love{18}: my rapscallionly fellow vagabond...

You are my inspiration and my folly. You are my light across the sea, my million nameless joys, and my day's wage. You are my divinity, my madness, my selfishness, my transfiguration and purification. You are my rapscallionly fellow vagabond, my tempter and star. I want you.
  ~George Bernard Shaw

 I absolutely LOVE the last line of this beautiful piece of love inspired prose.

You are my rapscallionly fellow vagabond, my tempter and star. I want you.

If I had to pick a line to define the {us} that is Gary and I, that would be it.

Let's dissect it (So sue me, I was an English major):

rap·scal·lion (noun)

Definition:

1. naughty child: a mischievous and annoying child fel·low (noun) Definition: 1. companion: a companion or colleague 2. one of pair: either of a pair of objects 3.equal: somebody or something of the same rank or quality vag·a·bond  (noun) Definition: 1. homeless wanderer: a wanderer who has no permanent place to live

My Gary.

 My untamed adventure, my wreckless smile.

My rapscallionly fellow vagabond

of this beautifully tangled life.

Kai Quincy at {6!} months: A photo-blog...

6 months and still {full} of smiles...

Eating lots of veggies now!

Kai's stomach is a bottomless pit when it comes to eating solids. He will just eat and eat and eat....there hasn't been a thing he "hasn't" liked. So far he's had squash, peas, beans, carrots, potato, avocado, prunes, banana, and a little bit of rice cereal. His favorites (from what I can tell) are squash and avocado. He's also drinking water from a sippy cup! I'm pretty sure we have quite the eater on our hands

(already taking after Mommy!)

Sitting up un-assisted! What a big boy...

This is what he does when he gets excited. Hand right into the mouth :)

Gary loves to let him just play in his diaper.

I'll leave to go to the gym and come back to find Kai in his diaper and, of course his beanie.

Like Father, like son.

His lip and nose have healed better than we could have ever imagined.

The scar gets smaller by the day. We rub scar cream on it several times a day and will continue to do so throughout the coming year. I recently watched some home DVDs of him from when he was just a few weeks old....I can't believe how different he looks now!

 He loves to play in his saucer, toddle around in his walker, play with toys on the floor (on bottom and tummy) and, of course, hang out in the MOBY wrap or in the backpack while Mommy works around the house. He also LOVES getting out for walks in the stroller. I really try to do this once a day (for me, Kai AND Honey!).

Toying with the idea of crawling...he is pushing himself up on his hands and even pulling himself up on his knees. He's scooting all over the place, too...army crawl style. I know he'll just take off any day now but I'm not ready for it, yet!!! My house isn't ready for it yet, either....

 Ok, I hope this picture is not received offensively by anyone...but Gary and I get the biggest kick out of Kai's "poop face!" haha! His eybrows get all furrowed and he purses his lips into the funniest little smirk. I just had to document it. It looks better than it smells....

Snuggles with Papa G.

Not sleeping through the night yet, either...but he IS sleeping in his crib in his OWN room. He has a few good nights of sleep a week, but often has trouble getting himself back to sleep after 1:00AM....so unfortunately the "sleeping through the night" thing is a work in progress...

 Kai had a play date with his buddy Caden the other day!

Boys being boys...

I LOVE being Mommy to a BOY!!!!

The last six months have been full of smiles, laughter, tears, snuggles and lots of prayers.

Gary and I have fallen in love with Kai AND with our new roles of "Mommy" and "Daddy."

We have adjusted, learned from each other and have really settled into family mode.

Jobs have changed, finances have changed, schedules have changed, sleep has changed...

EVERYTHING changed, at the arrival of our Kai.

And we've never been happier....

love{17}: bloom!

There is no surprise more magical

than the surprise of being loved. 

It is God's finger on man's shoulder.

Charles Morgan

The "love" I write about today is not only a love shared between husband and wife. It's love for a friend, love for family, love for a child, love for a stranger, (love for a pet)...even love for an enemy.

We can all close our eyes and revert back to a time that we were loved so deeply and unconditionally that it brought tears to our eyes and made our hearts swell with gratitude....

It could be the car ahead of you at Starbucks paying for your coffee.

A thoughtful high school student holding the door open for you at the store and telling you

"your baby's really cute."

