All because two people fell in love...

Complain post about how pathetically out of shape I am...

2012-01-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

I just finished the first 20 min beginners session on this DVD...

...which I ordered for a whopping $1.99 last week on Amazon with a gift card earned from collecting Swagbucks and free shipping with my trial of AmazonPrime.

I finished 20 min ago. I'm still panting. My heart is still racing. I can barely type. My arms are quivering. My legs are quivering. I'm slightly dizzy. I'm slightly nauseated. My face is beet red. My clothing is damp and sticky. I'm SO pathetic.

...but I think I love it. I've heard many good things about it. I'm not necessarily looking forward to reliving that 20 min workout everyday for the next week (and then many weeks after that), but I am excited to see what results it will produce by next Monday. And the Monday after that. And the Monday after that.

For now, I'm going to go collapse on the couch and not move for the duration of a movie...maybe longer....:)

New Year's Eve 2011...

2011-12-31T09:34:00.000-08:00

Signing in for the first time in just over 4 months. I had almost forgotten how to redress and rearrange everything.

The last few weeks have been slow and quiet as Jase and I have taken turns catching several cold and stomach bugs that have been making the rounds. We missed being able to make a trip to my family's Christmas celebration and missed opening gifts with Jase's side. I have 2 big bowls, a 9x13 casserole dish and 2 square ice cream tubs of dipped pretzel, cookies and truffles sitting on my table and buffet, results of my normal overdone holiday baking spree and not being able to deliver goodie tins to my immediate and extended family. I must find something to do with it all. I am determined to avoid sugar starting tomorrow and there's no way the two of us can eat it all ourselves before it goes bad. I suppose I'll try freezing the cookies and truffles.

~

I picked my Swagbucks account back up last weekend. I found $15 in amazon ecards sitting in my account and promptly spent them on a pair of brown boots. I've been wanting brown boots for years. They are scheduled to arrive today and I cannot wait to get them on my feet. In the last week I have done enough trials and deals that I'm just over the 3000 mark. My goal is an average of 700 a week, but i'm beginning to think I can do more than that. As long as I don't lose interest. For those not familiar with the value of swagbucks, 700 a week will give me enough over the course of a year to redeem over $400 in amazon ecards. And that's if they don't go on sale, in which case my swagbucks go even further. Yay! I'll probly branch out to more than amazon cards soon though...I have my eye on some paypal cash and fandango cards...and maybe a few restaurant.com cards...we'll see...

~

One of the deals that I took advantage of to earn some credits was a free customized calendar from VistaPrint. I only paid shipping which made it quite a bargain as calendars are stupidly expensive even for just a no frills wall calendar from Walmart. I spent three days finding pictures of us, one for each month of each year that we've been together, uploading them to picnic, editing, saving, organizing by month, then reuploading to picnic again to make collages and then finally adding collages to the calendar and adding personalized captions for Jase. It was a lot of work, but I'm really excited about how it turned out and I can't wait for it to get here.

In the process of the calendar project, I discovered something. Over the last couple of years I have gradually taken less and less pictures of us. Over the last year I've gradually taken less pictures in general and when I have they've been of random projects or events and not of us. Part of that is laziness. Part of it is that I find it difficult to be motivated to take pictures when life is stressful. Part of it is because I hate the way I end up looking in pictures, especially when I'm carrying extra weight. And I'm definitely carrying extra weight.

And that brought me to 2 main goals for 2012. Be healthier, exercise more, shed a few lbs (not the first year that this has been a goal), and take. more. pictures. Regardless of how I look or feel, find SOMETHING to take pictures of and purposefully take more pictures of US.

I want to get to the end of next year and be able to spend WAY more time browsing through a year's worth of pictures and finding many more pictures of us to bring back even completely forgotten memories than I did this year. Then I will also be able to take advantage of more free (or discounted) photo prints deals and put together physical scrapbooks as well.

I even signed up at project365.com thinking that maybe participating in that would motivate me and give me a goal...that's broken down into small, reachable daily goals. Then I realized, that if I'm not motivated to keep the blog I already have, it's pointless to start a new one. So I redirected back to my sad, forsaken blog and spruced it up for the new year. And I'll be trying my own project365 right here.

~

I'm drinking a fizz tab and uploading some pictures to clarkcolor.com so that I can take advantage of their current 40 free prints deal. :)

I'm about to plug my new earbuds into my comp and turn on some Bocelli, Acoustic Eidolon and Adele while I download this weekends files and play my newly downloaded Plants vs. Zombies... free music downloads and $2 game from yet more awesome swagbucks deals. :)

~

Poor Hubby is finally getting some much needed sleep after about 5 consecutive sleepless nights this week. This happens every time he gets a cold that settles into a cough. He's so exhausted. :(

~

I'm looking forward to another cozy, lazy day and bringing in the New Year with my Love...

Happy New Year to all! I'll be back in 2012. :)

~Tonia

I have grout in my tile!...

2011-08-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Picking up from where I left off last with the pics...

I'll post more later...

Finding a Home

2011-08-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

Guest post from: Constance Rodgers

Looking at apartments when I was still single was fun but it was even more fun looking for houses to buy! I was really sick of living in a tiny place so I started my search for a single-family home late last year and it took me several months to find this great place. It’s amazing what people put on the market and what they try to price stuff at but I got lucky and found this place that was bank owned that didn’t cost me an arm and a leg. I’ve been working on things like home improvements and ALLHomeSecurity.com security and all that stuff that goes along with being a homeowner and I’m actually having a really good time with it…I love decorating and I can’t believe I get to do my own place now! I feel like this is the most adult thing I’ve ever done and I can’t wait for the next phase in my life whether that be marriage or kids or just getting a dog!

So we haven't moved yet...

2011-07-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

...and I'm living out of boxes for the next month. A week ago today we got up for a few hours of work before Jase's sisters, Rachel and Jonnah, and his brother, Micah, showed up around 7:30 to help pack and clean. Sarah Baker showed up a few hours later and we spent the morning and early afternoon packing, organizing, cleaning. About 30 min before we were scheduled to pick up the moving truck, I sent Jase down to get a checklist from the office and let them know we were planning to be out the next day. A few months back, we had tried to extend our lease by another month, and although we had been told at first that it was fine, we received a notice a few days later that there had been a mix up and the apartment had been leased to new tenants before we tried to extend, because the office thought that we had already turned in our notice to vacate at the end of june. As I sent JAse out the door I remember thinking " Watch Jase come back and tell me that the notice to vacate had been a mix up and the office doesn't actually have us scheduled to move out until the end of july". Well, sure enough. We were scheduled to be here for another month. And everything I owned was packed and sealed into boxes stacked in my living room. Ugh.

We weren't obligated to stay since we hadn't signed the lease extension yet, but since the barn isn't ready to move in to yet, and we were planning on camping between the Burks and the barn, we opted to take on the extra month of high rent and stay put. Having our own place, with air conditioning and highspeed for another few weeks will be way worth it. And hopefully this way the barn will be either ready or much closer to being ready to move into when we have to be out of here.

