Day 46 Pic of the Day (My Fave Food)

What does a person from Chicago LOVE??????? Deep dish pizza. I finally found a spot in STL that offers a pretty good replica that doesn't feel heavy or too thick. Rob even likes the place. I meant to take a picture of the whole fresh pizza, but I couldn't resist eating right away, and so this was all that was left when I remembered I wanted to take a pic :-) LOL the restaurant name is cute as well: Pi

Day 45 Pic of the day (Valentine Love)

We spent the weekend at a hotel downtown. We went to the movies, ate a good lunch, got dressed up, had a nice dinner and had a good breakfast the next morning. It was a nice Valentine's day. Probably our last one alone :-) And yes, this dessert was tasty.

Day 44 Pic of the Day (Wall Art)

So yeah now I feel super trendy with vinyl letters up on my wall :-) LOL These were not as easy to get on as they would have you believe. Especially the intricate parts. But I LOVE it. Rob came in and said, "Umm that does make a difference." High praise from him.

Day 49 Pic of the Day (Sweet Sixteen)

DISCLAIMER: I know this out of sync, but I was so proud that I created a layout that I had to share anyway. I will post the prior days sometime this week.

I think I found my mojo by cleaning my scrap room. To prove it, I went in there today and I felt a desire to create. Saw this challenge and thought it would be a great starter. My baby sister turned 16 today and I got a little teary. We have a super close relationship. My husband always jokes that I need a DNA test to prove she isn't mine. I love her to death and now she isn't the little girl I used to take downtown for lunch at McDonalds and a stroll through Toys R Us

Day 43 Pic of the Day (Decorating Fever)

So... I don't always like to spend money, but when the mood hits, I go with the flow. A newly painted house screams for decorations and I feel like obliging. Here are a few pics of things I saw in Pier One that I might want to add to the house. Obviously, I like reds, greens, and creams. Those colros are found in almost everyroom of the house.

Day 42 Pic of the Day (Deck Drawing)

Here is a drawing of the new deck we are thinking of having installed in the next few weeks. The deck floor is gray and the spindles are obviously white. I think it is going to be super cute. Rob's grilling stuff goes on the left side and the new patio furniture will go on the right. I am also going to buy one of those deck boxes to store the cushions, so they won't get destroyed by the weather like the first ones we bought. We were always too lazy to bring them in when it rained.

Day 41 Pic of the Day (Tapas)

Well today was the day for our wine club tasting. Seems we have been indulging in spirits a lot lately :-) The red were better than the whites today. They also had a very good dessert wine. We went to Barcelone afterwards, which is a Spanish Tapas Bar. The food was good as always and the Sangria was okay. The place has a good vibe and is small and cozy.

Day 40 Pic of the Day (House Renovation)

Rob and I decided to have the entire house painted one color. We went with Bone White from Porter paints. No more green, purple, brown, and creamed colored walls. We thought it was cute and romantic to paint the house together when we first built it. Now we want it to be clean, warm colored, and professionally done. What a difference 4 years make :-)We love the new color on the walls. Every room feels bigger and brighter. This is the painters doing repair work on the walls before beginning the paint process. So this is not the current wall color. I would take a pic, but not sure I culd do it justice.

Well here is a pic of the wall and some new decorative items I bought. Not sure if it shows well.

Day 39 Pic of the Day (60 Degree Grill)

Rob says he doesn't grill unless it is above 60 degrees. It was unseasonably nice for a February, so I am not sure if it was 60 degrees, but I unthawed Rob's ribs and let him know I was expecting to eat them on Sunday. He kindly obliged and they were pretty tasty :-)

Day 38 Pic of the Day (Flat Tire)

We learned that Rob doesn't really want to live in the city because back alleys give you flat tires :-( Thank goodness for AAA. We have been thinking about maybe moving to a house in the city closer to things we do. We saw a few nice rehabbed homes, but the back alley ways were a sure fire turn off for Rob. He handled the flat tire well. I think we have decided to stay put in suburbia :-)

Day 37 Pic of the Day (Arcade Fun)

Our friends also belong to a wine club, so we went with them to their open tasting. We sampled a bunch of wine. Afterward we went to dinner like we always do. At the restaurant, they had an arcade golf game. My friend's husband is a golf fanatic, so we had to play. Rob and I lost, but neither of us play golf, so we didn't feel to bad. It's nice to have friends you can hang out with eespecially when you share similar dispositions and tastes.

