOD that has done this is MY GOD too!

PS: not sure whyblogger isn't letting me format my paragraph...sorry for the difficult read

Ain't No Old Timer Yet

Bones creaking more than before.

Nine o'clock is the preferred bed time.

Make sure to get my fiber.

Dinner no later than five.

But I ain't no old timer just yet.

Last week we chaperoned our students' Jr./Sr. Retreat on Catalina Island where we snorkeled, kayaked, hiked, stayed up late, worshiped early, and rarely ever sat still. {PS: my team won the competitions and I get to wear jeans to work all week *gloat*.}

Then we recouperated by heading up to the in-laws' to go waterskiing, swimming, have a luncheon, cook a big meal, and never sit down because our arms were full of little nieces and nephews.

So...today I thought it would be fun to get a cold. Just to make sure everyone knows how hard I played.

Image here.

Knitting Antisocial

I attempted to go to my first knitting social at a great, newly discovered yarn store lastt week. I say attempted because here is how it went:

I happened upon super cute said shop where I learned of the upcoming Knit Night, which I quickly plugged into my mental calendar. I dreamed of mingling with like-minded women as needles clicked and words like worsted weight and cable and purl floated around the room, but truly, I wasn't sure what to expect.

So I packed up my yarn and did a drive-by peeking to see if there was anyone there. The bell on the door chime greeted the 5 women already sitting in the small shop, but no one looked up to welcome me into the fray. I surrepititiously browsed the yarn, waiting for some recognition of my presence until someone (I suppose one of the owners) finally sent a weak hello my way.

I continued around the store, touching, appearing to be busy, secretly eavesdropping and wondering if I would be allowed to enter the club, if even for a visit. I made a full circle without any acknowledgment of my presence, even nearly bumping into the owner-woman at one point, still being ignored.

So I left, thinking to myself that this was much less of a Knitting Social than it was a Knitting Antisocial. I also left feeling keenly aware of how easy it is to be a part of a clique and vowing to make a more concerted effort to not repeat this very high school behavior in my own life.

I will reach out to women who don't have a place at church, I will not let the unnoticeable students be invisible this year, and I will keep being friends with the underdogs.

What can you do to make sure an outsider is made welcome in your life?

The Twilight of Summer

The sun has set on my summer. School is back in session and I have the busiest schedule I've ever had.

Despite the crazy shortness of our summer (because we changed our school year to an earlier start and end date), I feel like I got a lot done. NOT ENOUGH, mind you; it's never enough. But here's what I did:

1. Redesigned my bedroom and made most of it from scratch: painted walls and furniture, made bedding and bedskirts, upholstered a big ole headboard, and did it all on a dime.

2. Went to Portland to visit family, to craft, and to EAT.

3. Cleaned out the entire art room at school and re-organized much of it (thanks husband).

4. Made tons of little handbags and tiny projects.

5. Played in the back yard.

6. Cut my hair.

7. Learned how to run (for real). Really, I've always done a bit here and there, but I've got an unofficial trainer who runs with me on Saturdays (this weekend we did 6 miles at the beach...with a little bit of walking too, which I'm realizing is not cheating).

8. Had about 30 dinners with friends, saw 15 old friends, and gained what feels like 10 lbs because of it.

9. Went to the Doctor to see about our baby problems (no answers yet).

10. Rode our beach cruisers to the beach and to the movies like about 100 times.

Not that you wanted the details. I'm still leading a small group, I've agreed to take on a mentee (the super cute and oh so talented Heather), and I'm hoping to join another small group with the husband. I'm on the Women's leadership committee at church, and Jon is co-leading ASB (student government) this year, which means, by default, I am too.

So now that my crazy fun summer is over, my crazy *not so fun* school year has begun. Bring on the ridiculousness.

Good Morning Front Yard

Good morning tiny front yard. You're looking better every day.
Good morning neighborhood. Nice to see (some) of you.
Good morning Ponytail Palm. Bows or ribbons today? Braids? Ok.
Good morning Bougainvillea. I know husband calls you Gorgonzola, but he's learning.
Good morning succulents. Don't worry, that sun will be off you soon.

I'm so lucky to have all of this. And to call it mine. And that all of it smells of sea salt. So lucky.

