tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38715441565395025452024-03-05T21:36:23.085-05:00A little piece of SunshineShanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-40089347464679587312011-10-03T14:28:00.000-04:002011-10-03T14:28:58.060-04:00Life Happens...Life happens. Man, does it happen! The past year has been full of fun, tears, laughter, weddings, babies, parties, birthday parties, impromptu trips and everything else under the sun that you could think of. And I've been such a slacker about telling you about it all. My sincerist apologies. Swear. <br />
<br />
Ah, where to start? I suppose we'll start with a wedding...but not mine (yet)! Last September I had the honor to fly west in order to help with last minute things and be a bridesmaid for my MOH Flo's wedding in Napa Valley (and yes, it was just as gorgeous as it sounds). I met some great new people, took notes on the do's and don'ts for the days leading up to the Big One, and discovered that you could indeed fit a tall driver, a 3 tiered wedding cake, several buckets of roses, a passenger and a groom's cake into a Dodge Charger without performing any Harry Potter magic on the inside (it merely requires the passenger to be short so sitting behind the aforementioned tall driver doesn't cramp their legs and the groom's cake to gingerly ride in the trunk on top of a custom beer pong table). I also discovered that a hotel bathroom makes an awesome makeshift florist shop- I cranked out 18 centerpieces with at least 25 rose heads each in about 3 hours. Did I mention that hotel bathroom was in Flo and Brian's room? Where I spent the night prior on a rollaway bed? Yeah, they love me that much. Night before the wedding and bridesmaid Kentucky is cramping the future bride and groom's style. Eh, they got the rest of their lives together, right? :)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/crazymoflo/5061238833/" title="JF1_6626 by crazymoflo, on Flickr"><img alt="JF1_6626" height="160" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/5061238833_57192e232d_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">How much more gorgeous can you get than this as the backdrop?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Up to this point, Flo and I had been exchanging millions (ok, maybe just hundreds) of emails and texts a week tossing around ideas and tweaks and reworks for her wedding. And in the midst of all that, she still had the time to help bat a few ideas back and forth about my own...</div>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-81335384789854173492010-10-04T12:49:00.001-04:002010-10-04T12:51:06.924-04:00Out of NowhereI couldn't even begin to tell you the last time I posted on here (if I wasn't so lazy I'd actually look at the last post for the date). But I have been writing- just somewhere else.<br /><br />Nope, I'm not cheating on my personal blog. I just needed something different to cover a subject that deserved the spotlight all to itself: mine and Justin's wedding :)<br /><br />If you wanna take a peak at the madness behind the planning, pop on over to <a href="http://www.undertheveilofwhite.blogspot.com/">www.undertheveilofwhite.blogspot.com</a>. You'll find us there!Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-33660239116642055162010-04-23T09:15:00.003-04:002010-04-23T09:23:22.637-04:00Taking a BreatherIt's officially been a week since tax season ended. The fifteenth ended with a wonderful gathering at Malone's and was followed by a much appreciated and enjoyable three day weekend. The boy even got in on the festivities by taking the day off work with me. Such a sweetheart. Granted, it was the first day that he'd seen me before 8pm in literally a few months. <br /><br />There's always a bit of a transitioning period after April 15th. Getting used to leaving work at 5pm, the traffic at said time, cooking supper after not having touched the stove in about 7 or 8 weeks, staying up past 10:30pm (okay, this last one is a stretch- I still want to go to bed by 11 at night but it's just not happening much to my body's dismay the next morning). But it sure is nice to sit back and take a bit of a breather after working so hard.<br /><br />Spring is here, flowers are blooming (unfortunately pollen is swirling about as well), the track is open, the list of "to do's" for around the house is being made, and there are a lot of exciting things on the horizon. Spring has to be one of my favorite seasons (and I only have two, lol). <br /><br />So great being back to normal. Well, as normal as I can get :)Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-2448386635488362122010-04-20T08:57:00.003-04:002010-04-20T09:00:33.407-04:00New MusicSo sorry that I seemingly disappeared into the abyss again. Tax season tends to have that effect. While there are posts to be written in the near future, this will have to tide you over til then.<br /><br />I've fallen for a certain singer named Ryan Star, who I actually watched on a show several years ago called Rockstar Supernova and had completely forgotten about. So glad to see that he's finally getting his name out there.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1YXDq9ItNh0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1YXDq9ItNh0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-57195975193251631622010-02-22T23:08:00.003-05:002010-02-22T23:23:12.446-05:00It's Been A While...It's been a bit since I shared some great cover songs that I came across on the wonderful Youtube. But fear not, I am here to redeem myself.<br /><br />A few weeks ago, Justin and I attended a Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin concert (the sneaky boy got me tickets for Christmas) and Breaking Benjamin did an awesome rendition of Aerosmith's (one of my all time favorite bands) "Dream On." Tonight while cruising through some new to me music, I found Train performing the same song and was blown away. Pat Monahan has a great, great voice.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fV42oU3QBwY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fV42oU3QBwY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-29328255219034502702010-02-22T09:44:00.003-05:002010-02-22T09:59:21.269-05:00Working my ImaginationLast night I got to play in <a href="http://the3maxwells.blogspot.com/2010/02/fort-maxwell.html">Fort Maxwell </a>for a good bit before a certain little girl had to honor her bedtime (no, not me- although here lately 8pm seems like a good time to snuggle under the covers). I was summoned in by the head honcho herself, and of course remembered to bring the bananas to feed the big and little gorillas that were living inside. Even Uncle Justin got to come in and play for a while (and was successful in convincing Bailey she needed a flashlight), but unfortunately once it was determined that she could not come and go freely out the front door of the fort because he was blocking it, Justin was then asked politely to vacate the premise.