Me with another bad hair day :-) Geez, I really should have blowed dried right away. LOL

Day 36 Pic of the Day (Bad Hair Day)

Clear sign that it is time for a perm is when your hair looks like this after a simple washing :-) And to add to the trouble is the fact that I was lazy and didn't blow dry right away. So my hair air dried. Blow drying in this state is near impossible. It is almost easier to rewash and start again.

Day 35 Pic of the Day (Target is Dangerous)

I am sure that I don't need to tell anyone that Target is a dangerous location. You go in with a list for $10 and leave spending well, I mean well over $100. My downfall was the fact that I picked up a cart. A cart begs you to fill it with something. And who I am to deny the cart what it wants. I started small, but it continued to grow. Needless to say Rob wasn't very pleased. But he doesn't understand the allure of Target.

Day 34 Pic of the Day (Julius Caesar)

I don't remember reading this play in high school and I had a strong background in classical literature. Anyhoo, this is my first time teaching it, so I had to read it and brush up on the plot and characters. Not a bad story in my opinion.

Day 33 Pic of the Day (Consideration)

Rob knew I was having a funky day b/c of my job, so he came home and brought me a bouquet

of wild flowers. Nothing big, but the gesture says a lot to me. He really cares about my happiness. I love him :-) I should have photoshoped these, but I didn't feel liek it. You get the picture.

Day 32 Pic of the Day (Well Balanced Meal)

A good meal makes you feel warm and fuzzy :-) Balsamic Pork Tenderloin from the Robin Miller cookbook. Super easy and Super tasty.

Day 31 Pic of the Day (Waffles)

Well the Green Monster can make you hungary the next morning (LOL) so Rob made or attempted to make waffles the next day. The spirit was willing, but the batter was weak :-) Good play on words Keianna :-) I ate them anyway b/c I appreciated his effort. Not sure what happened. He usually makes a decent waffle.

Day 30 Pic of the Day (Green Monster)

Rob made this drink he found on the internet. We call it the Green Monster b/c the actual name is something I wouldn't repeat in polite company :-) We had like 3 of these and played Spades all night long. I think I won, but I can't really remember or at least that's my story and I am sticking to it. Tasty drink, no hang over, downside... you don't remember anything the next morning. Which could be good or bad depending on who you are and who you hang out with :-)

Top 100

Saw this on another scrappers blog and decided it would be good filler. Hopefully, my mom won't notice I haven't posted any pics of the week this week :-) I have taken them, I just don't feel like fixing them :-) All the blues are things I have done. Got to the bottom of the list and realized I have lived a very blessed and fortunate life. I have done a lot of things :-)



1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a/in a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

16 Things About Me

I saw this on Ali E's blog and I have seen a lot of ladies doing these lately so I decided to join in :

1) I hate to feel overwhelmed. I am a pre-planner and it really freaks me out when I don't feel prepared and it's not my fault. Hence, why I am upset with my job today.

2) I will only eat ice cream if it has nuts in it i.e. walnuts (reminds me of my granny), pecans, almonds, pistacios (sp?), whatever it is I need the crunch.

3) I have lots of great ideas, but I am not very good with the follow through :-) What's the quote... the road to hell is paved with good intentions :-)

4) I love doing nice things for people, but I have to feel like they appreciate it. If I don't think they do, then I don't do it anymore. Obviously, I am still working on being a better christian. LOL

5) I love to travel.

6) I am a very passionate person, but my fire can fizzle quickly. I have well over two grand in camera equipment that I haven't used in over a year. But like I tell Rob, it doesn't go bad and you never know when my passion will resurface. He is still waiting on me to finish the mosaic table and to paint the barstools :-) LOL

7) I love my hubby b/c he is patient and accommadating. See the items above :-) He lets me be quirky and loves me anyway.

8) I eat popcorn just about every other day. My fave is called Chicago mix and is cheese and carmel mixed together. So delicious and so bad for you.

9) I enjoy cooking for Rob on most days. It fullfills my need to feel domestic at times.

10) I am deathly afraid of raising kids, but Rob and I are going to embark on it this year. You can be assured I will probably read every book on parenting out there..... at least twice :-)

11) I am still not sure what my life calling is and I am still not sure what it isn't. Kind of a jam isn't it???