Maybe it's a generous financial gift sent anonomously at just the right time.

Or someone leaving a plate of your favorite cookies on your doorstep.

It could be a heartfelt picture drawn in crayon on a placemat,

or a {real} genuine compliment,

a letter of encouragement

or a sincere "thank you."

It may be the innocent whisper of "I love you" as a child drifts off to sleep,

or that look of adoration your dog gives you from the window as you pull out of your driveway.

Perhaps it's found in a hand on your shoulder at the end of a hard day,

or heard in a prayer. 

Maybe it's delivered is in the form of forgiveness.

Have you felt that love? The kind of love that comes rushing in, melting every heavy burden away. It's a freeing love, an exhilarating love. It's not just hearing the phrase "I forgive you," it's the feeling of really being forgiven. If you've ever really felt that forgiving love, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It feels like a heavy weight lifted off your shoulders, like the first sweet gulp of air after being submerged under water, like sunshine in your soul.

And then there is God's love. 

A love so deep and real and true I cannot even fathom.

It is this love that is at the root of all other love,

Just take a second and look around.

Listen to the quiet stirring of your soul.

Allow yourself to {embrace} love in all of the ways it manifests around you.

Even in the darkest of hours, it's there...

like a seed dropped in the cool dark soil just waiting

for water and {light}.



love{16}: short, sweet & to the point.

4.14.07
{forever}

The adventure of life is to learn.

The purpose of life is to grow.

The nature of life is to change.

The challenge of life is to overcome.

The essence of life is to care.

The opportunity of life is to serve.

The secret of life is to dare.

The spice of life is to befriend.

The beauty of life is to give.

The joy of life is to love.

William Arthur Ward

SAUSAGE BALLS.

Yep, I said it. Sausage Balls.

A delicious party of spicy sausage, cheese and biscuit in your mouth. The perfect combo. Serious!

I was introduced to these little balls of goodness by a Southern grown Seattleite.

I'm not good at memorization, but after tasting these babies this was one recipe I couldn't forget.

So if you are in need of a quick snack for Super Bowl, this may come in handy. Please don't judge by the picture. They taste WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better then they look. Promise.

They are a cinch to whip up:

1 lb. Hot Sausage
1 lb. Mild Sausage (if you reaaaaalllly like it Hot, use 2 "Hot" pounds)
12 oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese
12 oz. Mild Cheddar Cheese (I, personally like to use a Cheddar-Jack mix!)
4 cups of BISQUICK

1. Mix (more like knead) it all together in a BIG ol' bowl.
2. Roll into balls.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Best served warm, but we eat em' cold, too.

Gary likes his topped with Tapatio or Cholula sauce...I've had friends soak em' in maple syrup or even over-easy runny egg yolk.

I like em' just as they are...(enjoy!)

{15}: Four area-codes of food-based FUN!

OK, so one thing G and I most definitely enjoy doing together is...EATING!

And were pretty dang good at it..

For day 15, in honor of my current "lose-the-rest-of-the-damn-stubborn-baby-weight" diet, I'm reminiscing about, well, FOOD!

When we find something we like, we both whole-heartedly incorporate it into our routine. This rings true for restaurants, beverages, appetizers, desserts, etc.

Prepare to salivate.

15.  Thai, Thai and more Thai....
Our love affair with Thai food began in Seattle at a funky little place in Fremont--a short walk from my SPU apartment in Queen Anne. After we got married and moved to Magnolia we found a more economical hole-in-the-wall Thai fix. It didn't offer the same ambiance, but definitley matched the food quality. Funny thing, neither Gary nor I can for the life of us remember the name of that place. Sure, they are a dime a dozen in Seattle...but dangit, we LOVED that place (the women knew us by voice on the phone--and always remined Gary to bring me my cup of jasmine green tea, which he ALWAYS forgot...)

14. Pappadeaux.
When Gary lived in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area we loved to try new spots each time I'd be down for a visit. Pappadeaux was BY FAR our fave. We could eat seafood every day, for every meal...and this joint offers the best and biggest (I know, we WERE in Texas...) seafood platters (they make MEAN Texas sized Long Islands, too!)