So we're still waiting on some paperwork to get the permit to start digging the septic. And the guys are still working on running some electrical things. The grand and several other heavy objects that are still sitting in the living room have to be cleared out. The doors need to have those little rubber seals attached to the bottoms to keep bugs from the shed out, some holes need to be patched and the bathroom needs to be painted. But now we have the rest of the month to complete it. It's a big relief to have everything worked out the way it did.

Here are a few more pics of the place...

Yup, it's a barn...

Looking up the driveway from the barn...

The driveway extends past the barn and a circle drive and runs down into some lower fields behind the barn...

My kitchen view...

We're surrounded by fields and trees....it's so super pretty out there...

I hate packing...

2011-06-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

Not because it's necessarily difficult. It's just time consuming and a pain in the butt. And I hate the process of clearing out an apartment that's been home for the last year and that has so many memories attached to it. I so look forward to the day when I can move into my own house and stay for a LONG time...maybe even forever. It's a nice thought.

Another reason I hate packing is because I can't stand to just throw things in boxes randomly. It has to be organized. Especially this time, since I'm faced with the task of figuring out what I'm going to need to access immediately, what can be lived without for a little longer and what can be put into storage for relatively long term. This is proving especially tricky with my kitchen. At the moment, we're not sure if we're actually going to be able to move straight into the barn by the time we have to be out of here. So we may be looking at spending several days or a week (hopefully no more than that...fingers crossed) with Jase's family until the barn is liveable and has passed inspections. While we're with them I likely won't need any of my kitchen stuff. But once we're actually in the barn, I'll need a few pots and pans and utensils for making simple meals on the stove that mom and dad are bringing....whenever that happens. Most of my baking stuff is going into storage at least for a while... :( That makes me sad. I suppose I'll live. :)

My growing stack of boxes in the back room. It may not seem like much, but in my opinion it's a bit ridiculous considering that we are only two people and that's maybe HALF of our stuff. I'm still trying to figure out how in the world two people need that much...and I've weeded out a lot over the last few months in prep for moving. *shakes head*

Packing station...

And this is why it's taking so freaking long to get things into boxes...My list so that I know what is where...I'm a little OCD...But I NEED to know where things are or I'll go crazy. Each box is numbered and has a simple label...then the list contains a more comprehensive list of what each box contains.

:)

The girls came over to help the other night. My original plan was to have them help me pack. But by the time they got here my control issues had set in and I couldn't cope with the idea of not sorting, wrapping, packing and labelling things into boxes with my own two hands. So instead they helped wipe down bathrooms, sweep floors and help me clean out my fridge and freezer which were long over due...the help was wonderful. :)

Most of my cupboards are emptied...I hate living in the clutter, but I put it off long enough. We're down to 4-5 days before we have to be out of here. The month ends next thursday but I garauntee they will be wanting us out by the 28th, which is next tuesday. They're gonna have to live with that not happening. :) I'm expecting to likely be out by next wednesday or at least be finishing up moving the last few things, finishing up the cleaning and turning in keys by thursday morning...we'll see...

This is what my pretty living room used to look like....I miss it already...

Better get back to work...

The Barn...

2011-06-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

As of about 1 week ago, we made the decision to take up an offer of a 'house' on a farm on the north side of Springfield. The landlord attends our church and gave us a generous deal that will allow us the opportunity to save up a lot faster for land and a house of our own than we were accomplishing living in apartments.

It's not technically a house. More of an apartment and it's built inside of a shed/barn. When it was first offered to us, we immediately dismissed the idea because of all of the work that was still needed to make it liveable. I hadn't even seen the place (Jason had helped put the flooring down years ago and was familiar with it), so in order to not just blow Dan (the landlord) off, we decided to go take a look at it (just to be polite) and keep adding to our already established list of reasons why it wouldn't work out, so that we could sit down with Dan and thank him but explain to him that it wasn't for us.

By the time we had finished our first walk through we were still pretty convinced we didn't want the place, but we were seeing ways that we could make it work if we chose to take it. It wasn't until a night or two later that it dawned on us...if we were willing to make some sacrifices and put in some work to make the place liveable, it was an opportunity to do two things that we had been wanting to do for some time: pay off some debt that we acquired last year and start saving towards our own land. Of course, those were two things that could be done anyway, but this was an opportunity that was going to allow that to happen MUCH easier and faster than any of our other options at the time. So we went to look through it again and started a list of questions for Dan.

A few days later we had the opportunity to meet Dan at a nearby McDonalds and sit down with him to discuss our questions and options. By the time we walked out of the restaurant we had decided to take it. And then life started to get hectic...

We were about 2.5 weeks away from having to be out of our apartment and I didn't even have boxes yet. We had to call and cancel our reservation for the apartment we had planned to move into (and which we had already put down a nonrefundable prelease on :( ). And the list of things that had to be done at 'The Barn' was growing. It had to be cleared out and cleaned. The electrical needed work and additions such as smoke detectors and a few other things to pass inspection. We had to figure out how to get internet out there so that we could continue working online. A septic system needed to be put in, which required a soil sample to be done and a permit before we could start installing the system. And so on...

Within the first two days after our talk with Dan, we had it cleared out and had accomplished the first round of wiping down walls, setting of bug bombs, sweeping out dirt and bugs, scrubbing floor and windows, had internet figured out, etc. Yesterday the soil sample was completed and we are now waiting for everything to come back from that so that we can apply for a permit to start installing the system. We still have to install smoke detectors, figure out water heater details and stove hookup details.

Today is a little frustrating because it's my light work day and Jase's off day and we could be spending the entire day out there working on things, but everything is on hold while we wait for permits and such. I finally have boxes and we're picking up packing paper from a friend today so I'm in the process of packing. And we're about a week away from needing to move. I'm learning patience.

At first I was super excited about the prospect of moving out to the farm. I still am. But I've had a day or two already where I couldn't help but ask myself 'what have we done?'. Ha. Even with everything that we're hoping to have accomplished by the time we move it so that it's liveable, there is still alot of work that will be needed before it's really a house. There will be two bathrooms, but only one is finished. There is no kitchen, only hookups for a sink and a water heater. Dan has the wood to make cabinets but they will have to wait until we're in and we figure out how to make them. So they will be a work in progress after we move. As soon as a stove hookup is installed we should have a stove, because mom and dad are bringing their old one afew days after we move in. I'm super grateful for it, because I was planning on only being able to use things that could be plugged into the wall for making food...like my crockpot, foreman grill, griddle, etc. We still need a fridge but we'll have to make do with borrowed space in a deep freeze and a cooler filled with frozen water bottles and cold packs. It's gonna be interesting for sure..

But when it's done it will be nice. The only thing that will not happen, ever, is washer and dryer hookups. I'm still trying to adjust mentally to the idea of not having my own washer and dryer for several years. Fortunately Jase's parents are just five min down the road and we should be able to do laundry at their place once or twice a week. It's going to take some getting used to.

As far as the 'house' itself, it's gorgeous. Red walls, white trim, beautiful hardwood floors and stone tile in the bathroom. For now we're moving into the downstairs and eventually the upstairs will be made liveable too, with the second bathroom up there. The levels are not connected so we have to walk out into the shed to access the stairs to the second floor. Not super convenient or comfy but definitely doable. For now the upstairs is storage.

