A monday birthday & some other bits.

I'm back!

My blogcation was rather uneventful. I did get a few ideas hammered out for a new layout and got a little more organized with post content. My biggest frustration with blogging is that I want this to actually be a place where my true self is reflected-- I want this blog to supplement my future business ventures, I want it to help me meet new people, I want it to be a place where I can remember & share special events and I want it to be place that my peers enjoy checking out. My next frustration with blogging is actually with myself-- I am interested in so many things-- but usually not interested in any one thing enough to feel like I can provide good content. Maybe that is just an excuse to not just put myself out there more or explore those interests further.

See blogging is therapeutic-- I just worked that out right there.

I've been telling R lately that he needs to just accept that he is  somewhat of an oddball-- and own it-- as a way to overcome social anxieties (says the gal who gets dangerously high blood pressure at the grocery store).

But, whats that saying?  
Maybe you should take your own advice (Ryan)!

SO on my blogcation I came up with a little plan-- we'll see how it goes.

feb 2009

Today is my loves birthday.

Last night I surprised him with a homemade-Hawaiian pull apart pizza (uh-maz-ing).

This is the first year I haven't gotten friends assembled for his birthday, so I am feeling like a bad friend-- we live in a new town, and our local friends are working OT, and it's a Monday. So tonight I guess I am going to make him something yummy to eat after I kick his ass at the gym. : P

R is my best friend, favorite buddy, the love of my life and one of the best humans I have ever met-- I am SO GLAD he was born and in my life!


and last but not least... we found a condo that we really like-- it's in a little downtown area near the river, across from a really pretty church that has bells singing all the time. It's actually a very cool deal-- so we'll see what happens. We've decided to stay put until we find something to buy-- I am ready to live near civilization again so I am hoping the process moves along at a good pace. 

In the meantime, we are designing a hydroponic wall system so when we make the move we can start a hydroponic garden on our patio. This is very exciting because we've been talking about hydroponics for years. More on this later I am sure.

AND that's all she wrote.

Anything exciting happen to anyone?

Namaste!
r

Strange men, clean closets and a challenge.

Where do the weeks go? It is really crazy to me how time can feel like it is dragging on in the moment, and retrospectively it all seems like a flash.

I've had a really strange week.

My neighbors have been buzzing about a strange knock that most of us received around 8pm Tuesday night, a guy wearing a jacket (it's pretty warm here right now, so a jacket is a fair red flag) and when you answered the door he said he had the "wrong place." NOW this is quite possible when you consider that "next to the stairs" is pretty subjective. But we are ALL next to the stairs, so I would think someone expecting a visitor would at least have the courtesy to specify which floor. The next day we all received a flier listing "safety precautions," notifying us that there had been an increased number of crimes in our area. All I can say is hallelujah for the 2nd amendment(when used responsibly, of course).

I live in south Florida, next to the woods. Florida might be a great place, but there is no denying, it is filled with crazies. (...annnnd Micky Mouse feigns, good ole' boys and The Bachelor/ette contestants.)


What I was getting at is..... it's THURSDAY, and that means Rob has a life drawing class at work tonight, so I have a couple extra hours to tackle some projects. I am going to pick one new "natural cleaning" method to try, based off of what I already have in the apt.

I can't wait to get into all the closets that we've been ignoring. Right now I just have stuff "put away," but it doesn't look so nice, my mission today is too get every corner of the apt in tip-top shape. Plus I will finally get around to hanging up the laundry I started 2 weeks ago. {Bleh}

Maybe I'll have some before and afters to share tomorrow.

Speaking of before and afters, one of my very best friends Tara and I entered into a little friendly weight loss competition. My bff Courtney is getting married in May, as her MOH I think my dress should at least fit. (I bought it a size too small, risky I know) That being said, time is running out and I've got to LBS to lose. We both have similar goals, but since we are such different builds we are going to base it off of body fat percentage not lbs.

If I were braver I would share a before picture, but ya know.. I just don't think that is going to happen, unless it is accompanied by an after picture.. I'll chat more about this tomorrow when I have come up with a game plan.

Namaste.

r

Up early, aparment complex work out, dragon tattoo and cats! {Oh my!}

This morning I woke up two hours earlier than my usual time. Five in the morning and I was flying out of bed like a bat outta hell; But since I love the morning I'm not complaining.. I just watched the sunrise, cleaned my kitchen, started my coffee and here I be.

Tonight we are going to see the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I am actually a little peeved at myself for not reading the book first, since I heard the books were incredible (the book is always better).. But, I have been trying to finish the last book in the Hunger Games since this summer, so yeah.

Ya know, I am really not sure why it is taking me so long to finish this third book. Maybe I don't want it to be over? Sometimes I just don't want to read fiction, at all, I have read several non-fictions books since the summer, but I just cant seem to finish the last 60 pages of The Hunger Games.

Anyway, R's studio worked on some of the special effects (mainly the digitized characters) for Dragon Tattoo, so we get to go on his employers dime, which is always a plus considering a trip to the movies these days costs a small fortune.

Yesterday I decided to see how long it would take me to weave through the buildings in my apartment complex, climbing up and down every flight of stairs (we are 3 stories and 17 buildings) and sprinting between the buildings for some interval/endurance training. My knees were wobbly by the time I was done, but it felt really great to be outside and working out, I'll try again today with the hopes of shaving off some time, only today I will use a real timer to get an accurate time.

I have a love/hate relationship with the gym. I love the weight machines, and I love being able to keep track of how many calories I am burning on the cardio machines, but I have SO much social anxiety sometimes that I am just really uncomfortable being in a confined space with people I do not know-- I have been trying to focus more on being less anxious in public places... but I'll tell ya, when my "bubble" is being compromised, I am not a happy camper.