13. Chinook's
Another Seafood spot....located in the Fisherman's terminal in Seattle (Magnolia/Ballard). This was our go-to date night spot. They had a nice big patio where we would often sit outside (they offered blankets for extra comfort on those chillier nights) and watch the boats in the bay. Gary craved their steamer clams smothered in garlic and soaked in butter....I craved their mahi-mahi tacos. Paired with the right wine (depending on the season, menu, and temp outside), the flavors almost outdid the view....

12. The Melting Pot
We didn't go here much (we've only been to the one in Seattle), although I wish we could afford it. We spent a handful of nights here, all to celebrate something. Pretty sure most of the time we just did dessert (my reccomendation), but twice we did the full course fondue meal and ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh man, we were STUFFED. This place is a wonderful splurge spot, but definitely too rich to frequent on a daily basis.

11. Sushi, baby!
We did most of our Sushi dates at Blue C (conveyer belt Sushi at it's best) in Fremont, because it was close by, but if we were gonna do a night out downtown and we wanted Sushi, it was always O'Hana. NOTHING beats Las Vegas rolls and Sapporo Light...and maybe a Saki Bomb or two...

10. Canlis.
We dined here in style at least once a week (NOOOOOOOOOOT!) I wish we could have gone there once. I would always see Limos parked outside of this high profile restaurant overlooking Lake Union when I was jumping on highway 99 from Queen Anne on my way to Gary's (ghetto) apartment. I always wondered if anyone famous was dining inside, and sometimes held up traffic trying to crane my neck to see if I would recognize anyone ducking into their stretch limo. Over here in the 5-0-9 we have a Canlis restaurant of our own, it's located in always classy YakiVegas, please, check it out! :)

9. Farmer's Kitchen
This is our FAVE home-town (Hermiston) date-spot. Totally worthy of the drive from surrounding areas. Great brews, good wine, SCALLOPS TO-DIE-FOR...fun, relaxed, candle-lit cozy environment.

8. HOT DOGS.
Not the flimsy kind from the plastic pack. The kind you can only find after 11 pm outside big city bars. Not with ketchup and mustard. Oh no. Ketchup, mustard, CREAM CHEESE, GRILLED ONIONS, JALAPENOS AND SAUERKRAUT. Holy heart-attack of goodness in a bun (better after one-too many beverages, eaten in a bumpy cab ride home and smeared all over your face and all over your clothes...just sayin').

7. Bubble Tea!
My college roomies introduced me to this fun frozen beverage. It's huge bubbles of tapioca in your choice of fruity flavored icy goodness. Who would have thought chewy tapioca bubbles sucked through huge colorful straws could ever be such fun?!

6. Garlic Fries.
But only sitting in the center field sunshine of SafeCo field washed down with a cold Miller Lite. Bad breath for days, but soooooooooooo worth it.

5. P.F. Chang's
Two words: LETTUCE WRAPS. If you haven't tried them, DO.

4. Hills Restaurant
Best Bloody Marys and Tri-City hangover breakfast (according to us, anyway--we could be biased because they are family...).

3. Traditions Buffet at Wildhorse Resort & Casino
But only on Thursdays for the all-you-can-eat SEAFOOD Buffet. Can you say ALASKAN KING CRAB???

2. Taco Truck.
In our home, it's "Taco Truck Friday." If we find ourselves home on Friday evening, we enjoy a platefull of asada tacos and delicious torta from our favorite local taco truck. Sometimes with lemon-lime Jarritos, sometimes Corona w/lime.

1. Drive thru Daiquiri stands.
I swear. Texas. It should be it's own country.

And on that note, I digress.

Off to bed I tredge with drool on my chin and a grumbling tummy...

love14: slowing down and {spending} time.

Each day is a little

{life}.

- Aruthur Schopenhauer

Work-related stress. Crying babies. Approaching deadlines. Annoying co-workers. Longer-than-life to-do lists. Dirty dishes. Piled-up laundry. Stacks of bills. Dog that needs a walk. Meals that need to be cooked. Taxes. Diapers. Dirt. Tears.

Can't stop-to-catch-your-breath days.

Can't sleep-too-much-on-the-brain-nights.

Sometimes it's almost as if we are on a never-ending vicious cycle-of-scheduled time ferris wheel ride.

Day in and day out, it just keeps spinning round-and-round and from the top we glance down to the ground and see others...frolicking in the grass below, holding hands with a loved one and sharing nibbles of candy apples and cotton candy. 