It's definitley small, but the location is gorgeous. I've been missing my fields and trees and country air really badly, especially over the last year. Now I'll have a nice long driveway for walks and jogs, plenty of fields and creeks to walk and explore. I may even learn to ride the horses that we will be sharing the 'yard' with.

The wall where the kitchen cabinets will go. The sink hookup is under the window and you can see the water heater hookups to the left. The bathroom door is on the right.

The bathroom and the 'back' door to the right. These pics are all before we cleared it out and did the first round of cleaning.

The living room view from the kitchen with what will likely be used as the 'front' door once we're moved in.

The closet area that will be used as a pantry. I want to line the walls with shelves to give me plenty of storage until I get cabinets.

Part of the downstairs bathroom. Once the water is turned on that hole will be patched, the walls will need to be painted and the trim finished out.

I'll upload more pics later. My internet keeps dying on me...better post what I have before I lose it. :)

The Office

2011-06-06T06:32:00.000-07:00

Guest post of the week by Robby Sykes

Ever since the snow started I have been thanking my lucky stars that we got satellite TV. It has been so cold that we have barely left the house and instead have been watching back to back seasons on the office on our new http://www.direct.tv. I have been hearing all about how great the office is for years now and just never found the time to add a new show to my TV watching schedule so I figured snow days were the perfect time to see what the fuss was all about. I am so glad I did because that show is hilarious! It is now my favorite sitcom and I cannot wait until I get all caught ! up to the current season. My favorite characters are Pam and Jim because of course I am a hopeless romantic and I love a good chemistry. Plus they are just so together and the dialogue that is written for them is just perfect. I also love how this show is filmed in a documentary style. The glances at the camera when Michael does something dumb are always perfectly timed. I know I am late to jump on the bandwagon but I cannot get enough. I have watched 3 seasons back to back and if it snows again tomorrow I may just start in on my 4th season.

Wait. It's Friday? Again?

2011-05-27T16:22:00.000-07:00

Well, we survived the week. Barely. Jase wasn't able work a single day. That paycheck is gonna hurt. Fortunately, I've been able to take on several extra hours of work a couple of days this week. I'm very grateful because it will make my first paycheck very nice and will help make up for Jase's missed days. I'm exhausted. Jase's cough was so bad by sunday night that I couldn't sleep and it hasn't gotten better despite the many cold meds and antibiotics I've been pumping into him all week. I've been running on 5 ish hours of sleep every night at best and he's had even less. Way less. Poor guy. He's exhausted and miserable.

This week's regimen of meds.

We're on bag #3 of the Halls economy pack 80-drop bags of cough drops and now I'm developing a sore and scratchy throat so we've added Ricolas. Jase started on antibiotics on tuesday, steroids on wednesday and has been on mucinex and cold relief all week. Today he's starting Delsym in the hopes that it will help more than the mucinex has. I'm pretty sure the only reason I haven't been affected more than I have is thanks to that lovely green bottle with the yellow lid: vitamin C. Usually when I'm sleep deprived the first thing to go is my immune system and I catch anything and everything that's floating around. I've upped our dosage this week and it's going up again next week.

In other news, someone somewhere accessed our bank account info and started making random purchases. Not. Cool. We caught it yesterday. Fortunately before it sent our account into the red. Our cards are frozen and today we had to trek halfway across town to the nearest bank to fill out fraud forms (one for EACH unauthorized purchase...ugh...ridiculous) and pull cash to live on until we can get new cards. And of course this all had to happen right before a holiday weekends which means nothing is going to get processed until next Tuesday. I've had to deal with too many incompetant people this week; pharmacy workers who can't find and process prescription orders, bank people who don't know how to deal with fraud....our patience has definitely been tested. Makes me extremely grateful to be able to work from home.

Mama said there'd be days like this...

2011-05-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

So yesterday night I went to bed early(ish) with plans to get a good night's rest and get a lot accomplished today. I don't work on mondays so I was planning on sleeping in and spending the rest of my day prepping for the rest of the week. My list included:

~ catching up on laundry
~ cleaning out the fridge
~ making homemade bread
~ making egg salad and potato chips
~ planning/making breakfasts for the rest of the week so that I could put in as many hours of work during the mornings as possible.
~ catching up on the rest of the house.

Unfortunatley, Jase has one of the worst cough/congestion/allergy colds that he's had in a long time. His cough has been getting progressively worse over the last few days and last night was the first night that it even kept me awake for a good portion of the night. (Usually I get to sleep fine and will sleep through almost anything).

So, today has gone nothing like what I had hoped. Instead, my last almost 24 hours has gone something like this.

After a rather exhausting night of waking up every time Jase coughed, I finally got up at around 9. I spent the morning making breakfast, prepping Jase's lunch and trying to be quiet while letting Jase sleep in to the absolute last minute possible. At 11:30, Jase called the leaveline at work because even the effort required to talk was making him break into a coughing fit and his throat was so raw he was coughing up blood.

The rest of my day has consisted of running to the Kearney walmart to pick up antibiotics and groceries only to find once we got there that the meds were not there, coming back home (because I had forgotten my cell), realizing the meds had been called into the Kansas walmart, making another trip to that walmart, waiting around for 30 min for the (incompetant) pharmacy workers to find and process the order, getting groceries (which included clearance bread since homemade bread is getting put off once again) finally getting home around 2:15, crashing in bed for a 2 hour long nap,waking up around 4:15, and now I'm waiting on dinner to finish so that we can finally eat our first meal of the day (besides breakfast).

And not one of my goals is accomplished. A load of laundry is rerinsing because it had sat in the washer too long and was starting to smell sour. My kitchen is a mess, there is no bread made, no breakfasts are not made in advance, much less planned, the fridge still needs to be cleaned, etc...and all I want to do is sleep some more. *sigh*

I'd better go finish dinner...maybe I can still get a few things done (if I can muster up the energy) before the day is over....I think I'm gonna need some caffiene..

I have a new favorite snack...

2011-05-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

On monday Jase brought home snacks for me from Wally. Reese's Klondike bars, Almond Joys, Diet MD and a new discovery...Vanilla Dusted Roasted Almonds.

Yes, the bag is empty. I couldn't quit munching on them. I think they were my favorite out of everything Jase brought home.

Whole roasted honey almonds lightly dusted with artificially flavored vanilla-powdered sugar. SO. YUM.

I'm watching Ina Garten on the food channel. She's making a fruit crumble that can be made with different types of fruits for different times of the year. For summer she's doing a peach blueberry crumble with lemon juice and lemon zest mixed in. I need to pay attention to this...

May Update...

2011-05-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

I started a new job last week. I'm working for a company called Global Medical Transcription, matching audio dictations to typed out documents. It's a pretty easy job, to be honest. The hardest part about it is that I've had to revamp my daily schedule. With Jase working a later schedule, we had both gotten used to staying up 'til around midnight or later and then sleeping in until 9:00 or 9:30 and having several hours for morning routine before he has to leave at 11:30.