This is a fear I have about becoming a yoga instructor-- Yoga instructors often times guide their students bodies into the correct position, and for me that is quite daunting. I wasn't always like this; I use to be a gymnastics instructor, and never had an issue with spotting my students or correcting their form. WHEN DID I BECOME SO WEIRD? It goes to show you that half of your problems are all in your head. I'm am working on all of them. One quirk at a time. 

....and now for some cuteness.

Seriously, this is what I wake up to in the mornings.. I couldn't make it up if I wanted to. R often makes fun of my love for the felines that live with us, but really, they are just so cute all day long that is is close to impossible to not melt in to a crazy cat lady puddle of sap when I come across my sweet sleeping/cuddling/belly exposing/snaggle toothed furballs.

WHY are cats so cute?


Happy Hump Day,

Namaste, r

Today, last week, last years.

 Power breakfast: Greek yogurt, blueberries, apple, English muffin and egg whites with peppers and jack.

~ 

{12.6}

{bottom two pics 12.15}

~

{2006}

{2007}

{Today}

Would it be cliche to say that life is good?

Namaste.

r

More garden.

My garden grew by two; this weekend we added a tomato plant and a jalapeno plant to the crowd. 

They are really liking their new place in the sun, and I am too. 

 In a few days, these will look like.....

 ...these. :)

 {In about 50-60 days, these guys should be ready to eat. There are other branches starting buds too, so I should have a couple to enjoy.}

 ..And a jalapeno is on its way too.

{Looks like about 5 will grow}

The petite bell-pepper plant is growing a new batch of peppers too;

I am expecting about 7 of those this time.

I love my happy plants. 

Namaste!

R

Impromptu date night.

Since we started living together in late September, some sweet things have been happening on a daily/weekly basis; I've been packing R lunches if he plans on not coming home, and I'll slip notes in the bag or R will come home with a fresh bouquet of flowers (this happens like once a week now, he is very sweet). Or we spend mornings on the porch enjoying coffee, eggs and conversation..

But some not so sweet things have also been happening; Like the fact that I wear yoga pants and sweat shirts almost every day with out even bothering to brush my hair. Or, R's flatulence problem. (Burping is so gross, I'll never get use to that!) or the fact that most of our evenings consist of us geeking out on our computers, and we occasionally decide to see who sucks more at scrabble. {My mind goes totally blank while playing scrabble}

We go out to dinner, but we don't really go on dates, it's more like..
R: "Are you hungry?"
Me: "Yea, but I don't want to cook"
R: "Me neither"
Me: "I'm craving ___________."
R: "Me too!"

Yesterday I was feeling like crap, which is why we skipped out on the Everglades, so instead of my usual laying around and wishing I were dead, I decided to treat myself to a day of pampering. I locked myself in the master bedroom, listened to Portishead Radio on pandora; took a long shower, exfoliated, gave myself a much needed pedicure, made my hair look like it belonged on a human and not a rabid dog and put some real clothes on.

Meanwhile, to my surprise, R went to the grocery store and started preparing a lovely dinner, with a movie proposal and Kava ready.

While R finished up dinner I admired my cute piggies, and the beautiful Florida evening.
To my excitement, my pepper plant is growing another round of peppers. Last time I got 5 and this time it looks like I will have about 7! (I picked the last round and enjoyed them in a salad, yummy!)

Then R made a delicious veggie-black bean burger, mushed peas and a yummy salad with fresh squeezed lemon juice, black berries and tomatoes.

...& my favorite, Pistachio-almond gelato!

We ended the night with a 7 o'clock showing of J. Edgar and reading in bed. 

{On our way back to the apartment, I checked the mail and the book I ordered R for Christmas came in, so I gave it to him early.. now we wont stop giving me tid-bit's of Kava Facts while I write this post..  I am the most horrible gift giver on the planet, I am not good at secrets.. and I usually just want to hurry up and give it to the recipient. tsk tsk.}{I also received my book on Teaching Yoga, so I have a feeling I will be immersing myself in that this week instead of blogging, and work}

One of our best friends from High School {someone who was independently good friends with each of us before R and I ever met} is making his way down to PSL this morning to spend a few days with us, which is very exciting because we miss & love Phil tremendously.

I hope everyone has had a smooth weekend. 

Namaste! 

r

Life in 201

While my apartment is hardly photoworthy, I am starting to really fall in love with some of the details of my new life. 

The view from my balcony.

Kitties in our bed.

living close to the ocean

little photogenic bugs...

who had to be saved from a curious cat.

Happy Wednesday Tuesday!

xo, 

r

tonight, tonight.

Ring and other things.

A little blogfast-interruption to share a picture of my pretty ring & some others things..

{Is it me or do my hands look really old in this picture?}

This ring is so special to me to me already.

Sometimes I feel silly for being so in love with an inanimate object.

I know I have said this before, but the guy really nailed it.

I am quite impressed with his jewelry picking skills if I do day so myself.

Engagement has been really sweet; filled with lots of love and support from our friends and family.

Who knew engagement makes so many people happy? 

I think the best part has been the shift in our behaviors toward each other.

Since we never really discussed the future in detail prior to being engaged, those conversations have been such a treat; and on Monday we discovered while looking for dish/glass wares that while we have very different decor taste, we have very good ideas on how to merge the two together.

{The perks of two artists in love.}

We love World Market; I can't wait to show off share our apartment with our family and friends.

This was suppose to be about the ring, and here I am talking about World Market. 

Cheers!

xo, r