We want off the ride...but how?

Remind yourself  to slow down. Take a deep breath. Spend quiet moments thinking about what's {real}. 

What {really} matters?

Clear out the clutter in your mind. Put it off until tomorrow. Take the day off. Schedule a day just for you. Pamper yourself. Book a weekend get-away with your signifiant other. Plan a fun surprise for the kids. Spend a day just hanging out with family.

This is how memories are made,  priorities are rightfully restored, and flames are rekindled.

It doesn't have to be expensive, elaborate or over-the-top.

So spend time.

Make sacrifices.

Get off the ride... 

Tommorow can wait for tomorrow.

Get out and enjoy life {together}.

{Spend} the afternoon.

You can't take it with you.

 -Annie Dillard

{love}13: chick flicks. rom-com. sometimes, it's just necessary.

Today was a long, busy day. 

The kind of day you want to end on the couch wrapped in your favorite worn blanket with a good movie on. 

To me, good movies are movies you've seen a million times but are just as good--or better with each view. There are a handful of movies out there that fit this bill, in my humble opinion. Most of them are love comedies. I know, cliché and typical...but I'm just being honest. There are exceptions (I also like movies based on true events, like Social Network = AWESOME), but at the end of {most} days...or weeks, I want love and laughter. Not karate, blood, guns, gangs, superheros, war and all the other crap that my husband likes to annoyingly blare from our surround sound. I want chick flicks that vary on depth....sometimes i'm in the mood for a deep, "thinking" flick like Pride & Prejudice and other times I want something brainless and fun like Confessions of a Shopoholic.

So, nights like tonight get me all nostalgic about my favorite movies...just thinking about them makes me want to clear my weekend and live off an endless bowl of butter-drenched popcorn and bottomless bottle of cab.

If only...

But to stay true to {all things love}, I have extracted my top 5 {love quotes} from a few of my favorites.

Some of them you may not grasp unless you've seen the movie. And if you have, chances are it will only make you want to watch it...

You're a romantic.

You have a {lyrical} soul.

You can love under the best and worst conditions.

Fever Pitch

I love that you get cold when it is 71 degrees out.

I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich.

I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts.

I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes.

And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.

And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve.

I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

When Harry Met Sally

"What do ya wanna be married to me for, anyhow?"

"So I can kiss you anytime I want..."

Sweet Home Alabama

You know, that moment when you kiss someone and everything around you becomes hazy. And the only thing in focus is you and that person. And you realize that that person is the only person that you're supposed to kiss for the rest of your life. And for one moment you get this gift. And you want to laugh and you want to cry because you feel so lucky that you found it and so scared that it will go away all at the same time. 

Never Been Kissed

[This one is just FUN...LOVE this movie!]

Andie: Unattached?
Ben: Currently.
Andie: Likewise.
Ben: Surprising.
Andie: Psycho?
Ben: Rarely, Interested?
Andie: Perhaps.
Ben: Hungry?
Andie: Starving.
Ben: Leaving?
Andie: Now?

I couldn't leave this one out, either...

Andie: Our love fern! You let it die!
Ben: No, honey, it's just sleeping.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

There are SO many more...but these are definitely a few of my faves.

Hopefully this served as a reminder of what a healthy dose of chick-flick can do for a

bad day,

rotton mood,

no-good week or

lazy night...

best served, of course, with cookies, ice-cream, chinese take-out and wine....

{love}12: full-time friends...

"It's so much friendlier with two." -A.A. Milne

You know that you're friends with your husband when...

5. 

He/she is the first one you call with any news...

gossip, embarrassing stories, what's on sale at Safeway...

4. 

You talk in bed once you turn the lights off....

even if it's just about nonsense and

even if you are totally beat from a busy day.

3.

You "hang out" together...

you spend time doing a mutual enjoyed activity,

and have FUN doing it.

2. 

You can spend a Friday or Saturday night in,

 just the two of you...

and have a BLAST.

1.

You still flirt. 

Friendship? Yes, please. -Charles Dickens

Love11: Keepin' the {spark} post-baby

Having a completely helpless little human come charging into your life after living selfishly for....well, for me 25 years is, well, exhausting.