This new job requires that all of my work be turned in by 1:00pm. So in order to get the number of hours in every morning that I want, I've been starting work by 7, working until about 10 or 10:30, taking an hour to an hour and a half (depending on my work load each morning) to do breakfast and psalms with my hubby, spend a few min with him and then get him packed up and out the door to work, before putting in another hour or so before deadline. As thankful as I am to help supplement our income...I'm exhausted.

For the last two weeks I've been running on about 7 or less hours of sleep everynight in order to get up early for work. Getting to bed by 11 and taking afternoon naps helps, but it's gonna take awhile to get my body used to this new schedule. It would be fairly simple enough to adjust if I could get to bed before 11 but Jase doesn't get home until 9 ish every night and that only leaves us a couple of hours to spend time together before I'm needing to go to sleep. Plus, it's becoming fairly typical for me to wake up around 5 or 5:30 and then not be able to get back to sleep because I know my alarm is going to go off soon and I'll have to get up and get going. This morning I was awake at about 5:40...and then I tossed and turned and barely dozed on and off (which tends to be more exhausting than just getting up) until I finally got up at 6:50. I'm hoping I'll adjust soon and get to where I can sleep straight through to my alarm.

In other news, Jase is still at Teletech. It's not a great job, but it does pay bills...even if just barely. My new job happened just in time as over the last few weeks Jase has been battling some sickness and has missed several days of work because of it. If he misses more than a day or two he doesn't make enough to cover all of our bills. On top of missing work because of being sick, he's also had about a day's worth of Mandatory Time Off. The company has been forcing people to take time off recently due to the fact that they don't have enough call volume. And yet they keep hiring. It's stupid.

He has applied for two other jobs that look very promising and we've extended our lease here for another month in the hopes of finding out if he's going to get one of those jobs before we have to move. What job he has will affect where we move to. One of them is just down the street, and if he gets it, we'll be staying in this location and getting a smaller apartment. If he gets the other or stays at teletech we'll be needing to move to the other side of town. It's hard to be patient sometimes, especially since I like to be able to make plans a month or more in advance.

We've started yoga. I started on monday and then yesterday Jase decided to give it a try with me. Besides the fact that he has a damaged shoulder and pretty much any exercise makes it hurt, he's really enjoying it. We even put in ten minutes of basics this morning before he left for work...his idea. I was very surprised...and thrilled. It's so much more fun to work out with someone rather than by myself.

I just posted my last folder and I'm going to go take a nap. The garbage disposal in my kitchen sink is clogged and backed up (happens almost every time I try to put potato peels down it) so the much needed cleaning in my kitchen is going to have to wait because I am NOT calling maintenance until after I've napped and showered and am ready to have someone knocking on my door. I will not be able to rest if I know maintenance could show up at any minute. :P

More later...

I'm growing a garden...

2011-04-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

...on my hutch counter...

Aster, Sweet Pea, Phlox, Cherry Tomatos, and Parsley.

Asters sprouting.

More Asters several days later.

The sweet peas have sprung up the fastest. Day one above dirt level.

Day Two.

Day Three.

Day Five.

I haven't taken a pic today but the sweat pea is about another inch taller. It will be graduating to a recycled sour cream tub today before it outgrows it's little starter cup. And as soon as the weather gets a little better and I gather larger containers and pots they'll all get repotted and relocated to the porch.

Car Insurance...

2011-03-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

Looking for car insurance? I'm directed to carinsurancerates.me, a company that provides affordable car insurance. Their site allows you to instantly compare online quotes from various major insurers, and provides information and quotes for students and at fault drivers including new driver insurance, family policies, high risk auto, student coverage and discount rates.

Check out their providers page for information and quotes on vehicle insurers, policy comparison, auto coverage and competitive rates and find out what they have to offer you.

Computer Bags

2011-03-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

I'm directed to a website for Rick Shaw Bags , a small new company based in San Francisco that provides a variety of computer bags.

Among their various different bags are the 11" sleeve for MacBook Air , the 13" sleeve for MacBook Air and a variety of shapes and sizes including their messenger bags, commuter bags, ipad bags and skinny backpacks. Each bag provides a different variety of features ranging from waterbottle pockets to removable laptop sleeve and stowable straps as well as waterproof fabrics and organizational pockets.

For more information about this newly established company check out their story here and browse their blog for news and updates.

Mortgages...

2011-03-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

Yet another topic I don't know much about is mortgages. Since one of our goals in life is to avoid unnecessary debt, such as a house, a mortgage is something we never intend on having to deal with even if that means that we cannot own a home for many more years.

Perfectscoremortgages.com is a site that provides information and tips on mortgages as well as average mortgage rate info, a mortgage calculator and quotes for anyone looking into a mortgage. Check out their site to find what you need concerning mortgages and fixed rates.

Puffer Video

2011-03-15T18:58:00.000-07:00

We made a trip to wally this evening as soon as Jase got home to get soda, and while we were there we picked up four ghost shrimp to be puffer food. I stuck them the tank and about 20 min later I came back to find the puffer's tummy QUITE full. He had tackled the biggest shrimp. It was almost his size! Now he's hovering arund rather slowly and his tummy is finally starting to smooth out and get smaller as he digests his meal. He so funny looking with a full tummy.

We Have Fish!!...

2011-03-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

So last Tuesday I was browsing Craigslist. I didn't really have a good reason to be looking. I didn't have spending money worked into our budget, but I've been wanting to replace our computer desk with something nicer and prettier, so I was checking to get an idea of what I could hope to get out of my desk and see if there was anything I liked listed. There was nothing under furniture, or general so I headed over to household. And I found...fish. Someone had their 15 gallon set up complete with stand, filter, bubbler, decor and 12 fish listed for $50! I pulled up my bank account and started running numbers to see if I could pull it off. I had an extra $30 stuck in savings and a $20 in my purse that I had not been figuring into our account budget. So I texted the lady. She wrote back saying that I was the 3rd person to contact her and that if I was willing to give her $60 for it I could have it. I told her I couldn't do more than $50 and that I was hoping to surprise my hubby with it. A few seconds later she called me and told me I could have it. Yay!

So I made plans and arranged for it to be picked up. I had no vehicle and no way to get it so my sister-in-law was sweet enough to pick it up for me that evening and then run it across town to me Wednesday morning while Jase at work. I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning the tank, treating the water, setting up the decor and adding the fish. I never really wanted fish. I mean, they're cool, but I've always been more of a lizard or dog person. But Jase has been wanting fish FOREVER. 3 of the fish didn't make the trip. I don't know what they were but here's what I had left: Two swordtails, one female (that is prego) and one male, two rosy striped tetras, 3 black tetras, 1 neon tetra, and one tiger barb. The next day, while I was out shopping with Mom Burks, I stopped by Petsmart and bought two tiger barbs and a pleco. That evening we went to Wally and came home with 2 more neon tetras and a spotted green puffer. He's mine. I hand picked him and he's my favorite. I never thought a fish could be cute, but he IS. I researched puffers and read that they are quite interactive and expressive. He's taking a bit to warm up but he's getting better. Supposedly he can eventually be adjusted enough that he'll eat from my hand. For the moment he still runs to the other side of the tank whenever I kneel down to look at him, but he's getting friendlier. I'm gonna have to get him some aquarium salt as he's a brackish water fish and he needs some fiddler crabs and small snails on occasion to keep his beak worn down and to keep him happy. Puffers are carnivorous by nature but he'll eat flakes and shrimp pellets. I bought freeze dried bloodworms and I noticed today for the first time that he had eaten. He was starting to worry me because he wouldn't eat with the rest of the fish, but today his tummy was lumpy and swollen and he looked much happier. Saturday night one of the new tiger barbs started listing pretty badly. We weren't sur what was wrong with him so he seperated him into a bowl and he was dead by the next morning. Fortunately Petsmart has a two week return policy on defective fish. Lol. So on Sunday the poor little guy got replace. So far everyone else seems to be doing ok. Mr. Puffer will NOT stay still long enough to get a nice clear pic. I'll try to get a video of him up soon.