Oasis in the Bedroom

Well, despite every aspiration I had for being the world's best blogger this summer, my efforts have fallen by the wayside as I sift through the unending to-do list during these blissful months of play, rest and work.

I did mention in my last post that I would be busy, so here is a glimpse at some of the things I have tackled and am in the midst of currently.
The most time-consuming and rewarding endeavor is our (my) ever-progressing bedroom redesign. After painting the walls a sprightly shade of yellow and my childhood nightstand and dresser a dreamy ocean blue-green, a big change has already taken shape. New bedding thrown from our bodies on these warm summer nights is refreshing, and this pillow from Amy Butler is in the works.
Speaking of, did you know Amy Butler has a bedding line at Bed Bath & Beyond? I turned the corner and blubbered like a total idiot...I couldn't have been more shocked if she had been sitting there herself. I picked up the sweet ruffled pillow and the $40 price tag quickly reminded me that I have the very pattern at home. A trip to the fabric store afforded me the opportunity to snatch up this sweet print, and it will don my mattresses soon.
Headboard fabric has been purchased and is awaiting my eager hands for assembly, curtain and bedskirt fabric is *hopefully* in the mail, and a darling antique arts and crafts dresser is all sanded down in my garage, dreaming of the yellow stripes it will soon wear.

Even unfinished, some of our Swedish friends visited last night and I spied the Mr. peeking his head in our room and, sighing, said, "I love this room!"

You will too, once I post some finished pics!

Hurricane Season

It's always summer in Oceanside, but sometimes it's more summertime than other times.One of those times is almost here. Two more days left of school and then it's really summer.I walked into my house this afternoon and realized, it's hot in here. Last night we slept with the windows open, I don't really know if there is anything more sweet.Well, I'm holding on to the last few days and then, I fear, the real work will set in. Our sights have been sealed upon more than a few tasks to accomplish in our too short vacation, among them are remodeling the kitchen, redesigning our bedroom in as complete and thrifty way as possible, and gutting the art room at school to paint the long neglected floor. Oh, and maybe doing a mural, an illustration for another text book, private art lessons, finish (I mean start and finish) a quilt, make lots of use of our gym memberships, and visit with family from the other side of the globe.

Strawberry Cut-Out for a photo op at the Vista Strawberry Festival

Sounds like the opposite of a vacation. My hope is that I can find some time to blog, paint, and get my Etsy on amidst the hurricane. Maybe I'll be too busy to eat, too. That'd be a super easy diet plan. Anyway, until that day arrives, here's the few little things I've had time to do lately, check them all out in the Etsy shop!

Green Improvements

While we have had our eyes opened to the extravagant cost of remodeling our kitchen, we've taken our shell-shocked hands to the yard.

Well, Jon has borne the brunt of the work, although I think it's fast becoming a hobby for him. Case in point: I was gone for the weekend and I came home to 30 square feet of new sod and two dozen new plantings. The next weekend a saw was purchased to prune the overgrown Yuccas. On Friday I was interrupted in my bikini by an inspection of the Palms which then were ripped out on Saturday.

That husband. He's amazing. I like mine.

So while I get a little sad when a tree has come to its end, I get excited to plant something new...I'm thinking jasmine.

I guess the kitchen is going to have to wait for now.

Brick and Mortar

What makes a house a home to you? Is it the four walls, the people in it, the location, the feel, the style, the smells of cookies baking...

Me and the Fluffiest Around the Neighborhood

"Let's go on a walk!" I said. "We'll introduce ourselves to the new neighborhood."The little fluffy one said, "Ok, I've been feeling the need for some wind in my hair. Let's go."
"Look at those giant green leaves," the fluffy one said, "and the sun coming through them like that!""Yup," I said, "it's because we live closer to the beach. Can you smell the salt water? Feel the ocean breeze?""Oh, yes!" Said the fluffy one. And we sauntered along, admiring the beauty of springtime near the beach.
"What's that?!" shrieked the fluffiest puppy. "Oh, don't worry, that just means you know we live in California. Think of it as art."
We continued on our way, finding lots of treasures, new and old.
Amongst all the flowers, we even found some made of glass. The fluffy one tried to smell them, but they did not smell like the rest.
"Phew! That was awesome. Let's do it again tomorrow," she said.
"Ok."

What does your neighborhood look like right now? Now it's your turn to take ME on a tour!