<br /><br />On the way home from a nice night of food and fun with our friends, I was giggling to myself at how Nicole and I sat under that fort for at least an hour playing with Bailey and having girl talk. It was only when Nick announced "Uh, honey it's 8 o'clock" that we really even paid attention to what was going on outside our "walls". Sometimes, a lot of times, it's just the simplest things that relax us the most even when we don't realize it. <br /><br />Now I want to make a fort with Justin in our living room. Maybe make some s'mores in the microwave to bring in, and of course he'd get to play with his flashlights (it's apparently an obsession I was not aware of until right before Christmas. And Nicole, we're totally getting Bailey one just for her fort). I want to throw up a tent in the backyard this summer and spend the night just talking and snuggling in sleeping bags. We've wanted to go camping the past two summers and just haven't had a chance, so I figure even if we're only 50 feet from the house, it's still a tent and still sleeping under the stars. I want Justin to come home with me one Saturday this summer and us play barefoot in one of the creeks around my house. Watch the minnows as they peck at our ankles and jump when we (okay, I) see the crawdads scurrying away from our feet. I also want to just simply spend more nights sitting on our small front porch with our feet propped up, talking about the day, the future, the funny things we've seen or heard lately. It's those simple things that I miss after a good long while away from home, my country home. The one where when the sun is shining and the weather is warm, I roll down the windows and turn off the radio as soon as I hit the exit ramp because I want to smell the trees, the grass, the hay and I want to hear the sounds that only the country can make. <br /><br />Hopefully I'll get invited back to Fort Maxwell soon. I promise I'll bring more bananas :)Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-20727719419526349432010-02-16T16:42:00.005-05:002010-02-16T17:16:26.357-05:00Piece of my Heart<div align="center">Two years and a month ago today, I was blessed to have this man enter into my life. I would say it was coincidence, that it was an accident, but then again I am a romantic and thus a believer in fate :)</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438962374425125906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAQdRTwXBhRiIA8m5eof1Nc0Gl0buDTiUdZJlKLe5GbK_Jh3yIPod1RVIpTceMpzY6nVloY20afoGrwk6l3LZ-bSiZj8AqJuDMeouGD6-BAo1JrsdeCEahWPIhPki31eLdn4BbRIeioI/s320/Justin.bmp" border="0" /> Two years ago today, I was blessed yet again for him to say yes to my silly worded request to date exclusively (yes, it may have included the words 'will', 'you' and 'be my boo bear'- in my defense, it was really an homage to my then roomie Meg and her loving relationship with her still-going-strong boyfriend Michael. Swear!).</div><div align="center"> </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438967121310097602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsskqkFgDxwI9HWwyzJUz18hF2XdEcTkjEpkHPbuIaJZ2wSQspaGL1ATN9XFInLpRnEQH-VShPINQTOgK6078zC2NX9_UPfEuDFfMwYNYJfeh7FHOb7BV6gBkZXnrw3YmTfZUTn4XikTw/s320/Washington+Monument.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"> Since that <a href="http://alittlepieceofsunshine.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html">first year</a>, we've shared in lots more fun times and laughter, and more recently he's been there for me during the hard times of life's losses. We've remodeled parts of our house, <a href="http://alittlepieceofsunshine.blogspot.com/2009/05/becoming-part-of-herd.html">updated our cars</a> (he traded in his truck for a Trailblazer SS that has been so the very awesome since day one), taken our first week-long vacation, endured a few tiffs, recently discovered we were going to be an <a href="http://bluegrassbuckeyebeauty.blogspot.com/2010/02/little-thomas-on-way.html">aunt and uncle</a> again, and are currently supporting one another in an attempt to be healthier us'es (it's a word, I promise). </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438967123217613250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7aTzjrZ4gV4n472aI0bXGy1eXMvGJLZRzMlOXh8CndC5wvJcoLbXwKkt2V9tcpL6bJhfpaCfWNA8ipralnK_RCco1hAPyWLdOV4K0-slnrH2eeZS3FSx9Zl7FV_Fnt_oTf_qbQ4OmkQ/s320/Nicole's+bday.jpg" border="0" /></p><div align="center">This boy is the reason for lots of my smiles, lots of my laughter, some of my frustrations (it's only natural right?) and every ounce of my excitement in knowing I'll get to make this annual post of another year together time and time again. Thank you Justin, again, for yet another great year together and the hope for all that is to come for us in the future. Happy Anniversary!</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438968201125458418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zoiD8PO0VTpk5Wwhm4WFZW2_YDvjDPqtfjXmhLGASG11ODqYJuKEqw_yUG20sH9NL7ClYA0R_6Pce3d81Jy6JT15b8OAmo1r9mOaUdBDbkDOuCzl2SHqI_srGqhA3QgGZeSjfK_GhsY/s320/Christmas.bmp" border="0" />Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-6794525540430662682010-02-16T08:53:00.005-05:002010-02-16T08:59:19.941-05:00My Winter Wonderland<div align="center">I've been rockin' this look to work more often this winter than in year's past it seems...<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438839340578207154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzIXfOoDhehh5omtRmmTrpTLbffPeNf0sb2Vgv1En4VqDtl1QkEAgbYsrSzmHGRWVvBzB6OFwUxB0B7VDXJM_0G-rGTw4xXk74-A_ae1WqGwgb_qAbkpogE9J4kDjOpqgISFm2Epg4PQ/s320/snow4.jpg" border="0" />(And let me tell you, those boots are the best $100 I've spent on myself in a good long while!) <div align="center"><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Of course, the need for such foot apparel is because of mornings/days/nights that look like this-</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438839322008025890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvbFY5-IYLsXC-D5TQcs8bhvzFrXlwysMZMDSZ4x907WABdvgCb_zAMzvLoKzRz3aTqJDouainXDPH70tScSjCf7FFC85E_7vxMHtLJgbaTTmGnCWXZrB6SaDd73PohnUhKmwe1UY4GI/s320/Snow1.jpg" border="0" />And this- <br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438839330996316386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhDZ9eOdI6KwN-0P8hezCBfa2F4DJdh3K5_u3trU5EgQtrPaBCaJGe6caGURmYWDti04x9W6rhTWMJabXQ4ZBWo1U2j3vdOQpM4qP2gr8YisJrozDk0DFcQJb4wajcD_ktOqFHVCvHJM/s320/Snow3.jpg" border="0" /></div><p align="center">I'm actually kinda excited that we've gotten so much snow so far this winter. It's been far too long since we've had any winter weather of significance (except for ice- I hate ice) and it's safe to say Mother Nature sure has satisfied a lot of wishes for snowfall that stuck around for awhile. Although, on the same note, the snow may have worn out its welcome by this point in the game. I sure know my baby doesn't like it one bit...