Chicago Remodeling

2011-03-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

Someday, the hubby and I would love to build a house. It won't likely happen for a long while yet as we believe it's best to stay debt-free and we'll have to save up and build as we can, but we very much enjoy dreaming and scheming and planning our dream place. We want spacious rooms, hard floors, fire places with stone mantles, a big yard, a pool, etc. And *I* was a luxury kitchen. Huge. Custom. Gorgeous. Kitchen. Dark stained cabinets, granite counters, wood and tiled floors, tile backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, plenty of windows. Oh, yes. I could go on.

If we lived in Illinois and were looking for Chicago Remodeling we might look up A-1PAM, a plastering and remodeling company. If you live in Chicago and are looking for professional help with your remodeling and like the idea of working with a smaller, independant company, look up this site and see if they have anything for you.

Beaches and Vehicles

2011-03-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been on the chilly side. Yesterday it snowed ALL day. It was actually pretty neat to enjoy the pretty drifting snowflakes but to not have to worry about anything sticking and making the ground slick. The sun is shining today and I'm thinking wishing it was warm enough to open up my windows and air out the house. Hopefully by thursday I'll be able to do just that.

In the meantime I'm directed to West Palm Beach, Florida and a Hyunai dealer on 2707 Okeechobee Bld.Their site wpbhyundai.com is a good source for anyone looking to buy a new or used Hyundai.

The site provides much useful information for a buyer including a service page for such needs as tune-ups, tire rotations and oil changes. If you're looking for a used vehicle be sure to check out the used car blog.

More Insurance

2011-03-10T12:10:00.001-08:00

EquiLeads is an online company that provides you with leads for a number of different financial services including insurance leads such as home owner insurance leads, car insurance leads and health insurance leads

They also also provide leads for car loans, loan modification , mortgage leads and credit card services. Click here to review EquiLeads' affiliates.

Online Marketing

2011-03-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

My blog is starting to feel like one big long ad. And here's another...

Discount Click is a site that offers SEO services and affordable ad serving. This is most definitley NOT my area of expertise so I'm not at all sure how to to even promote these services.

If you own a business and you need online marketing services check out Discount Click and consider allowing them to help grow your business.

Daniel Moravec

2011-03-05T09:46:00.000-08:00

Daniel Moravec or Dan Moravec is a professional poker player who started his career at the age of 18 after learning to play online with his highschool friends. Shortly after graduating college he moved Las Vegas and began playing in low stakes tournaments.

Moravec has a bachelor's degree in Business Marketing and Business Managements and is currently acting as the president of Best Odds Corporation in Las Vegas. More information on this player can be found here and here.

Online Poker School

2011-03-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

One of the sports that Jase occasionally enjoys watching on tv is
poker. He also enjoys playing Texas Hold'em and on occasion we'll play with his family when we're over there visiting. It's not a game I really enjoy, but it can be fun to play a game or two with the fam. Though I prefer to just watch them play. It's really the only card game Jase actually likes.

PokerStrategy.com is an online professional poker school. When you sign up and pass their initial quiz, they give you $50 for free to start playing with. Apparently,due to current legal restrictions, the only catch is that you cannot live in the USA. No biggie...:P

We're moving...

2011-03-04T11:08:00.000-08:00

So I'm a little behind this week on blog upkeep. So much for being determined to keep up with it. I'm very glad today is friday. The days feel so much longer when Jase is gone from 8:30 to 6:30 everyday.

In other news, we're moving at the end of the month. I can't set an actual moving day date until the end of next week when Jase gets out of training and we figure out what his work schedule is going to be. But I'm assuming it will be between the 25 and the 29th. I just barely started my list of moving supplies, change of address notifications and such. I'm so not looking forward to this...

So I'm Craving Carbs...

2011-02-28T14:07:00.000-08:00

I'm missing my bread today. This morning I was drooling over Garlic Texas toast in the frozen aisle at Sam's. Now it's scrumptious looking recipes on the Sargento website. I love recipes. I'm constantly collecting them.

Some of these look amazing. Particularly the Grilled Chicken Alfredo Pizza. How can you get better than that? Chicken and alfredo in pizza form. Doesn't that sound SO heavenly? Hhhmmmm.....

The Easy Taco Salad looks like something I could probly do if I left out the tortilla chips and tomato slices (or at least cut back on them). I have however found that I have to watch taco seasoning packets carefully because they tend to have several carbs per Tbs because of the flour added into the mix of ingredients. Yum...I'm thinking taco salad sounds like a good idea for dinner tonight...

Anyone ever heard of Stuffed French Toast Casserole? That's a new one for me. It looks like it could be pretty yummy, though I'm pretty sure I'd leave off the powdered sugar and syrup. This looks like something Jase would really like. Meat, cheese and bread...especially if I substitued sausage for the ham/ turkey to make it more breakfasty. He would be a happy guy. I'll have to keep this one in mind for a future carb hour or special occasion.

I guess I'm gonna go set out ground beef for taco salad tonight. My hubby will be home in a couple hours...hoping they fly by...I miss him so...

Monday Morning...

2011-02-28T07:36:00.000-08:00

I was up at 7 for the first time in months...probly more like a year. Jase started work today and had to be out the door by 8 to be across town by 8:50 with time to stop at McDonald's for a drink. I can't wait until we can move back across town and only be 3 minutes from his job. Mornings will be so much nicer. And he'll be able to come home for his lunch break.

I would totally be in bed again right now, but I planned a 10 am shopping trip with my sister-in-law, so here I am, showered, make-up on, dressed, waiting for her to get here. A nap is definitely happening later.

I'm determined to keep up with this blog better this week. It's become quite the ad reel over the last couple of weeks. I almost added a recipe for a low carb omelet that Jase invented yesterday but I had just loaned my camera out to another sister-in-law who is awaiting the arrival any moment of her 3rd baby. And recipes without pics always bug me. So, I'll just have to make the omelet again sometime to get a pic. Shucks. ;)

Hopefully, having to maintain a more structured schedule for Jase's job will help me manage my time better. I'm always more motivated to get any and all housecleaning and projects done before Jase gets home so that after dinner we can have a nice leisurely evening.

