Life is a Scavenger Hunt

This week:

Every year of my childhood, we'd have this on the TV on New Year's Day while we started taking down Christmas decorations.

"Barra Barra" and "The Minstrel Boy"...still one of my favorite albums ever.

This blog is a hoot.  I dig her and her method of delivery.

I love me my Fred Meyer olive bar.  Yay for stuffed grape leaves (not my photo).

AWESOME!!!

I choked on my coffee.

 I've got mine up and running.

Brilliant idea to keep track of life and its memories.

Monkey #1 Achievement:  Managed to entertain himself without destroying anything noteworthy.

Monkey #2 Achievement:  Shared her room with her brother for a week (family visiting) without killing him.

My Achievement:  I learned to make handmade paper.

Gratitude

2013 is FINALLY over.  That's one thing to be thankful for.

In all seriousness, I have had a LOT to be thankful for this year.

• God...because He's made all this possible.
• Love...because it makes my world go 'round.
• My family...because they make it all worth it.
• My friends...because they know I'm crazy and love me anyway.
• My brother...because we're anomalies together.
• My cat, Timber...because she's my snuggle bug.
• My home...it's where magic happens.
• My freedom...without it, everything else wouldn't be so amazing.
• Coffee...because without it, I couldn't appreciate anything else.
• My vocabulary...because it's sexy and I worked hard for it.
• My computer...I'd honestly be lost without it.
• My Kindle...because my house is too small for all the books I love.
• Pinterest...because I love to be inspired.
• Google...because I love checking my facts.
• The Dollar Tree...because saving money is awesome.
• Amazon...because spending money is awesome too.
• Hastings...because Chai Lattes don't make themselves.
• Sushi...it's THAT important.
• Indian Food...Lamb Curry & Garlic Naan.  Yes please.
• The Olive Bar at Fred Meyer...makes my tastebuds happy.
• Tea...because it's wonderful.
• John Williams & Hans Zimmer...I love you guys.
• Pandora...because I love my music my way.
• Audible...because sometimes I want to read while I'm working on something (or driving).
• Snow...because hot flashes suck.
• Heat tape...because frozen pipes suck even more.
• Hot showers...no explanation needed.
• Pajama pants...because comfort is one of my favorite things.
• Slippers...because shoes and cold feet suck.
• Red Tail Sangria...because it's delightful.
• Hard Ciders...because adults need juice too.
• Apple Ice Wine...because it's amazing.
• My tastebuds...because I thought I had lost them forever.
• Dr. Perez & his team...for saving my life.
• The nurses on the 4th floor at St. Luke...for taking such good care of me.
• My neighbor...because he's like a grandpa to me.
• Electric pencil sharpeners...I can get back to writing just that much faster.
• Crayons...for making me feel like a kid.
• My church...for reminding me I have a lot to be thankful for, to slow down, and give thanks.

I know some of it might seem silly, but it's all true.  This year, I'm going to do my best to remember to be more thankful and present...to appreciate to the little moments that make it all worth it.

Happy New Year.

Life is a Scavenger Hunt

This week:

Numb3rs...LOVE this show.

This album was given to me by a friend years ago and is one of the few physical discs I still own.

LOVE this blog.  I've referenced a few things from it in previous posts.

I've had a sweet tooth lately...

BRILLIANT book.

I still laugh when I think about the poison ivy.

Not sure if I like what it's telling me.

Fun Halloween crafts to do with children of all ages.

Monkey #1 Achievement:  He learned to play "Drunken Sailor" on his upright bass.

Monkey #2 Achievement:  She learned how to make legitimate noise on her flute.

My Achievement:  I learned how to crochet flowers and am halfway through making Monkey #2 a scarf.

Life is a Scavenger Hunt

This week:

Captivating and brilliantly rendered.

For those of you paying attention, the world got a bit quieter a week ago today when Juke chose peace.

Juke...I miss you.  

You said what you meant and meant what you said...and you were always a gentleman about it.

It was an honour, a privilege, and an absolute hoot knowing you.

I had to use the HONY Facebook banner seeing as how their actual website banner didn't feel like cooperating.  Do yourself a favour and go check this amazing site out.

Coffee IS life.

Tea IS food.

End of discussion.

I enjoy well written YA for the simple face that the writer cannot love the sound of their own voice.  They have to be succinct or they run the risk of losing their audience.  YA at its best is language usage and economy at its finest.

RIGHT?!?

Halloween is just around the corner (scary seeing as how I just got the last bit of fireworks debris cleared out).  This bunch of DIY projects courtesy of Martha Stewart is just the first of a bundle you'll be seeing.  (Brace yourselves...Christmas will be happening soon after.)

Monkey #1 Achievement:  Only had his room tossed twice for being a slob.

Monkey #2 Achievement:  Became a self-starter and pulled down the binder with the math tutoring pages, asking if I wouldn't mind grading them for her.

My Achievement:  Learned how to crochet two different kinds of flowers (and a third by accident) for the #sheepishbloomdrop from One Sheepish Girl.

Life is a Scavenger Hunt

This week:

Sinatra & Brando together...yes please.

Because Nick Cave just makes me smile.  LOVE his voice and delivery.

The Dark Desert

Sa-wa-dee Thai Food has some of the best sushi (and sashimi) I have ever had.

(Disclaimer:  I did not take that photo.  I found it over at Urban Spoon)

One of the most brilliant books I have ever read over a dozen times.

And oldie but goodie.

As seen on Pinterest : Vintage Slide Lamp

I have about a gazillion of these slides...I just might have to do this one of these days.

Monkey #1 Achievement:  He made it through 3 lazy days cooped up with his sister without killing her.

Monkey #2 Achievement:  She made it through 3 lazy days cooped up with her brother without killing him.

My Achievement:  I made it through 3 lazy days cooped up with two monkeys without killing either one.

Life is a Scavenger Hunt

This week:

Who doesn't love a trip to Middle Earth?

Saw this guy at the Knitting Factory in Boise a few months back opening for the Reverend Horton Heat...this disc is simply amazing.

One Sheepish Girl

Two words:  Asiago Sourdough

Never gets old being in the head of a genius.

This just made me laugh.

As found on Pinterest:  Recipes for Disaster

 Monkey #1 Achievement:  He learned how to do laundry and why I insist on clothes being put in the hamper buttoned, zipped, pockets emptied, and turned the right way.  That lesson came with a BIG hug and a heartfelt apology.

Monkey #2 Achievement:  She managed to completely disassemble, clean, and reassemble the bathroom without any help or guidance.

My Achievement:  After four weeks, I got my driving privileges back from my doctor.