How my Mind Works & other Strange Stories

Not an Oprah fan lately and haven't watched her like I did in the past. But last night I was tired, wanted to mindlessly watch TV and with the writers' strike there is nothing on TV. So, I caught the last 40 minutes of Oprah. Featured was new book, 'Does this Clutter Make my Butt look Big' and a family with weight issues and clutter issues. Since I am on an Eat Less, Move More and Work More, Spend Less regiment, I felt this was a good topic. And since losing weight for a middle aged woman is about as fast and entertaining as watching paint dry, I thought I could maybe pick up some pointers from the show. Well, what I noticed is that the woman on the show and I had the same tall, messy, stuffed cupboard of cookbooks. So, after my walk today I decide to tackle the cookbook cupboard and purge! But I am easily sidetracked. Saw the magic bullet and whipped up one of those peach mango smoothies (105 calories and delicious). Then I decided to post on the blog while enjoying the smoothie. I think I could get a lot done in life if I could just FOCUS.
On a side note I have been blessed to have the same boss for 11+ years. Troy, God bless him, sometimes goes on and on and on about nothing. Maybe six years ago this little phrase popped into my head and now I use it with him. When he is blathering on I interrupt him and say, "Did you just say my butt looks BIG in these jeans?" He forgets what he was talking about because as all women know that is a question that scares men silly. He stumbles back and then I go on doing my work without interruptions or weird ideas from him. Smooth huh?
Anyways, I thought it was interesting that the book title and my little mind game with my boss are similiar. I better go clean that cookbook cupboard. Hopefully I won't start reading the books and making the recipes. FOCUS! Excuse ME, did you just say my butt looks BIG in these jeans?

Mii and the Wii II

Caleb and his Mii. I think they look alike, same grin. Caleb loves to change his Mii, almost more than playing games. So, this is Caleb's Mii that looks like Caleb. Sometimes he wears glasses or changes his eye color for fun. You can be anyone you want to be with your Mii on the Wii. Played a lot of tanks and tennis last night.
My hubby had a scratchy throat last night so he missed choir, seriously, I think he is figuring out how much fun we have on Wednesday nights and just wanted to get in on that action. He stayed home and made kettle corn. When Emilyn comes over it is all about the snacks. Caleb not so much, he would rather use his time playing games. Emilyn feeds the fish and then thinks, mmmm I need a snack too! So, we snacked while she showed me the contents of her purse, and yes that took an hour.
Congratulations to their Dad, Ryan, who is heading to L. A. this weekend. Hopefully to pick up a Grammy! Seriously, it is five or six nominations. Classical album, 'Passion Week', with a professional choir from Arizona. That kind of musical talent is so far off my radar, I can't imagine.

Kinda Strange

I have a friend that I trade reading lists with all the time. We have impromptu book club meetings on the streets. Fast and easy discussions of books we enjoyed. Today she brought me a book that she had enjoyed from the library. And with the book she told me, "I thought you'd like this book, and I thought you could pick one of the tastings and have a party and I would come to it."
Mmmmm...I like to entertain but isn't this just a tad forward for a possible guest to essentially give me the menu. Really. I guess it's fine though because she didn't set the date or invite other guests. I guess.The book does look interesting so we'll just have to wait and see. I guess.

The City Life

And a good time was had by all. The hubby and I went to the Seattle Gift Show to do some buying for the museum gift shop. We saw everything at the show and even went and spent a half day at the permanent showrooms. Saw many gorgeous new spring merchandise and the whole experience gave me Spring fever. My take is that a deep fuchia paired with the pale apple green is the new black! And it works!
Not huge, Earth shattering things but I have a few favorite things in the city.
*The planters have flowers! Two hour drive to Seattle but it is also two gardening zones away so tah dah* flowers in February. *I like to walk in my hotel room and see a bed for me made by someone other than myself.
*I like finding Crabtree and Evelyn bath products in the bathroom too.
*My hubby and I have a favorite watering hole in Seattle. The Dragonfish is located in The Paramount Hotel and their Lime Rickey Shrimp, Calamari and Crab Cakes are just part of their happy hour routine. They have a happy hour 4-6 p.m. and then again from 10 to 1 a.m. Handy!
*We walked to Nordstrom's Grill for lunch. Ever since I was a little girl I love a good department store lunch. Weird! Good memories of the Bon Marche in downtown Bellingham. I would look over at Newberry's lunch counter and my Mom, would wisk us over to the Bon. Smart lady! I liked to eat at Frederick and Nelson's in Seattle too, remember the basement with a bakery? At Nordstroms I love the Sesame Ginger Chicken Salad. It is close your eyes, move closer to the table, savor each bite GOOD!
Oh, and the teen guys did very well on their own. As far as we know. It is good to be home and I found some cool things for the store! So all in all a Good Thing.

Don't Hate Me

I get to shop for two days, spend other peoples' money, spend the night in Seattle and have Happy Hour at the Dragonfish. Don't hate me. The hubby and I are going to the Seattle Gift Show for the museum gift shop. I take the hubby with me because I get piles of catalogs from the vendors and he carries them. This is huge because they are heavy. Also, because he is good company and he also LOVES the Happy Hour at Dragonfish. Yummy calamari and crab cakes and spring rolls and ohhh, everything! Can't wait! And at the show, everything looks so fresh and pretty after the holidays. All those Springy colors! Of course, I want everything for me but I am very careful to buy what I think other people want.
Oh, and did I mention the jewelry? Cash and carry, folks. Beautiful temptations for moi!
*Edited- Yes, Jerrie, It is all about you because you are my best customer, much to your husband's chagrin. Which makes my job tense because if you spend too much I could get fired.

Work, Work, Work

Last night was a work night at my place. Sisters, cousins, friends, all working on projects. Scrapbooks, cards, invitations, my what a busy group! Oh wait a minute...not everyone is working. Some are just sitting on the couch having some wine and snacks. Good snacks, I might add. Someone is having a pedicure and a henna tattoo... Isn't this supposed to be a scrapbook night?
I didn't get a photo of one of my guests and am feeling really, really bad about that this morning. I can only guess that she was in the kitchen snacking when I was taking photos. Is that right, Jerrie? Or maybe working so hard on a project that I missed her? Next time.
Fun to see all that creativity, pretty paper and really cool women in one spot. So many talents, connections with kids, blogs, photos, chipboard, embellishments. Almost a sensory overload.