12) Red makes me feel sexy and I happen to look good in it as well. One reason I am glad to be a Delta.

13) I am a bit of a phobic about germs and diseases.

14) I hate watching shows with week to week connecting storylines b/c I feel like they are forcing me to watch every week and that makes me mad. This is why I gave up Deperate Housewives and etc.

15) I watch SpongeBob faithfully and still enjoy Nickelodeon.

16) I will be 30 this year and somedays I still don't feel like an adult. Maybe it's because I watch SpongeBob :-) LOL

This wasn't so bad. You probably think I am a little odd now, oh well :-) Ciao

Day 29 Photo A Day (Nurse P.)

So Rob had to have minor surgery a week ago. No pics b/c he refused to be photographed wrapped in bandages and gauze. So here is a pic of what my days have been like playing Nurse P. I told him I needed a wife raise since I was adding nurse to my job role :-) I haven't seen the increase yet :-( He is doing fine and even went back to work today.

Day 28 Photo A Day (Snow Storm)

So yeah, that first snow of the season turned into a snow storm. Schools were closed for two days and jobs allowed people to work from home. My hubby hates snow. 1) because he is from New Orleans and doesn't see the beauty of it and 2) because he hates shoveling it :-) I don't blame his second reason. Looks cold out there. This was taken from inside the home via the sliding glass doors.

Day 27 Photo A Day (Video Games)

Yes, I play video games, but only on the computer. Does that make me cooler than others. Who knows? This is my guilty pleasure and what I do at 1 a.m. when I can't sleep. The best game I have EVER played is Return to Ravenhurst by Big Fish Games. So worth it. They have an hour free trial, so download it and give it a chance. If you get stuck, they have a whole forum dedicated to helping you out. This game had me nearly in tears and feeling triaumphant and sad at the end. It won for best game in 2008 :-) Do I have good taste or what.

Day 26 Photo A Day (First Snow)

Why is January 25th the first time we have had real snow all winter. Crazy world. What are we doing to the environment. I live in the midwest, it should have been snowed.

Day 25 Photo A Day (100 shades of White)

The painter man dropped this off and said pick my color. Are you serious???? There are over a hundred shades of white. Too many choices. I can't decide. I want something warm, not plain, nuetral, and yet noticeable. easy right????

Day 24 Photo A Day (Happy Meal)

I am almost not ashamed to admit that I order happy meals and sometimes I am excited about the toy. I could care less about this one, but the ponies, barbies and robots used to find a home on my desk and bulletin board ledge at work. I am a kid at heart sometimes :-) I once went to 12 McDonalds to collect all the Inspector Gadget pieces (they made a larger toy when put together). I even bribed my sister and my ex boyfriend's brother for their pieces. I had no shame I tell you :-) LOL

Day 23 Photo A Day (Valentine 3D)

I admit that I went to see the horror flick Valentine 3D. No I didn't think the movie would be good, but how can you resist it in 3D. The first time we tried to go, all three showings were sold out. We tried again and made it in. I am happy to report that the 3D was awesome and the plot was serviceable. Be warned...there are some gory scenes and some over dramatic acting.

Day 22 Photo A Day (Cupcakes )

Well what does a loving hubby do when you have a craving for a cupcake??? He buys you a gourmet one from Jilly's Cupcakery, with tahitian vanilla cream on the inside. They are soooo sinful.

Day 21 Photo A Day (God's Word)

This year I decided to spend extra time with God, so I am going to Wednesday night bible study. We are doing the book of John right now. It is a positive experience sharing with others an extra day each week.

Day 20 Photo A Day (Historical Love)

The historical significance of the day is obvious. What I wish to point out is the look of love and adoration on her face. It fills my heart up so much to see real love. Not all marriages are unhappy and I think we buy into the fact that they are and somehow make our own more difficult in the process. I say no. I genuinely love my husband and am happy to be with him. It's nice to see that same look on someone else's face as well. I cried when they walked out together the night he won. She looked at him and embraced him. I thought this is the image so many youths need to see. Positive, Black, Proud and In Love...

Day 19 Photo A Day (Home Improvements)

When Rob is in the mood to spend, you go a long for the ride. His goal this year is to improve our casa. So we are pricing out decks (I love eating outside), a fence (kids need an enclosed environment), a new counter top and backsplash for the kitchen (granite is a warmer and more mature choice than what we have now). I am looking forward to seeing all the finished products.