I'm off to bundle up for the cold, rainy outdoors...hope everyone has a good day.

Ta-ta for now.

To the left, to the left...

2011-02-22T07:35:00.000-08:00

To the left of this post, you'll see a column of banners. When people click on these banners and fulfill certain requirements, I make commissions. Commissions make me happy.

The first banner is for a site called InboxDollars. This site provides you with an opportunity to make money doing random things like reading emails, taking surveys, filling out various offers, etc. When you link to the site through my banner and create a free account, they immediately credit $5 to your account to get you started. Depending on what offers you fill out and how many, you can easily reach the first $30 goal and they send you a check. It's pretty nifty. I have my own account and am working my way up to a paycheck. So check it out...

The second banner is my most recent. The Whitesmoke site offers an english writing, editing and translation tool that according to Yahoo 'has been ranked #5 in the Top 31 Business Ideas in the world' and is receiving rave reviews. When you click on my banner it will take you to the site where you will be offered the chance for a FREE trial. This trial does not require credit card information and you don't even have to remember to cancel it when it expires. Just download the trial and viola!...you have a nifty tool and I get a commission...

The next banner is for my etsy site. I offer custom made jewelry and various other crafty items at affordable prices. I'm also open to custom orders. :)

Banner #4 will take you to Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty skin care site. If you scroll back through my post history you'll find a youtube video that I posted with lots of info about this product. From everything I've seen and heard it looks to be pretty good stuff. Or you could just click on the banner and go directly to the site to check it out. Everyone that purchases will make me a commission! :)

The last banner is for VistaPrint. You'll notice that it's advertising free business cards. VistaPrint is constantly running specials and freebies on all kinds of different items from business cards to mugs and t-shirts and labels, etc. They have some pretty amazing deals. When you click on my banner, go to the site and place an order (like for one of their freebies where you only pay S&H) I'll make a commission!

Please check out these sites and help me reach my monthly goal! Thanks for looking!

~Tonia

SOOOoooo.....

2011-02-15T07:08:00.000-08:00

Last night I was directed to this site. For starters, I want to make it clear that I in no way approve of or condone smoking. I believe it to be very unwise, unhealthy and damaging, both to your body and even, if you claim the name of Christ, to your testimony. I actually tried for a different task, but wasn't able to get it and clicked on this one out of desperation to actually get something before all of the tasks disappeared. Lol. I didn't even realize what it was until I clicked on the link. Oh, well. The site is called bluecigs.com.

After it pulled up, I spent a few minutes browsing the page, and trying to figure out what exactly the point of an electronic cigarette is. Turns out it's an alternative for smokers that allows one to enjoy the flavor of smoking without the harmful smoke to damage the lungs. Interesting. I've seen these things once before on tv. Can't remember when or where. I suppose if one MUST smoke , this would be the less harmful way of doing it.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Hope everyone is having a lovely morning so far. I'm off to prep house and food for the TI party this evening...

Tata

Early Birthday and Valentines...

2011-02-14T18:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we spent the afternoon with Jase's family celebrating several January and February birthdays. It turns out that posting a birthday wishlist a couple weeks back was a good idea. Lol. I was given this beautiful glass dome AND a glass cake stand to go with it.(And the awesome Paula Dean wooden spoon that's tied to the top of the dome) And that's the adorable red velvet cake that I requested for my dessert.

Hee! I might just have to start collecting cake stands now.

And look! When I flip both pieces over and stack them they become a punch bowl! How cool is THAT?! :D

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Tomorrow several guys are coming over to play Twilight Imperium. Today we went shopping for the party and while I was out I picked up ingredients for strawberry and chocolate stuffed french toast for our little Valentine's dinner. It turned out more like a dessert and it was SO good. And the plates turned out gorgeous.

And per the request of Mrs. Royer, here is the recipe:

Strawberry and Chocolate Stuffed French Toast

4 slices French or Italian loaf (not a baguette) -- 1-inch (2 cm) thick
1/4 cup (50 mL) cream cheese
1/4 cup (50 mL) semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup (50 mL) strawberry jam
2 eggs
1/4 cup (50 mL) milk
2 tbsp. (30 mL) granulated sugar
1 tsp. (5 mL) vanilla extract
2 tbsp. (15 mL) butter
powdered sugar for dusting
maple syrup and fresh strawberries as accompaniment

With a sharp knife, cut a pocket into the side of each slice of bread -- cutting almost, but not quite all the way, to the edges. Spread the inside of each pocket with 1 Tbsp of the cream cheese, stuff with 1 Tbsp of the chocolate chips and spoon in 1 Tbsp of the strawberry jam. Depending on the size of the pocket and the slice of bread, you may not be able to use the full amount of stuffing ingredients -- just play it by ear and use as much as will fit inside. Squash the bread closed to enclose the filling.
In a bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla. Dip the stuffed bread slices into the egg mixture, turning to soak both sides evenly. Arrange on a plate.
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the stuffed bread to the pan and cook, turning each slice over several times to let it brown evenly and allow the heat to penetrate and melt the chocolate -- about 5 or 6 minutes total. Dust lightly with icing sugar and serve with powdered sliced fresh strawberries and maple syrup.

I hope everyone had a Happy Valentine's Day!

~Tonia

TicketAmerica

2011-02-12T13:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my wonderful hubby for the following blurb. Since I know nothing of basketball he was sweet enough to write this entry for me. It is afterall, OUR blog...:) Thanks, love...

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

A couple of quick sports notes from last night in the NBA. Toni actually didn’t mind having some hoops on last night for once, so I got to see Kobe and the Lakers destroy the Knicks in the Garden. I don’t know what it is about Kobe, but he always seems to play ridiculously well in the big apple.

On a completely unrelated note at the opposite end of the spectrum, the Cavs are AWFUL. If anyone had any doubt about King James and his reign at Cleveland, the fact that his absence has spurred them to break on of the most negative records in the NBA by losing 26 straight should say something. Last night though, they did get lucky enough to accidentally beat the Clippers in overtime in spite of Blake Griffins 32 pt/13 rb night. I suppose it is ironic that the downtrodden Clippers where the ones to fall to a team that may put out the worst single season effort of all time (unless they can manage to buy one more win). The King has left the building.

Speaking of the King, Miami won their 8th straight last night, destroying the Pistons 106-92. The game actually wasn’t even as close as the ending score with the Heat leading by as much as 25 in the second half. My man D Wade is amazing. Just had to throw some props his way. I am glad he hasn’t gotten lost in James’ shadow. He is too good and too classy to be overshadowed in his city, and I am glad he is holding his own.

Anyway, fun night of NBA entertainment (and FRINGE which is totally amazing!), and we needed to reference some NBA teams and where to get tickets for a blog ad, so I thought I’d share :D. Have fun out there peeps!

~Jason

Life Insurance...

2011-02-09T07:46:00.000-08:00

My hubby has life insurancethrough State Farm. To be honest, I really don't know much about insurance. My hubby has had some experience trying his hand at an insurance business, so he knows a lot about coverage options and policies and therefore takes care of all of our insurance.