You quickly become overwhelmed with feeding, changing, bathing, cleaning, organizing, wiping, dressing, laundry, trying to sleep and trying even harder to adjust and keep that little person breathing, healthy, and most of all {happy}....
and for at least the first few days...maybe weeks....you often end up neglecting things you never dreamed you would such as your hygeine, appearance, beloved pets and even the (dare I say!) spouse.

The second that Kai came into our lives SO many things changed. Including our marriage. It's taken some adjustment on the good ol' relationship front, but we have ebbed and flowed nicely with the drastic life-change and I believe we have come out stronger, definitely healthier and a whole lot happier.

Sure, we can't up and spend a weekend in Seattle at the drop of a dime, we can't hit the town on a slow Friday night on a whim...but we CAN keep that flame burnin' bright in our marriage behind our tired eyes and drool/spit-up/poop stained clothes.

It hasn't come without adjustment, but here's, in a nutshell, how:

1. USE those babysitters!!!!!
It took me awhile to feel comfortable calling people up to take Kai for an hour or two so I could go to the gym or go shopping, or so G and I could go to dinner and/or a movie....but now, it's neccesary. I've learned that family wants and LOVES to spend time with your little bundle of joy and as new parents you, by all means should take advantage of that! Take a nap, go burn some calories, or most importantly get some quality one-on-one time with your man!!! Maybe you don't have family at your disposal...ask a trusted friend, maybe they have a little one and you guys can trade off for date nights?! You won't be sorry you asked...

2. Early bedtime, anyone?!
Kiddos need sleep...and lots of it. Studies show that they should sleep for up to 15 hours a day! Establish a bedtime that gives you and your man some consitant alone and unwind time. You'll be better parents, better friends, and better lovers if you get some time for yourselves each day. There are days I look forward to this time all day long (as much as I LOVE being a Mommy, some days are hard!!) Early bedtime for you kid(s) is a courtesy to them, and you!

3. Be {spontaneously} sweet.
Make an extra effort to surprise your spouse with something thoughtful--especially in those early days when baby demands SO much of the attention. Send a sweet text, buy a thoughtful little gift, snuggle on the couch, tell them what a great Mom/Dad they are and what a good job they are doing. I guarantee, if you make a point to tell your spouse that you appreciate them, you love them and a reason why you are grateful for them at least once a day that {spark} will NOT be doused by baby invasion...

4. Parent together.
I think sometimes Daddy's get left out...especially in those early days of baby (and even more so if Mommy breast feeds!) Make sure that you designate "Daddy" baby-related tasks, too! For example, while I am doing Kai's bedtime routine (bath, lotion, diaper, book) Gary re-fills his humidifier and makes a bottle so I can put him to bed. It's fun to partner in parenting. "Parent together" also means making sure you are on the same page about things such as early bedtime, feeding schedules, discipline, etc. As Jack Johnson sings, It's always better when we're together...

5. Above all else, have FUN!
Be silly. Make sleepless nights and zombie-like days funny. Laugh together at a shirt sleeve covered in spit-up, make silly faces and crazy baby noises TOGETHER. I'm not going to lie, being a parent can be tough at times, but laugh and love your way through the madness!

this is how Gary likes to wear his britches when he's washin' the dishes....!

Marriage is work.

Parenting is work.

Both are a work in progress, but I'd say we definitely got the "fun" part down...

Love{10}: Received advice on becoming a "wife."

I've never been much of a pack-rat.

I don't save much, as I consider myself a minimalist and HATE clutter. There is, however, one thing I DO hold on to and it's cards.

I LOVE hand written cards!

I've saved all of them....since HIGH SCHOOL. OK, I shouldn't say all of them, but all of the one's with meaningful messages inside of them.

I have a big plastic card tub and it's separated into two compartments. On one side are people's messages/letters/notes that I want to keep and the other side is the decorative/picture/quotes from the cards that I use to scrapbook and make my own cards.

Lately I've been attempting to make some kind of order of our guest bedroom, but most of my efforts fall short, as I end up finding something (on purpose, of course) to distract me from the actual act of organization.

And the other day it was the big plastic card tub.

I really do enjoy pouring over my old favorite cards. It's encouraging, heartwarming, tear-jerking and really, a big blessing. As I was {tearfully}devouring treasured hand-written birthday, graduation, wedding and baby shower messages I stumbled upon a stack of postcards rubber-banded together.