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438839338206067714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3B7v_wQj8g0PJceD7srhPcO-JlMHU5rVVk7i80Ph-D-zGcK_nNx-TPfQGrM0jAL8rLKouI6pC-8omTBUWu15lTT6n7dDG44_vdNc-J-ne-w7anTjBTw_EWkeVCYL8_f9ZS7ooS1GBWo/s320/Snow+2.jpg" border="0" /></p>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-61450699953867327052010-02-10T09:24:00.002-05:002010-02-10T09:35:04.571-05:00Morning Glory I am NotI have a love/hate relationship with my bed. And with my mornings. I love the fact that my bed is so nice, so warm, so inviting. That the covers keep me at the perfect level of comfort throughout the night (well, aside from those moments I wake up sweating, but I totally blame hot flashes/HVAC for that). And I hate having to leave all that goodness after my alarm clock chimes. Or screams. Or perhaps goes off for the third time because someone keeps hitting the snooze button. <br /><br />Mornings in general are about the same. I love that I'm alive for another day, thankful for the opportunities that will present themselves because of it. Another day to laugh and love (and fight the any apocalypse that's taking place in my kitchen right now) and make memories and moments. Yet I hate that it's early, and it's cold (outside of my covers) and would rather not have to speak to anyone for a few hours. As with everything, some mornings are worse than others. On those mornings it's pretty easy to send me over the edge with just a simple question. Justin's learned the hard way. Thankfully during the worst of the early mornings (ie, tax season), he's still sound asleep as I sneak out my door and thus is safe. My co-workers however, are not. Although I admittedly try very hard to be cordial before 9am just because it promotes a good work environment :) <br /><br />As I catch myself sometimes wondering what turn my future children will have in this area, I remember that aside from just not wanting to get out of bed (I mean, who else has noticed that the comfiness of your bed increases, like, ten-fold once it's time to get up), I was never a grump in the mornings when I was young. Nighttime perhaps (and still am), but not the mornings. I'll throw it into the category of "the older I get, the more like my daddy I am" category. And hope that the kids that are but a glimmer in my eye right now will take after their daddy, who has an annoyingly inherent ability to hear his alarm, jump out of bed, and be ready to start the day in oh, about 30 seconds. <br /><br />Showoff.Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-20325947857434911642010-01-31T17:36:00.002-05:002010-01-31T17:44:39.018-05:00Snowy SpiritsI'll confess that I love snow. I'm not a lover of the cold or the winter, but I do feel that if I'm made to suffer through those that my reward should be snow. At least it's pretty when it falls (the fluffy, 'romantic' snow is my favorite), it's pretty in the newness of the day and if you have the right toys (alas last night we did not), it can be pretty fun.<br /><br />I've also come to learn that snow days aren't as fun as an adult as they are when you're still a child. Or teenager. Or some age at which you're attending school of some sort. I still wake up in anticipation of seeing snow on the ground mornings after the possibility has been thrown out there, but really it comes down to just being able to look at it. Not because work is going to be canceled. I mean, technically I can't get to work sometimes in my own car because of things like snow (a story in which I hang my head while telling) but for some reason beyond me it doesn't get me out of still having to find a way there. <br /><br />And the snowstorm we got Friday night? I was so worried that we weren't going to end up with anything since Lexington seems to be surrounded by a protective bubble when it comes to any winter weather other than ice. But instead, it granted me a beautiful white scene Saturday morning and aside from not getting to head home to see the parents, an otherwise content weekend of being lazy in the house. And really wanting to find a sled. <br /><br />No really, next time we get snow and if you've got a sled, hit me up. I'll make ya a good deal.Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-66197025414857623992010-01-30T09:11:00.003-05:002010-01-30T09:22:31.721-05:00Got Lists?I'll confess, I'm a lists kind of girl. Written lists. I love to write and I love to fill pieces of paper with grocery lists, to-do lists, ideas for different projects, guest lists, and well, the list just goes on and on. Maybe it has something to do with my inherent need to plan. Maybe I'm just a dork. Either way, I love to make lists and I'm not ashamed to say it.<br /><br />I've noticed that others have a liking for lists as well. Bucket lists, wish lists, weekly/monthly/yearly goals. This year, I decided to finally start making a list that I ran across a while back: my 101 in 1001. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a listing of 101 things you want to accomplish in the next 1001 days. <br /><br />Unfortunately after weeks have passed since starting this newest list, I've only got around 30 of the 101 spots filled. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of things that I want to do in the next 2 years and 9 months, but some things just seem a bit too arbitrary to write down on this particular list. I feel that it should be completed with goals of substance. But, then again, it's my list. And my personal wants to accomplish ideas. Here is just a sampling so far: <br /><br />*Get married<br />*Take my mom to see the ocean for the first time<br />*Run a 5k<br />*Drive the boy's Camaro<br />*Get my CPA license<br />*Throw a themed dinner party<br /><br />I keep reminding myself that everything doesn't have to be an above and beyond kind of goal that I want to accomplish, just things that I've thought about for awhile and just never made the first step toward checking it off my mental list. Now I have a written list to stare me in the face and motivate me. And can put a physical checkmark next to each item as I take the opportunity to fulfill it. And for this girl who loves lists, that makes my heart happy.Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-1581388403427968152010-01-18T22:08:00.002-05:002010-01-18T22:29:21.178-05:00A New YearI've never been one for resolutions. Sure, if someone were to ask me in the past what mine was after sharing theirs, I may spout something pretty cliche off, and I may have even thought about following through with it, but it was never a 100% serious statement. <br /><br />Can't say that much has changed this year. There were no empty promises said aloud at the stroke of midnight on January 1st of this year. No thoughts going through my head in planning what my contribution to the pot of mostly broken by February goals. But I can say that changes have taken place. They just started a bit before the new year and in no way were contingent upon it beginning.<br /><br />The boy and I haven't been truly active in an exercise format since last May. Because of reasons neither here nor there, we both decided to move away from our Krav Maga class despite our love for it. I started getting itsy around the end of the fall about becoming sendentary, and decided to start taking short runs around the neighborhood at night. The boy wasn't a fan of me running by my lonesome as there isn't a lot of artificial light out there after dark, so he joined me after the first few days. Although his skill level in running was beyond mine, it was nice to have him as a pacer in front (oh, who am I kidding...waaaay up front) to motivate me to keep running, to keep pumping my legs when they were just about to fall off (true story). <br /><br />Truthfully though, I am nowhere near a natural runner. In high school I envied (in passing) the cross country runners who looked just as natural as deer romping through the woods. Because of this, I decided it was in my best interest to join up at a gym that would give me access to all sorts of fun machines to get my ass in shape. Literally. Enter the YMCA. Which happens to be right next door to my work. Thank goodness. It's because of that 50 yards that I have no excuses to not go at least 3 days a week. And the boy comes too :)<br /><br />For going on two months now we've been hitting up the gym 3-4 times a week, sweating it out and eating healthy at home, at work and at play. Somedays it's not fun thinking that McDonald's isn't in the calorie budget plan, but then others it's a treat that you get to go and something you don't take for granted like you did before. It's a conscious decision that we both made in order to begin a healthier lifestyle together, a lifestyle that would continue over time not just be pushed to the wayside after a month exclaiming "Yay, we accomplished our resolution!" To date, I've lost at least a half inch around my stomach, hips and thighs and the boy is down about 7 or so pounds. There's something so immensely satisfying in typing and re-reading that statement. <br /><br />To those of you out there who do make yearly resolutions- I'm not discouraging nor slamming you (I just know myself too well). To you I say good luck, and please keep it up. Whatever it may have been that you promised yourself you would accomplish this year, put your mind to it and get it done. If it's a long term thing, keep your chin up and keep that motivation going. You'll feel so good about yourself in the end!Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-70668061013813052472009-09-24T16:10:00.004-04:002009-09-24T16:27:02.241-04:00Loco Moco, How You Blew My MindI won't say that I never try anything different. Cause I do. It's just really hard for me to move out of my comfort element in restaurants, though I do blame most of that on my frugalness. I just hate the idea of ordering something new, not liking it and still having to pay for it although I leave hungry. But I digress.<br /><div></div><br /><div>The boy and I like to watch a little show on the Travel channel called Man vs. Food. The host, Adam Richmond, runs around to different places in the US with one major goal: to attempt to win a food challenge in a restaurant in the town of the week. Now people, I have seen this man attempt to eat a 7 pound breakfast burrito, 6 "nuclear" chicken wings, a 72 ounce steak, and just last night a 5 pound cheesesteak sandwich (to make it relevant, there was enough meat on that thing to make SIX regular sized cheesesteak sandwiches). Granted, a perk to his job is he gets to visit other great eateries around the city while he's there and share some of their awesomeness with us (to tempt us. To eat food late at night. I'm just sayin'). </div><br /><div></div><div>A few weeks ago Mr. Richmond visited Hawaii and introduced us to a local dish called Loco Moco. We'll just say that Justin was drooling and I was a bit hesitant, but nonetheless, when he asked if we could try and make it at some point I agreed. And last night was the innagural taste test. I introduce you to: </div><br /><div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Loco Moco</span></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385131705263757122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14v1jKYh0IsupbyX4TTibHFb6KXUaOv1KU_WEaRA58wOY_DFGHFleNA9hlAT3_J9w4jwUB40KCAiqOC-u-DRxo3ey6GcftmQNT9kYAoSHZCR2fG3oTzG86M_zRyy2OIGhS8Ot4jmoifE/s320/locomoco.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">(unfortunately not my picture, but I had to show you!)</span></p><p>And no, your eyes don't deceive. This dish is made with a bed of white rice, a hamburger patty topped with a fried egg and covered with brown gravy. Kinda gross you say? I thought it would be too. And even as I topped my plate with gravy last night, I was still having second thoughts. But after the first bite, both Justin and I were sold. This is one of the best comfort food dishes I've eaten in a long time. All the flavors and textures blend so well together. And I only made one change to how we saw it made- the egg is usually cooked as over easy or over medium, but we went with over well so there wouldn't be any runny yolk. And surprisingly enough, as I was describing the dish to my boss this morning, she said that she used to eat rice and brown gravy all the time. Huh, who would have thought?</p><p>Now I'm hungry again...</p>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-21855439120549763672009-07-22T09:17:00.005-04:002009-07-22T09:56:01.729-04:00Feels Like HomeI've been living about an hour north of home for right around 7 years now. Granted, four of those years were college days, so for the summer and extended holidays I packed back up and headed south. Upon graduating though, I made one of the first big decisions in my new "big girl" life and chose to stay in Georgetown in order to get an apartment and start my career in Lex. Two apartments in Gtown and one house in Lex later, I'm still an hour north and always dreaming of a future home with a few acres that will make me feel more in the country.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361282778023308674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7-A9-obIKBL-QIn_aXwpd-she2qnsGkp8HW8x95jSh06dIkZv_UnTCu1RWo25tPzjmpD7qp0ypFmws8AHoS2bTMknQkEa550_YNKOAt3DnkzDk0goy07yy02MhlY8OeNpLtzA59ZXaM/s320/home4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p><p>This past weekend though, after my first overnight stay with my mom and dad since maybe Christmas, I felt a homesickness I haven't felt since probably those first months out on my own. That Saturday morning when I woke up, the day wasn't dreary but it definitely felt more like fall than summer. Overcast and cool, I pulled on my shoes and made my way out to my mamaw and pap's house at the other end of the road to visit for a while and enjoyed the silence and calmness of it all with the windows down. There's nothing more peaceful than a backwoods early morning. The dew lays still on the grass, the trees sway silently in the breeze, everything is still sleepy and only beginning to yawn and stretch its way awake.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361281550284312930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKRISb9Kek0Yh0loajOODWx0-mOKhStmtTuLObYmZDz35dbZHQ0O2j_kD4qMJp5V_KT6ngLpYWBnVb0fsStE-CQ1Gdb4e-s53ffgdzN4BlyHxa1bULuUwSh2SMuw_ljMoy8EXTq6s9XE/s320/home+2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><div>After talking for a while, Mamaw and I headed out to the garden to pick some fresh goodies for me to take back home. At first I stayed out, thinking the ground was too wet from the prior day's rain and would muddy my shoes. Then I took a few steps in, only to be told by my Pap that I'd get my shoes dirty and then "put them all over that nice clean car." I laughed and said "Well, that can be remedied now can't it?" and came back to the edge of the grass to take my shoes and socks off and roll up my jean legs. I then spent a bit playing in the garden barefoot while picking beans and tomatoes. It'd been so long since I'd done that. Mamaw started talking about a picture she has of me from when I was younger, standing barefoot in the garden with my hoe, helping with the upkeep. I used to help plant vegetables every summer- I still remember the way corn stains your hands pink. </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361281545550376226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVDOpLqZmdHzNDC18DH1UD3Gn2BUFHUryYbyoM2cPXRTPJs2UCNKVkFfvOEISdfztR7wCQUIRkky-fGzt2CenUmbrx5X3O6C14mySGJXHbDu1FUM8CxGNwPxB8w4iaRrZUdS-lhDZW3w/s320/home.