For anyone looking for insurance information this site seems to provide a pretty good amount of info including quotes. Check it out and best of luck in finding what you're looking for. :)

2011-02-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

I've decided that my current favorite past time is sitting on the couch, crochet in hand and Food Network on. :P Unfortunately, as enjoyable as that is, my house suffers some from it, if I'm not careful. At the moment Rachel Ray is cooking up a date night chicken and mushroom meal.

I'm going shopping this afternoon with Joanna while Jase is doing his assessment at Teletech. I'm trying not to think about his assessments. The idea of him getting this job seems too good to be true. I've been finding myself trying to imagine what it would be like to go back to what I keep thinking of as 'normal'. Work schedules, real income that pays more than just our bills, maybe even good benefits (meaning possibly regular chiro visits again!!!!). *sigh* I'm trying not to think about it all that much though. I'm afraid I'll end up very disappointed.

I'm off to finish getting ready to head out...

Blessings,

~Tonia

Guest Post

2011-02-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

Kansas City for the Holidays

Guest written by our friend Sergio Chaney

My husband and I traveled to Kansas City, MO this year from Lawton, OK for the holiday season. We ended up extending our stay an extra week and I was glad that I had remembered to set our home security alarm from ADT HOME SECURITY before we left our house in Lawton. We had not planned on extending our holiday but we had so much fun and had the extra time off work, we decided to stay longer!

We really enjoyed visiting my parents and grandparents, as well as extended cousins and aunts and uncles. We all drove to the Kansas City Plaza together and watched the Christmas light show and it was absolutely amazing! Since we stayed an extra week, we took advantage of the sales the day after Christmas and really found some deals on home interior items and beautiful bedding sets.

Our drive back home was nice and leisurely and we were fortunate to have good weather. We spent the drive talking about our plans for this coming year and what we hope to accomplish. I am excited about the goals we set and look forward to challenging myself to meet them!

Germany...Berlin, to be exact...

2011-02-07T08:21:00.000-08:00

Usually, when thinking and dreaming of places I'd love to visit, the top several slots on my list are filled with places like France, (Paris specifically, but I'd love to tour the country) England, Spain, Italy, Wales, Greece...or someplace tropical and sunshiney like Hawaii, The Carribean, Jamaica,etc...

For some reason unknown me to, several places have never really made that list. Like Poland, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, Hungary. However, when I stop to think about it, I have to admit, that if given the chance to visit Berlin, Germany, I would definitely jump on the opportunity. I'm sure the countryside is beautiful, the architecture in the cities, magnificent, the museums and history (even though I've never been much of a history buff), fascinating and even the nightlife...well...interesting. :)

I've always thought that the best way to visit (anywhere really) would be to stay for awhile to give yourself the time to explore and really get a taste of the culture.Rent apartments in Berlin, eat the food, visit with the natives, learn some of the language, walk in the parks, thoroughly explore the shopping centers and districts of Berlin, visit surrounding villages, etc. Doesn't it just sound like so much fun??

Unfortunately, I don't see that happening in the near future. But, I continue to dream and think to myself "Someday...". :) For anyone who ends up luckier than me, and is looking to take a trip to Berlin, maybe even for the holidays (!!) check out holiday rentals and plenty of travel guides to ensure that your trip is as well laid out and experience-filled as possible. And above all...ENJOY!!

Meaningful Beauty

2011-02-05T19:55:00.000-08:00

To the left you can see a link for the site for Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty skincare. Check out the video below and then click on the banner to the left to check out the site. :)

Success...

2011-02-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

My week long experiment is over. I'm pretty happy with my results. From last Saturday until today I posted 10 entries not including ad blurbs. That's more than I've blogged in one week (or one month) since college. :) And I only broke my status fast 3 times in the last 8 days. Of course, I'm pretty sure that the 18 inches of snow that kept me indoors from last monday through today, helped with the blogging...

So I'm back to my facebook posts. But I'm hoping to maintain more balance between status updates and blog posts in the coming future....

January pics...

2011-02-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

Mastercraft...

2011-02-04T08:41:00.000-08:00

Mastercraft Vacuums provides a variety of floor cleaning solutions for all needs from small homes to large businesses. They carry top selling brands including Panasonic, Mastercraft and Pristal at affordable prices. Their cleaning solutions include small and largewet dry vacuums and vacuum sweepers.

The website provides you with a number of tips on avoiding back injuries while vacuuming including a link to a page of proper techniques you can put into practice while vacuuming. So if any of you have small businesses in need of cleaning equipment check out the above links to see what Mastercraft can provide you with.

This evening...

2011-02-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

I'm home alone this evening. Jase is at a bachelor party for a friend who is getting married on Saturday. I'm bummed that Bones reruns are NOT playing on tnt at 6 this evening, and I'm impatiently waiting for Idol at 7 and a new Bones following that. After that I'll likely be back to being bored until the guys get back, late, late tonight. I'm really hoping they get back before midnight. I'm not a fan of bring home alone at night.

I would write a longer post, but like I mentioned in a previous post, I'm sitting cross legged on the floor to access my laptop...and my legs are complaining...so, I'm back to the couch and the blanket I'm crocheting...

Storage...

2011-02-03T14:56:00.000-08:00

I've never rented a storage unit. I've contemplated it. At the moment the closet in my back room serves as my storage. I can tend to be pretty bad about keeping things. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be considered a hoarder...but, for example...I still have three boxes of silk flowers from my wedding, and up until a few weeks ago I still have a leftover roll of lightweight filtration paper that we used for draping at the wedding. I have two pianos because when I got the upright from my sis inlaw, I contemplated selling the electric keyboard, but didn't try very hard to get it sold because I'm emtionally attached to it. It was my first 'real' piano and it's been back and forth between the US and Mexico with us since I was about 9.

So, anyway...I like to hold on to things. So the idea of renting a storage unit and giving myself MORE space to fill up, is probly not a good one. The limited space of my extra bedroom keeps me in check. And I don't quite understand the idea that keeping something in a storage unit is safer and more secure than in my home. I supposed it could be...but then I don't have anything super valuable enough as to feel the need to lock it down in a storage unit. But...if I were living in London and looking for storage London, this company provides storage services for homes and businesses at low affordable cost. If only I were living in London...

Back to the snow...

2011-02-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

...and more stupid people...

Apparently there are a few smart people...

The drifts around the cars are getting deeper.

On a brighter note...

I tried the stove top frosting recipe for the red velvet cake that I mentioned several posts ago. I had a boxed white cake sitting in the pantry, so it became cupcakes topped with the frosting. Yummy....

Hawaii

2011-02-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

On cold days like today when the weather is so miserable and nasty out, I start dreaming of sun, and warmth, blue skies, green grass and flowers. And sometimes, I even think about Hawaii. Or anywhere tropical, really. Lol.

I've always wanted to visit Hawaii. Actually I've always wanted to live there. I've been to some pretty beaches before in Mexico, but there's something about Hawaii beaches that just seem so much better. Maybe it's all hype, but still. I can't imagine I'd mind living there. :)

Just last night I watched an international real estate show with a couple looking to buy a retirement home in Hawaii. The homes they looked at were phenomenal. Their price range was between 1.2 million and 1.8 million. Eesh. But apparently it takes that to get a nice home there. Apparently real estate has been suffering over the last couple of year in places like Oahu, Big Island, and Maui because of the drop in tourism. Well, with prices like that...it doesn't seem a big surprise.