As I rolled the rubber-band off the dusty cards and spread them across the carpet, I remembered that they were from my wedding shower that my Mom and her best friends threw for me (back in April of 2007). They asked all of the ladies who attended to write some small piece of "marriage advice" for me on the cards (If you host a wedding shower any time soon, I highly reccomend this activity as a small gift to the new bride...)

What a treasure these are........

And it is now my pleasure to share with you just a {few} of my favorite pieces of advice:


"I discovered early on that men like to be right, so a good way to stop any argument is to say to him, 'you could be right....' It's worked for me for 61 years."


"Laugh together often and forgive, forgive, forgive."

 

"Speak life to each other!

Respect your husband and love him unconditionally.

Laugh alot and take time for each other always!"

1) Do things with your husband that HE likes to do, even if they aren't your favorite.

2) Pray, Pray, Pray--and not just for God to change Gary, but to change YOU!

3) Tell him often how much you love him and thank him for being a great provider!

"When life gets too busy, vacuum just before Gary gets home from work and it will look like you've been cleaning all day!"

"The most precious possesion that comes to a man in this world is a women's heart."

1. Put God first in your lives, He knows you best!
2. Make large decisions together.
3. Treat each other with RESPECT!

"Find Gary's Love Language and express love that he understands!"

"My best advice after 17 years of marriage is to try to

think like a man

for the sake of seeing his point of view. As much as you don't want to, it WILL bring peace to your relationship!"

 
"Speak words of life...build each other up...encourage, give praise and be thankful."

"Feed your husband before any major discussion."

 

"Choose your battles...don't let every little pet peeve get to you!"

"Love is a choice and each day with Jesus at the center your marriage will only grow stronger!"

"As you allow God to be in control of your life,

things will go smoothly and your happiness will only grow."

Ephesians 4:25-32 and Ephesians 5:22-33

"Take time to just enjoy each other and reflect

on all the reasons you love each other."

"Marriage is wonderful but it is also work.
Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it!

"To make love last, put each other first.

Love, laugh and live for each other every day."

Perhaps a few of you who read this blog will recognize your specific advice to me...?!

I THANK you for it!

It is so encouraging and uplifting to get meaningful advice from such strong, inspiring women.

Reading through my cards (and wedding shower "advice" bookmarks) just reiterates how meaningful a heart-felt, honest message can be. As is evident here--putting a little extra effort into a wedding shower activity can bless and inspire the receiver for many years!

What a lot we lost when we stopped writing letters. 

You can't reread a phone call. 

 ~Liz Carpenter

{9} FUN & cheap dates!

This post is for the broke college couple, couple on a budget, couple on a limited income, couple on a savings plan for something fun, or just plain ecomonical couple.

Fun doesn't have to be pricey.

In fact, some of the funnest nights I've had haven't cost a penny.

Alki Beach, Seattle....one of G and my FAVE date spots :)

For those of you who don't like to drop a ton of moolah for a fun date, I've compiled a list of free and cheap date ideas:

1. GET OUT AND ENJOY NATURE!
Nature is free, beautiful and invigorating to take in with someone you love. Plan a day hike, build a fire by the river or beach--or your backyard, drive somewhere with a view and gaze at the stars, fly kites!, clean out your bread pantry and go feed the birds, start a vegetable or flower garden, go horseback riding, pack a picnic and venture out somewhere new and scenic and spend the afternoon eating, reading books and taking naps under the beautiful blanket of God's creation.

2. DIG YOUR APRON OUT AND GET IN THE KITCHEN!
Do some research and have a cultural culinary night---make Indian, Chinese, Japanese, African themed full course meal...but do the cooking TOGETHER! (Don't forget to find some cultural music to match your choice). Or, find something delicious to make together (think toffee, cookies, a cake) FOR someone else...and then suprise them with it together!

3. GET ACTIVE: THINK SPORTS!
Go on a bike ride (if you don't have bikes, borrow!), too broke to ski or snowboard? SLED!, go bowling, hit up the driving range, miniature golf, find a park with hoops and play some H-O-R-S-E and a little 1-on-1, take a new class together (think kickboxing, yoga, spinning, etc.), rent a raft, canoe, paddle boat, go fishing (or hunting, if you MUST...), find a fun nature walk and take your dogs along...