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>I want so badly to have all that again one day. To own a home that sits on a piece of land large enough that it pushes the rest of the world away, if only for a mile or two. To be surrounded by trees that I, and my future children, can go exploring in and make up adventures along the way. To have backroad long enough to teach my children how to drive long before they ever hit 16. To be able to head to the backyard and have target practice without having to think twice. To have a small garden to provide homegrown nurishment to my family. Hopefully Justin and I will be able to find a haven such as that, be able to afford it and build our lives on it. That way I can grow old in the same way I grew up.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361281665973197682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUrfDbxI3LkU8GHcdBAy0GtaMaK6w1KbH85y9HmbPeyTGWf8K148Jn6HBGFDemUfP7XbXzvKE71rdd0AGSsTxoClvf3sR8oP7puPStBDVOECeuei1oy6_7ujjtPxt7rKfar86iEd5t8g/s320/home+3.jpg" border="0" /></div></div>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-30598957251865038732009-07-12T09:34:00.002-04:002009-07-12T09:46:25.058-04:00Kindness Gives me HopeFriday morning I woke up a little too dreary and draggy and decided that I'd make it one of my "treat" days and grab a coffee at Starbucks. I'm not really a coffee drinker (unless there's a good amount of other flavors to cover the taste up) but I love the white chocolate mocha there. <br /><br />I pulled into the drive thru and put in my order. I barely noticed that the lady in front of me was having a bit longer conversation with the barista than normal. She was probably just asking for a napkin or extra whip cream or something. When I pulled up to the window to hand the man my change (yes, I was paying with change cause sometimes it piles up and you need to lighten your purse) he made the following statement: "That lady that was in front of you? Her name is Leslie and she just paid for your coffee." I was shocked. All I could spit out was "What? Really? Wow." Profound, I know.<br /><br />Of course I've never had anything quite like that happen to me before. But I was immediately wrapped in the thought of how it's the people like Leslie, who perform random acts of kindness for strangers, that really give me hope that the world isn't an entirely demoralized and bad place. That there are more people out there than I usually think that care about others at least as much as they care about themselves and sometimes just take a notion to make a perfect stranger smile. <br /><br />Granted, I can't say that I've ever done such a thing as Leslie did for me that day, but I can say that I try to show my appreciation and kindness for others in the tiny, mundane things throughout the day. A door held open, thank you and please spoken to the person at the restaurant that takes my order, allowing people to pull into a lane of traffic during rush hour. All things that most folks don't really think twice about, but things that those that pay attention appreciate and reciprocate. <br /><br />I've always enjoyed the stories of how just one smile at a perfect stranger you pass on the street can turn into a whole string of smiles going out to strangers who may have just really needed it right at that moment. Or the thought that if only one person sees you lend a hand to another, they'll be inspired enough to do one thing for someone else that day and so on and so forth. Hope is a powerful thing. And sometimes it's all you have to get through the day. <br /><br />So thank you Leslie, whoever and wherever you are. Thank you for your kind gesture, for making me stop a moment to mull things over and put a few more ounces of myself into the part of my soul that holds hope for everything going on in life. I'll definitely not forget this.Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-53041188542226295942009-07-09T10:28:00.002-04:002009-07-09T10:30:53.464-04:00It's Just a Little CrushAfter hearing the name Halestorm being tossed around for upcoming concerts, I decided to take a gander at the band. And now I'm crushing :) They're first single "I Get Off" is an awesome summer anthem (in a voyeuristic kind of way) but this is the performance I'm totally in love with.<br /><br />Here's Halestorm's acoustic cover of Heart's classic "All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You"<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6R8Bg5JEzgs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6R8Bg5JEzgs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-20449463599575110202009-07-06T11:44:00.002-04:002009-07-06T11:58:14.966-04:00The Whole ShebangI looked forward to this past weekend so much. It was a special one, three days, and I was sooo ready for that Friday spent sleeping in instead of dragging my butt to work. And then I remembered the list. You know, that mental list you keep of all the things happening on any particular day? Yeah, that one was pretty full for this weekend.<br /><br />Friday afternoon found me at home visiting my family and that night attending my cousin's 6th birthday party. Good food, cute kids and three hours later I was headed back to Lex to hit the bed and start all over the next day. <br /><br />Saturday morning found Justin washing my GTO to prepare her for polishing (I have pictures of her sitting in the garage cause I"m pretty sure it'll be the first and only time for, well, ever). I was starting on laundry and digging a small trench out along the sunroom to bury our cable and telephone lines that have been laying on top of the ground for forever. After lunch Justin started digging the holes for our fire bushes we bought a few weeks ago and we were successful at planting three before the rain started. Yep, rain on the 4th of July. Two years running now.<br /><br />Saturday evening we headed over to Gtown to spend time with The Maxwells and The Thomai (and yes, that is the new plural for Thomas'). Unfortunately the rain never let up and poor Nick had to grill in the wet. After a great meal and some fun playtime with Bailey, we all headed over to the park for their fireworks display. Timing apparently isn't the forte of many people setting off firework displays as it was supposed to start at 9pm (and the rain had stopped). Instead, it was sometime after 9 and the rain had started again. Figures. But the show was pretty and I'm glad that Justin and I were there to see it.<br /><br />The night took a turn for the worse however upon arriving home a little after 11. Our neighbors were throwing a party, and as a result there were cars parked on both sides of the street. You would think it common knowledge (and math skills) that if you park vehicles on both sides of a subdivision street it's going to make it nearly impossible for those not at the party to squeeze through in order to make it home. Or not. After some griping on that front, Justin and I settled down on the couch for a bit to wind down before bed. We were going to have to get up early Sunday morning to head to God's country for his family reunion. Had we really wanted to go to bed by oh, say midnight thirty though, it would have been impossible. Said neighbors decided to celebrate the 5th of July by starting (not continuing, just starting) their fireworks at 12:15am. And not end them until after 1am. This girl was not a happy camper (and I'm not usually the nicest of people past 11:30 anyway). To make matters worse, we walked out the next morning to firework residue all over Justin's car and truck. Round two of not happy campers. Have people really lost all respect? Wait, don't answer that.<br /><br />Sunday was spent hanging out with Justin's family, eating tons of awesome (and totally bad for you) food and doing a few odds and ends around the house before hitting the bed last night to prepare for work this morning. And I don't care how busy you were on the weekend, having to go back to work on Monday morning is always the hardest part.Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-910915103339051242009-07-02T12:46:00.005-04:002009-07-02T13:01:44.773-04:00Not Enough Time in the DayIt seems like we've been going non-stop over the past month with projects, social outings and such. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have asked to do it differently, I just can't figure out where the month of June went to amongst it all!<br /><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div>Our Project:Revamp Kitchen has been going very well. My dad was able to lay all the tile and grout one room in 3 days, while Justin's dad came up the final day and helped grout the other room (since Dad wouldn't take any money from us, we figured we'd save him one trip). We couldn't be happier with how things have turned out!<br /></div><div align="center">the sunroom<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353906441532589890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT4Ti9NYuH1fniGwswI8r6_WItWchXTiRxWFKu-E-tef0D6SMlK6bGJDaBtGfw47OBKInpImcATXWeQtbg48gqGQ4gVmXvV8bqkPFUUZzh0GlW1RrpYd1wmid2HDJh1pRP_l_svr-3vw/s320/kitchen.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">the kitchen<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353906458653836290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWGa71xLZj3jKdUlsJXcZ80SRxEbFTnuRUSKP8n1_AWtedQtCtdrNmzBvwDkDNJWM0sH4o7FBbzVBvsX853lR0vCOIROo7uA_7BU1c5hvpzXJ4ZexiJ7Vmt3rTNSmrjBvMxh85aDsqts/s320/kitchen+2.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="left">We're still in the process of getting the trim around the bottom down, the door and window framed back up and trimmed around and probably a new ceiling fan put in, but we're taking it one little piece a day at a time.</p><p align="left">Justin was able to get the garage cleaned back up and put back in one piece a few days ago, thanks to some help from the newest addition to his garage organizing shelves. I bought him a cabinet for his birthday last year and he bought a floor cabinet the other day to put underneath it. I'm pretty sure his Camaro was happy to be back in her home after being parked in the driveway for so many days in a row (and now I won't set her security alarm off every morning when I start the GTO).</p><p align="left">I've been spending time building up some inventory in my second attempt at a shop on Etsy.com. The first time around I really didn't know what I wanted to do and after a few months of selling random handmade things, I cleared it out and was just a buyer for a while (I bought most of my Christmas gifts from there). When I found the pattern for fabric flowers, I knew they were going to be my new direction. And I've recently expanded from the full sized flowers to include miniatures that can be used for brooches, magnets, embellishments or hairclips.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353908201794685826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzRQv5TDUd6eL_SASKJKpGg4qcQ4Hv7WSxaL9K7E5vtAASS6JGeKXLBBvSpCHlKKBpUU_gSJcQBp-UFWvz6C5_rk91gJkqMwYjdnb2n63yTWJOf6CJ0LRcK0bafLrPNzauR6hHp8v84I/s320/HPIM2227.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353908207143377874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pdM80HUX15JdZ7WhBMwaW-I8eyxsj8tHwYV5T9WXCFwO6fUIYUism2qrzTq-ruu3ZE9yZAvzsK2lDvthro57Mma9OeYQQo5CUwU7V6wkcicsKyUQ_tzNycjBPCeJ1mvQNxSQq_fDAkk/s320/HPIM2213.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353908209276927954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZ9VsEmB4_2BGQWoYyTnl5qjJ1n5faMh5ayGXN41pthYZFyq5HE4U-HPPIL-gEw-LXEyYU5-D6fm5PdaoAh55CHWaFKiN__ZaAu4V0ktKXYF2uxzb8JXMqih4-JaOSn_YxtRB9yAUr1w/s320/red+hairclips.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="left"></p>And this weekend is a 3 day long holiday one, which I'm very excited about! I didn't realize until this morning though everything that we'll be doing. Tonight is a birthday celebration for our friend Brian, then I'm having the Krav girls (we're like a gang, lol) over while the boys are out doing they're thing. Tomorrow I'm heading home to visit the family and attend my cousin's 6th birthday party. Saturday we'll be planting the fire bushes we bought last week and then heading over to Nick and Nicole's for a 4th of July cookout. And Sunday is Justin's family reunion. Whew! I get tired just thinking about it, lol. But it's going to be so much fun packed into every day that it's entirely worth the needing to take Monday off to rest up :)<br /><br /><br /><p></p></div></div>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-45912327537178945302009-06-22T14:07:00.003-04:002009-06-22T14:33:28.677-04:00Not Me Monday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV46pvjnzRtrThDr3QOR7Vt1Q6r6o0dMk7iIXBhG4ztFiJThvKG24bG1zre7b1DxcZ2XjLSGXFyt_-kSh7rqLmILgKwhyphenhyphenAYzsJmCrmiGqApLFFo8opiD5X7qrzk1c0CsvyZYzqYLgqk8/s1600-h/NotMeMonday.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350220630102170866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV46pvjnzRtrThDr3QOR7Vt1Q6r6o0dMk7iIXBhG4ztFiJThvKG24bG1zre7b1DxcZ2XjLSGXFyt_-kSh7rqLmILgKwhyphenhyphenAYzsJmCrmiGqApLFFo8opiD5X7qrzk1c0CsvyZYzqYLgqk8/s320/NotMeMonday.jpg" border="0" /></a> Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by <a href="http://www.mycharmingkids.net/">MckMama</a>. You can head over to <a href="http://www.mycharmingkids.net/">her</a> blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week. Never seen a Not Me! Monday! post, not sure what it's all about...here's what MckMama has to say... <em>"Are you feeling guilty for pretending not to notice your toddler playing with the dogfood? Feel like a slouch for staying in your jammies all day? We'll don't! Not Me! Monday was born out of my desire to admit some of my imperfections and reveal a few moments I'd rather forget. You may find it therapeutic to join in and do the same thing!"</em><br /><br />I did *not* leave Justin and my dad, on Father's Day nonetheless, to work hard at laying tile in the kitchen in order to help my friend Nicole shop for pretty flowers.<br /><br />I also did *not* leave the leftover pizza from lunch out on the table overnight because its easier to heat up from room temp than out of the fridge.<br /><br />Lastly, I did *not* compare my boyfriend to Jacob Black (after becoming a wolf in the second Twilight book) because he's always warm like Jacob is. I also did *not* continue on to explain the difference between a werewolf and shape-shifter, citing the Animagi from the Harry Potter series as examples.Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-19266463256429844652009-05-21T16:07:00.006-04:002009-05-21T16:37:29.300-04:00Becoming Part of the HerdOn April 21, 2007, I purchased my first car. My first new car. My first owned only by me car. It was almost exactly a year after graduating college and finding a big girl job. And was a goal that I'd had set to accomplish by that time. A year of saving and about a month of looking bought me a silver 2007 Toyota Rav 4. And she was beautiful.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338373943072215362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOgjl6dxisjc-7geTnOAvgZbDhj2IiikvV0dgNIspRNOGYzRV_1_KFzDb4Lbmge4MAghoAD26rAyFLgKNU7MeR806d2bgVDrgRdmjhOdsECaNa7nFLTnDOhjJAz4cmcuSL5ohjAYnaVQ/s320/rav.jpg" border="0" /></div><p>This past Monday I passed my Rav's keys over to the nice dealer man at the Toyota lot and in exchange was given a set to a 2005 Pontiac GTO. A pretty 2005 Pontiac GTO. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338375947979255522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfAhmQKd8nSQjSlgvhgEis1NCHaclp_eIB5VObZ6GfEHqTN87ZRjPAZIz5X_sVf3EcRK6QWJ-lrr9CvmF2b6DXXevJ5Js6BIZwncSmciNPRIHfI3KgA4otm5r2uq5gcUVk3A-BByFYK0/s320/gto6.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Admittedly, I was a bit emotional. There were several instances of Justin and I standing outside on the lot talking about the trade when I'd have to stop in order to keep myself from shedding a few tears. Because my Rav was a great car. But as much as I loved her, there were other interests at play in my mind.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338374196816819826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wRGVECa-yz5IJf6icnl2Zolp7HlgVBsq3LGLvA4cu0FwRLk_lP19iOkOp5b4Y-tfK1KpWmhubCLGpRVKvB9mKfdpaKSKwjFHuKSlzsg67xzxXIfL8Ni0w5-JsdxKCBt99AQc0LDCSIs/s320/rav2.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>For a few months now I've been set on finding a vehicle a bit more on the sporty side. Blame it on Justin, blame it on watching Fast and the Furious too much, say what you will. The bottom line was that I wanted something with a little more ass and rumble to it. And Justin happened to find it for me last weekend.</p>Painted in Impluse Blue Metallic, my new Goat drives and rides beautifully. She's pretty much everything that I was wanting in my toy yet serves well as a daily driver. Although my Rav was nowhere near being old (nor was I anywhere near really needing a new car), I felt that this was the point in life to have a few more liberties with things such as cars as later on in the future practicality would reign supreme. I don't feel that I gave a lot up in trading the Rav (albeit slightly odd to be back on the ground again in a car). And I've definitely garnered several compliments from Justin's car buddies over the choice of machine and color. <br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338376038939663106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZD5rsDC1RcBB6-vEyzHQmcyfVw5UQeVbkL74zYsHykwSFRVKYdsM4MbqxdhQVLv5Dmx7sWHygwGWCuuzmTR7uqJXM50vlipYQEU8AQCDdqmsMJYHwy58n2yKcstsh7LPbXrrXnFw5qA/s320/gto7.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>Just a few little things over the next little bit to add to her (tinted windows and an exhaust) and she'll be perfect. Oh, and did I mention she's also getting a personalized license plate? I won't spoil the suprise, but it was one of Justin's more creative moments in coming up with the idea :)</p>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-1694319158500430262009-05-19T10:29:00.007-04:002009-05-19T11:47:02.806-04:00Bringing out the Crafter in MeI'm a crafter at heart. Well, really I'm an old lady at heart. Give me a blanket to cover up with and something to sew and I'm golden. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I take several pieces of regular fabric and turn it into something beautiful like a baby quilt or my newest hobby, fabric flowers.<br /><br /><br /><div><div>Last year I experimented a little with the website <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a>. I had been an avid reader of the <a href="http://www.weddingbee.com/">Weddingbee</a> blog and many of the brides to be would brag about their finds on Etsy. In case you're not familiar with it, Etsy is basically like an internet shopping mall full of items that are handcrafted by each store owner. You can find pretty much anything and everything that you could think of there, and have the satisfaction of knowing that someone put their heart and passion for creating such things into each item in their shop.</div><br /><div>After taking some time away from the site (as a seller, but definitely not a buyer lol), I came back a few weeks ago to revamp my spot and take a gander at selling something a little different than before: my fabric flowers</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337545954557122146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_OJxdinX8s2fIz9ybITVzS5Y9wONFCoowUIXTqn83RbEFotL4FA2N9n4oB9Bont7_J3wE0U2z1NZCpam2pOdvhh9XdlxxwtfE1b17ZstRU0FLcIVBnJttZBZLgUF6KPtkm1AsVZGkak/s320/HPIM2198.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337546020751647058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYfjziHyIlc15fARiFJGX8AFpGrtl5BQdsDK8cRZXiazJQYvWwrZlLjTgtL_9C4OSZlH0H4Or73J5LAR7GIYAVOAoN78f0K-2t2g_jjaJQu6ECMZpkbC9hnubWCk-o7QOsQz7Do6hWhk/s320/HPIM2148.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><p>These are two of my girls, all named, all different personalities and all waiting to find that perfect home with someone. They look great as embellishments on pillows or purses, hung on walls for your very own flower garden, or attached to a dowel rod wrapped in green to create a bouquet for any room that never dies :)</p><p>Because I'd pretty much taken over the kitchen table as my own for the past few months, I was finally convinced by the boy that a good use for my birthday money was purchasing a craft table. He had seemingly gotten tired of having to move the sewing machine every time we sat down for a meal. After being kind enough to help me put the thing together, we moved it into our sunroom which has now been dubbed "The Shana Cave"</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337552840422900642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BIQu99XgPF2FtDq4gf1j7mBV3RS1SvpmNSs8q-w81WWckDQSBj9Xhy343dmTZ9f94dRJGdS9Y65BjHcrdcvKAKvP9VcyJfUmmjZJfT9TubiI7Z3zz2-A3xDYlWx-lYkBTRIU-MNnrrE/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" />It's got great natural lighting through the two huge windows and in about a month, I'll be rockin' some brand new tile on the floor as part of a general house renovation project. It's exciting times. </p><p>So if you want to see a few more of my creations (and more awesome handcrafted items on the website) check out <a href="http://justshana16.etsy.com/">http://justshana16.etsy.com/</a> and then browse around to your heart's content. And while you're around, check out <a href="http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6151955">christiecottage's BNS </a>in the Promotions Forum. I've been involved for only a little less than a week but can vouch that there's great stuff in each of those shops listed and they're all great people :)<br /></p><p></p>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-30905922329188058312009-04-21T13:51:00.005-04:002009-04-21T14:10:50.005-04:00Quarter Century Club<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxn8lK4uHcjbiFfFTuoGdTOf2_f2RxxT2RvOJMjaCO_sYIGAruUkMTgFT7aZmHVUAgUm-5Sw2O99tKPcXZB8kIjQR_Pdd8w2xwPRS1cGjj10GkvxripNqkKFl2znuf2HWOYwze5wwO5U/s1600-h/qcc+zazzle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327204690447414674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxn8lK4uHcjbiFfFTuoGdTOf2_f2RxxT2RvOJMjaCO_sYIGAruUkMTgFT7aZmHVUAgUm-5Sw2O99tKPcXZB8kIjQR_Pdd8w2xwPRS1cGjj10GkvxripNqkKFl2znuf2HWOYwze5wwO5U/s400/qcc+zazzle.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>It's been a week today since I turned 25 and it's still a little unbelieveable to me that I've made it to this marker. As I've said before, it feels like I should still be sitting at around 19, enjoying college and everything that comes with it. Yet here I am- 25, playing house with my boyfriend, getting ready to celebrate my 3 year anniversary at work, my 3 year anniversary of not living at home, 7 year anniversary of having graduated high school and 3 years of having graduated college. It just doesn't seem possible.