Day 18 Photo A Day (Football Madness)

I never watched football until Rob and I got married. I think it's important to give and take in a marriage and to connect with something the other holds important. Rob is a sports fan and I missed him during football season. So I sat down and asked him to teach me the game. Five years later, I watch just as much as he does, play in a fantasy league, do football pick em, read and watch espn and the nfl network and I can carry on an intelligent conversation with other guys. It is our activity now and not just his. He always says he appreciates the fact that I took the time to engage in something that was important to him. I used to think the game was stupid, but now I LOVE it to death and will cry when the season is over and wait eagerly for August to come back around again.

Day 17 Photo A Day (Staying Connected)

So I live in Missouri and my other book club members live in Illinois. So we have our meetings over the phone, with one person calling and connecting to another. It works out pretty well. The one meeting we had in person was cool, but this is the next best thing. Maybe a video cam on the computer would be cool as well. I may have to check into that. Anyway, I love my little phone, but plan to upgrade in June to one with a full keyboard. I do a lot of texting.

Day 16 Photo A Day (My Fave Pastime)

I have always enjoyed reading. Something about a book being able to transport you to a new time or place. This summer after I quit my job and was struggling to find a new one or to find my life calling, I went through a very intense period of sadness. I was not used to feeling inadequate, unproductive, or dare I even say unwanted. To escape from myself I did a lot of reading. I read the entire Stephanie Plum series (10+ books) the entire Alex Cross series (12+ books) an entire historical series (which I turned my sister on to) all of Sherlock Holmes short stories, The Pillars of the Earth (1000+ pages) and a sprinkling of other books. I needed the release :-) very bad I guess, based on how many books I read :-) Even chuckling about it today is a bit bitter sweet. This book I was reading for my book club (How To Make An American Quilt). It was a good story and a bit different than the movie with Winonna Ryder if you have seen it.

Day 15 Photo A Day (Sweet Love)

So in an earlier post I wrote about Rob working late and being stressed about his job. Well being the loving wife that I am and always on the lookout for brownie points I decided to make him a goodie bag for his 8 a.m. - 12 a.m. work day. I baked him chocolate chip cookies and bought his favorite candy (gummi bears) and wrapped them in bags with hearts on them and left them out on the counter for him to discover. He was surprised and I think touched by the gesture. I really belive that it is the little things that make a person fall in love with you all over again.

Day 14 Photo A Day (Scrap Work)

Today I sat down and actually started to compile the photos and journaling I have been doing. I really like the way that it is turning out. This is my life on a daily basis. All the little things that build memories and get me to where I want or need to be. I am excited about this project and look forward to seeing it grow. I used Fancy Pants Fall paper line, Cherry Arte Calendar stamp, and stamps in my collection. Click the pic for a bigger view.

Day 13 Photo A Day (Poor baby)

Rob is a hardworker, but he doesn't like to be worked hard. This job he started in October has him working til 12 in the morning sometimes. He even brings his laptop home and works here at the house in the evenings. This Saturday he has to go in and work from like 8-12. He is not a happy camper and I don't see him wanting to keep this job for long. On a side note: I think he always looks so cute when he gets caught up in a problem. He is such a braniac and I love it :-)

Day 12 Photo A Day (Food For The Soul)

I discovered Robin Miller sometime this Fall. I was full fledge into doing the Susie Homemaker thing and that meant cooking new meals from scatch each night. This is a great cookbook. I have made over 20 dishes from it and have enjoyed all but one. And really there was nothing wrong with it, we just didn't like artichokes mixed with other veggies. Robin challenges me to use new ingredients and her meals are fast and easy, but big on the wow in terms of flavor and presentation. The meals are also healthy as well. I listed a few we have tried in the past.

Day 11 Photo A Day (The Office)

I LOVE The Office even though I didn't discover it until this year :-) I was always wondering what happened whenever they made references to previous seasons. So Rob bought me the boxed gift set of all the previous seasons. I am loving it. It is filling in so many of the plot details. So this is now a new quality time activity. When nothing else is on, we pop in the dvd and watch a dvd or two. Each season has four dvds. I am up to season three right now and it is getting good :-) If you haven't watched it, you can download free episodes on their website and watch all the ones from this season. It is extremely quirky and the characters are truly unique.