4. IN THE MOOD FOR ROMANCE?
Stay in, drop the kiddos off with a sitter and do a mini-spa night in your own home. Think massages, jacuzzi bath, candles, champagne...you get the picture. Cheaper than an actual spa date or fancy hotel, but all the luxuries of both in the comfort of you own home!

5. TAKE YOUR MIND OFF YOURSELF....AND VOLUNTEER!
Take few hours of your day and volunteer somewhere with your significant other! This not only helps others, it will really bring the both of you closer--and make you feel even better because you are not only spending time with each other, you are also helping others! Find a local soup kitchen or church that serves meals to the needy, spend some time at a nursing home or assisted living center, offer to help out with a church youth group or school club, find a community service project and make it happen together!

6. ENJOY THE LOCAL CULTURE
Call your local chamber of commerce and get the low-down on community happenings...chances are there is more out there to do than you think! Plan a trip to a museum or historical landmark, go WINE-TASTING!, take a cooking or hobby related class together, go sip coffee at a fun little local cafe or try out the new micro-brew at the sports bar and watch the game, or go to a local sporting event and cheer on your home team!

7. SCREW THE EXPENSIVE VACATION, GO ON A MINI-GET-AWAY!
You don't need to book a week-long vaca to Maui to get your travel fix. Try a ONE-NIGHT trip to a hip bed and breakfast (think Hood River, there are some AWESOME ones there!) or a camping trip!

8. SPICE UP ANOTHER BORING MOVIE NIGHT...
Instead of renting another movie and staying in, go grab brunch and enjoy a matinee together! You could also rent a serious or trilogy of movies and have a movie marathon, complete with take-out and numerous beverages of choice ;)

9. MAKE IT A COUPLES NIGHT!
Host a game night! Some super fun games to invest in would be Things, Apples to Apples, Taboo and then a few decks of good ol' fashioned playing cards (we like Nertz, Hearts, Poker....). Game nights are honestly one of my favorite ways to spend a Friday or Saturday night. You could also form a "dinner club" with a group of friends, and rotate who hosts a dinner once a week! Another fun couples date night idea is the Progressive dinner. The progressive dinner is really a forgotton event, and I would like to personally bring it back...

These are just a few of the hundreds of free or inexpensive date ideas...

if you have one to add that you don't see here, feel free to share!!

{Healthy!} Cranberry Orange Muffins

LOVE LOVE LOVE Saturday morning breakfast.

I was in the mood for something quick, easy,{portable}, fruity but HOT, and of course, healthy.

I took stock of the ingredients I had in my pantry and googled away...

I found this recipe: Healthy & Delicious Orange Cranberry Muffins (I made them without the walnuts!)

Sunshine, Saturday, {Delicious!}

Now I'm off to spin class at the gym! I'll be back later for today's {love} post...

8: To {become} Real.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"REAL isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, ling time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful.

 "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all,

because once you are Real, you can't be ugly except to people who don't understand."

-Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

This was one of my FAVORITE childhood books. I remember my Mom reading it to my sisters and I before bed, and crawling into bed with a sad, but good feeling.

I knew what Real was. I knew it.

Ever since I could remember, I'd slept with a polar bear named "Snowy" (original, right?) and a yellow bordered "blankie." Every night, they were there, in my bed. I slept with Snowy tucked under one arm and blankie twisted somewhere around me and in the sheets.

Snowy and Blankie were a fixture in my bed until (dare I say), I got married.

I swear. Even ask my college roomies...or Gary.

It wasn't like I cried when I had to spend a night without them, or sucked my thumb while holding them each night. They were just always "there," I had no reason not to keep them around...

I had changed houses, dorms, apartments and beds but thier feel and smell stayed familiar.

Once Gary and I got married and moved in together, and his fabulous California King sized bed became "our bed" Snowy and blankie moved from inside the bed, to the side of the bed, nestled between the headboard and my bedside table. Gary, of course made fun of me--kind heartedly, calling Snowy "dirty" and blankie a "rag," but never once ordered me to put them (or throw them) away.

I still have them, not in our bed or our room even. I couldn't bear to box them up like rejected toys, so I just store them up in Kai's closet with some other random artifacts of Gary and mine, that Kai may take interest in some day.

