Interesting Finds

I have found all kinds of goodies on the internets this week. Here are a few links to some things I enjoyed:

- The smartest method of Spring cleaning I have seen in a long time. Seriously, if my place wasn't super easy to keep clean (fairly small and no little ones) I would employ this technique each season.

- A DIY Whoopie Pies Gift Kit. Seriously. This is completely amazing.

- This has me dreaming up new and exciting ways to make crispy rice treats.

- My Saturday morning plan involves an early trip here to pick up fresh baked currant doughnuts and apple turnovers. Yum.

- A fun game in which you use physics to capture the flag(s) on each level. It's kind of addicting, so be careful.

- A good article about deadbolts. How to shop for one, the best way to install it and what the wording on the packages really mean.

What about you? Found anything nifty around the interwebs this week?

Hiding

Some days I wake up and just wish I could hide away and not have to deal with real life. Today was a day like that. But once I got moving and working and feeling productive the day turned out to be really nice. The weather is perfect today and I took a nice stroll on my afternoon break. I even bought myself a little chocolate treat. And tonight I'm looking forward to doing a few chores and reading some of my new book. What are you planning on doing this fine Monday evening?

10.30.09 - Goodies!

We just got home from our quick little trip to the beach. It was a very short trip, but so nice. I love a little last minute getaway. Thank you to my bosses for giving us so much PTO; I'm very grateful for it.

I just started on my Friday blog reading and, joy of joys, Jen over at Jen Loves Kev is having a giveaway. Yahoo! Hope on over here and check it out! Enjoy the weekend!

Whiny nights...I just can't help it.

Sometimes at night (or even in the afternoon) I get fussy. I get bored, tired, hungry and anxious all at the same time and then I start to whine. (Yes, I am an adult. I promise.) All I want is for lots of food to appear in front of me so I can eat and not have to move. This usually isn't because I'm being lazy, it's just that I am so sleepy I don't even want to get off the couch.

This happened to me last night. After dinner was cooked and eaten, I started whining. I kept rattling off things that sounded good to eat (because I was still hungry.) I wanted cake, a Snickers bar, sorbet, and I think I threw steak in there somewhere. Part of it was because I was bored and part of it was because I was tired. I would have just gone to bed but it was only 6:30. Andy suggested that I take a bath to kind of calm down a little, so I did that. While I was in the tub he walked over to the store to get me a treat.

After my bath I felt way better. And I was even better when I wandered into the kitchen to see what I can only call "Stephanie's Whiny Buffet." Andy had gotten everything I had rattled off on my list (except the steak) so I had my choice of a treat. He's just the sweetest guy ever! Needless to say, I feel so happy to have someone that puts up with my occasional bouts with the whines.

Tonight we're headed to the beach for some fun and relaxing. I hope you all have fun plans for the weekend!

The Weekend Recap

We had a nice weekend around here. I got some of the things done that I wanted to, but not everything. I didn't get to see Coco Before Chanel like I thought I would, but I made plans to see that this coming Saturday. But all in all it was a pretty productive and enjoyable weekend.

The quest for non-dairy milk substitutes is in full swing. I have an allergy to milk that I have tried to ignore for years, but I'm really going to try to eliminate it from my diet now. The older I get the more I try to listen to my body and how I feel when I eat or drink certain things.

My baked doughnut project went well. (I really like the light that comes out of the oven; it makes for a neat photo I think.)

I dusted them in sugar and cinnamon, as the recipe called for, and they were really great. I do think that I may have cooked them just a bit too much, but they still tasted good.

And I got to do some reading. Right now I am reading 2 books Snow Crash and Cataclysms on the Columbia. I'm enjoying them both and I'm taking my time in getting through them.

Going back to work today was a little tough. I really would have loved an extra day to goof around at home. But I'm hoping that we can work it out to sneak away to the beach on Thursday night for a little treat. I just love impromptu trips, don't you?

10.23.09

About 14 years ago my parents went on a trip to Mexico and left me in the care of some family friends. And 14 years ago today (because I was staying with those friends) I got a crush my favorite man on the planet. Yup...I've adored my wonderful husband for 14 years. I remember the time, what I was wearing, what he was wearing, and the answer he gave during a game of Trivial Pursuit that made me fall face first in love. (The answer was "plumage" and I still smile whenever I hear or read that word.)

So today I'm grateful for my parents leaving town and for being too young at the time to stay at home with my brother. But mostly I'm grateful that because of those things happening, I ended up finding the best guy in the world for me.

The Weekend Plan

The weekend is almost here. One more work day and the 2 solid days of fun, relaxation and probably nesting. Can you nest, even if you aren't pregnant? Well, I'm not pregnant and I'm doing the non-pregnant version of nesting.

Tomorrow night we're having some friends over for dinner and probably movie watching. Saturday I will be testing out this recipe or something similar, because I love donuts but really don't want to fry anything in our apartment. I'm also going to be doing some errands with my mama, which I am really looking forward to. And the only other thing that is on my list of things to do is try to see Coco Before Chanel. I absolutely adore Audrey Tautou and the movie is finally going to be showing here in Portland, starting tomorrow.

Speaking of movies: Do you ever go to see movies alone? I remember the first time I did it; my best friend was in Vietnam, I wasn't in the mood to be with anyone else and I wanted to do something. So I went to see a movie. I remember feeling very nervous for some reason. I often did things alone, but never a movie. Anyhow, when it was over, I felt so happy. It was like I had just accomplished something really important, even though it wasn't really that big of a deal. Now I love to see movies alone. I can watch whatever I want and not have to worry if someone else is enjoying themselves. I really get into the movie (if I like it) and just relax. It's great.

I hope the weekend brings excellent things for you!