<br /><br /><br /><br />My 25th year has definitely started out on a good note. My birthday was a busy one here at the office, as it always is. They make up for it by throwing me a big party on the 15th though, so it's all good :) A friend of mine suggested that I either find a new job or a new birthday but I really wouldn't want to leave either one behind. I like being a diamond baby and I can't imagine there'd be too many other small firms like this one that I'd feel as comfortable in.<br /><br /><br /><br />It is funny to go back and think about the things I had planned to happen around this time in my life though. My vision at 18 was to have been married for a few years at this point and being ready to start a family. More than likely living close to my hometown and in turn, my family. I wasn't set on a specific career at that point though, so I had no idea about what job I would be working. And although all that would have been well and good, I'm perfectly happy with the way things have gone instead. Some odd years with relationships that just weren't what I was looking for in the overall that lead me to Justin. A lucked upon interview with an accounting firm that I'll probably be with for years to come. No marriage in the extreme near future (nor children for that matter), but content to know that it'll come along when the time is right. An hour drive from home, but able to make the trip every other weekend to see the family. A slightly different outcome from what was expected but one that I imagine I am much happier with than what could have been.<br /><br /><br /><br />So here's to the coming months and what they may bring. Happiness, laughter, philosophical conversations, maybe a few disagreements, good food, good friends/family and love. All the things that make my world go round.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">*and you can find that rockin' hat at zazzle.com</span>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-54942173309416469042009-04-10T19:16:00.002-04:002009-04-10T19:18:22.505-04:00No Words NeededTrace Adkins' performance on the ACM awards this past weekend. All proceeds from downloads of this performance will go to the Wounded Warrior Project. God Bless our Soldiers!<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_0mm4u2VzDs&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_0mm4u2VzDs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-56377160106022041282009-04-10T16:31:00.002-04:002009-04-10T16:45:12.877-04:00Kitty That Goes Mew<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWG55ggMoZZJ5Nnhq0v0yx63IQLHInMofRZ165jWSbkK4YCRur4iTfuxs_C7sxQwDjtKXiM-cOt49gFM89KJfk6XBsAD9XPLrJ5a9yK0U8mXiaNsLQB_ERqM1P4Scv2yBDLQUooNlf7k/s1600-h/SiberianTigerCub.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323163570239097026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 339px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWG55ggMoZZJ5Nnhq0v0yx63IQLHInMofRZ165jWSbkK4YCRur4iTfuxs_C7sxQwDjtKXiM-cOt49gFM89KJfk6XBsAD9XPLrJ5a9yK0U8mXiaNsLQB_ERqM1P4Scv2yBDLQUooNlf7k/s400/SiberianTigerCub.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Isn't it just the cutest thing you've ever seen? As I remind Justin every time (and that's no exaggeration) we see a tiger, cheetah, lion, lynx, wildcat, enter any other catlike animal type here, they're all just cute kitties that go mew. Of course he tries to tell me that they're really not cuddly and would nom my face off in about two seconds, but I swear people- these animals would love me.<br /><br />For some reason, I've always had one of those silly daydreams where one day I'd be gifted with an adorable little Tiger cub and would get to raise it in my home and be its "mom". I'd get to bottle feed it at first, and as it got bigger wrestle with it in the living room floor like you would a puppy. I'm pretty sure it would quickly outgrow being able to sleep in the bed with me (if Justin wanted to sleep in the same bed anyway), but it'd make a great foot warmer in the winter while watching tv. Plus, it'd purr. A lot. My tiger would be the best behaved and most loveable tiger ever. EVER.<br /><br />Of course, everytime I see this video I get a little choked up inside. Partly because I'm an animal lover (they're a part of the family) and partly because they proved the naysayers wrong (And although it's a great song by itself, please don't let the cheesiness of the song with the video ruin things).<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/__UHSZHJ9LA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/__UHSZHJ9LA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Sigh. Well, you know, it is almost my birthday. Maybe there's still time to hint around at what I <em>really</em> want...Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871544156539502545.post-61345076892340156112009-04-06T11:27:00.002-04:002009-04-06T11:43:00.850-04:00Rev It Up!I want a fast car. Not that this is a new revelation, just one that usually sits on the back burner until I've either a) spent the day at the track with Justin and friends or b) watched The Fast and the Furious for the thousandth time. Yesterday I happened to do both. Thus my overwhelming yearning for a hot, fast, six-speed car. In any color but white or yellow.<br /><br />I really don't know much about cars. I ask Justin questions all the time but there are so many parts and such involved in the answers that they make sense as I'm listening but I couldn't repeat back any of the information and it sound relatively sane. Off the top of my head, I can say these few things though- I know when a car has NOS, I know when it's got a turbo and I definitely know what the sound of a broken rear end and/or drive shaft is. I also know that the low rumble of a beast of a car makes me smile. And want to drive it. Quickly. Preferably without running into any cops.<br /><br />As we were walking around the track yesterday, I told Brittany that one day I'd have a car to bring to race. She asked jokingly if I wanted to take the Rav down a time or two and I laughed. I told her that being the kind of person I am, I'd have to have a car just as good, if not better than the boys. Cause I would not be that girl. The "oh, you're just a girl" girl. Blame it on my tomboy-ishness, blame it on my sheer stubborness, but I've never been one to take the implications of "you're just a girl" well. Yes, I appreciate doors being opened for me, and yes I appreciate when someone gets something off the high shelf for me, but I'll be damned if you think I have to depend on you for things. I am and have never been ashamed to climb shelves and scoot heavy things with my feet just to prove the point that I can do it my own self. *Breath* But I digress.<br /><br />I told Justin after we'd been home for a while that after I'd built him his nice working garage, I wanted said fast car. And although I wouldn't be the first choice at being put to work as a mechanic, any modifications that were done to it I wanted to be involved in. Even though most of them would be a "put the wrench there and turn". Of course his response was pretty much "I'm not gonna tell you no". Cause for him, it's one more toy to play with :)Shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17906945261870829302noreply@blogger.com0