And as I revisit this passage, several years later, it still moves me...but differently now, at 26.

Snowy and blankie now sit, worn and proud, in the closet.

And just as they became real to me,
I now fall asleep in the arms of my husband,
and wake up each each morning to a love more {real} than the day before.

In laughter, tears, good times and bad...

Love {becomes}.

"I suppose you are real" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive.

But the Skin Horse only smiled.

day{7}: adventures!

Anything, everything, little or big becomes an adventure when the right person shares it.

-Kathleen Norris

One fabulous and very exciting thing about entering into a lifelong partnership with someone is all of the memories you will make of the adventures you take along the journey of your life together.

I'm so blessed to have married a man who matches my passion for

seeking and {embracing} new experiences.

In our 4 years (in April) of marriage we have shared many great adventures, big and small.

Here are just a few that come to mind:

A handful of camping trips involving long hikes, cliff jumping, swimming, sun burns and rum and cokes in plastic cups at Soda Springs.

Our random last-minute getaways to the Ocean (usually Lincoln City or Rockaway Beach) with Honey in tow, of course. All we need is a big blanket, a football, a good book and a full picnic basket.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was (thus far) the trip of our lifetime. We were honored to attend our friends' wedding there, and enjoyed a week of sight-seeing, shopping, swimming, surfing, sunbathing, and of course, parties. This vacation gave me a very strong desire to do more international travel. It was my first trip outside of the country and completely eye-opening. If you never leave your home country, it's easy to shut out the world all around you, because it's "unknown." But there is SO much more to see, and I know I have barely skimmed the suface...I need to keep racking up miles and grow a financial "nest-egg" for travel.

(i'm the blonde haired one falling into the middle...)

White-water rafting trips. It's been FAR too long since we've done this. In fact, the last time we did was when Gary proposed to me (on the banks of the Salmon river in a stuffy tent....fitting, right?!). We both grew up rafting and are definitely going to want to continue the tradition with our children.

Snowboarding trips are almost always an adventure in themselves. If we had better cash flow this winter, we'd be hitting the mountain every dang weekend...LOVE the sound of snow fast under your board and your coat flapping against you in the cool breeze...

Trips to the river in the heavy, dense heat of summer. These would be greatly improved with the purchase of a boat (a WAKEBOARDING boat at that!) but we make the best of them. We swim, hike, cliff jump, play a game of ENDLESS fetch with Honey and sometimes, just float. I'm excited for summer river trips with Kai!

In Seattle, it was always such a treat to ride the Ferry. Gary and I began and ended some of our most memorable date nights with ferry rides. On a sunny cool day, NOTHING beats the Seattle/Sound beauty.
And while I'm on the Seattle subject, we also spent several hours canoeing on Lake Union, which was fun, a good workout, and (sometimes) kind of scary!

And then there are the even smaller adventures, like family walks around the neighborhood, trips to the store, parties with friends, weekends with relatives...nearly everything becomes an adventure with an (almost) 6 month old.

I know I'm leaving some out.

But really, we are only getting started.

I asked Gary to give me his "adventure" bucketlist of sorts, and this is what I got:

• basejumping (skydiving off of a cliff--I have no desire to SKYdive, but I would, however participate a nice scenic basejump.)
• Spend a couple of weeks on a {remote}tropical island--"where we have to catch our own fish, you know and live like they do on Lost."
• Backcountry heli-boarding (Whistler, preferably)
• Go on a week long white-water rafting/camping trip
• Rent an RV and travel down the California coast line and "stop off every so often and ride my dirt bike."

Here's just a {few} of mine:

• Go backpacking all over Europe.
• Visit a tropical island--preferably not an over-commercialized crowded one, but not as remote as "Lost."
• Take that trip down highway 101, but not for dirt-bike riding, for WINE-TASTING!!! (Napa Valley, anyone?!)
• Spend a month exploring the East Coast, from NYC all the way down to Miami.
• And last but not least, go back to Brazil.

As for right now, we can only dream (about the big one's, anyway...)

but mark my words...

we will spend the next {several} years

crossing things off our life list of shared adventures.

After all, the real adventure lies in not WHERE you go,

but WHO you go with....

We don't know where life will take us,

but it's a guaranteed adventure,

because we'll be {together}.