Maybe someday, when we're wealthy and ready to retire...for now I'm back to staring out the window at snow flakes and knee high drifts, while I dream of beaches and palm trees. :) Oh, and taking pics of stupid people who are apparently out of touch with reality enough to pull out of their parking spaces and get their cars stuck in the middle of the parking lot. REALLY, people?

More snow pics...

2011-02-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

These silly people thought they could get out...ha...they had 4 grown men pushing car and they only made about 6 ft of progress. After awhile they gave up and left the car sitting there...

Look at the drifts around the vehicles...eesh...

Yummy pasta dish I made. I followed Buddy's instructions for tomato sauce and it's some of the best I have ever tasted...yummm....

A few min later these people decided to take a try at getting out. They had a little more luck. With two people pushing they got the car at least past the building across from us and out of my sight. I have no clue how much further they made it...people are crazy...

The snow is still falling just as heavy (maybe even heavier) as it was this morning when I first got up. I'm having a wonderfully cozy day of watching food network and taking snow pics. White cupcakes just came out of the oven and in a little bit I'm planning on trying a new stovetop frosting recipe to go on them. Even my hubby is sitting on the couch watching the cooking shows with me. Heee....

Snow

2011-02-01T09:10:00.000-08:00

Taken at around 10 am.

About 10 am.The only way to get the snowflakes to show in the pic was to zoom in on the trees. It's coming down pretty hard.

About 10 am. There are usually buildings in the background of this shot.

About 10 am...

About 10 am...my feet are STILL chilled...

Sitting on the couch (ON TOP of the unfolded laundry) watching the snow...

:P

:)

Taken shortly after 11 am...

Blizzards and dog shops....

2011-02-01T07:28:00.000-08:00

Got up at about 9:15 this morning and rushed to the window to see if the weather forecasts had come true. They had. I knew it had sleeted and iced, because everytime I woke up last night I could hear the pellets hitting the window behind our bed. I think it kept poor hubby from sleeping well last night. It's hard to judge just how many inches of snow are on top of the ice, but i'd say it's at least a couple...and it's defintiley looking like a blizzard out there. It's very pretty, but i'm really hoping we don't get the FULL 12-18 inches that it's calling for.

I've been missing my puppies lately. Try as i might I cannot seem to convince Jase to let me have a dog. He has several reasons for saying no. All of which are valid so I'm having my doubts as to whether I'm ever going to be able to convince him. :(

I love dogs. Mostly little indoor dogs. I grew up with indoor dogs. In the past we've had a shitzu, a beagle, a dalmation, mutts,a cocker spaniels, a shepherd, a poodle, dachsunds, hounds, and a chihuahua. My family are definitely dog people.

I was led to this online dog shop this morning. As much as I love puppies, it always has amazed me how much people are willing to spend on dogs. My family loves our dogs. But we've never spent much money pampering them. They get basic dog food, maybe a collar if they need it, vet trips only when absolutely necessary, basic shots and meds when they're little or when absolutely necessary, and each of the current puppies has one article of clothing, which the entire family views as a rather ridiculous thing. I believe I'm guilty for both outfits. *cheesy grin*

The Orange Dog is apparently a Canadian charity that provides 'freedom flights' for abandoned and abused dogs that needs rescuing. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this. You know those 10 minute long commercials about abused and abondoned animals on tv? I can't watch those. They make me cry. I absolutely hate to see suffering animals. And yet....they are animals. Is it really wise to spend so much money and resources on rescuing abandoned dogs when so many babies are being aborted, and children are being abandoned and abused? Anyway...if you're interested on reading more about the said freedom flights, visit the above link, click on they're freedom flights tab and read away.

I'm going to go see if my camera battery is charged enough to get a pic of this crazy, miserable looking weather...Have a blessed day, everyone.

~Tonia

Monday Evening

2011-01-31T18:34:00.000-08:00

We're under winter storm warnings until 6 am tomorrow morning and Blizzard warnings until 6 am wednesday morning. Joy.

My sink (the side with the disposal) decided to clog this evening. Double joy.

I gave up on the idea of working out tonight because it's cold enough outside that I'm unwilling to walk across the parking lot to the clubhouse. Actually I didn't give up on the idea of excercise completely. I can still do floor exercises and lift light weights here at home. I just never really feel like I've gotten a real workout unless I can spend at least 30 min on the treadmill working up a good sweat. And we missed all last week due to unexptected schedule changes and slight bouts of stomach upsets. *sigh*

My computer is almost dead. :( The battery is so shot, that Jase took it out the other day because it was messing with the comps ability to even turn on. I'm trying to be as gentle as possible with it. It's currently propped up on the trunk in the living room and anytime it gets bumped it dies. My legs have been so sore the last few days from having to sit on the ground cross legged to use it. I'm seriously contemplating moving my vanity table and stool into the living room and putting the laptop on it so that I can at least sit up off the ground to use it. It would probly be much more comfy.

I watched Sunny Anderson make this red velvet cake today on Food Network. I have all of the ingredients except for pecans and it's been tempting me all day. I'm trying to hold off on it, though. It would actually make a good birthday cake...since, I still have to put in my request with Mom Burks for my birthday dessert. Hmmm...

Monday...

2011-01-31T08:16:00.001-08:00

Antonia Grace Burks

10:00 am
...just woke up...had some REALLY weird dreams last night that she's pretty sure were a result of the man eating piranha and crocodile SyFy movies...

...is wishing that the boxed carrot cake that her hubby made the other night didn't have nutmeg in it because she could so go for a bite of something sweet right now...

...HATES nutmeg...

...is already finding this experiment to be more difficult than she anticipated...

11:11

...is making a wish...

...is thinking it's time for breakfast...or lunch...

11:30 am

- Buddy from Cake Boss has an Italian cooking show in the mornings on TLC!!...eeeek!!...so cool!...still haven't eaten and he's even making eggplant look amazing...

1:41 pm

...is watching Rachel Ray...

Birthday Wish List

2011-01-29T20:10:00.001-08:00

I have a birthday coming up. February 18th to be exact. I'm going to be 24. Eek.

Anyway. I've been creating a wishlist and I thought I'd post it in case anyone needs ideas. (hint,hint) Lol. So far it mostly consists of small random household items that I've been wanting but haven't had extra spending money to purchase over the last few months. :) I'll add more as things come to mind...here goes..

I was given a beautiful white porcelain cake stand as a wedding gift and it occurred to me the other day that I have not been able to use it nearly as often as I'd like because I don't have a dome to be able to store cakes under. So...

#1. A glass cake stand dome. The surface of my stand measures just under 13 inches from edge to edge and it dips in slightly about 1 inch in from the edge. I like this style...

Everytime I have guests over, I'm reminded of the fact that my serving bowl collection consists of three glass bowls. So...

#2. Glass and porcelain serving dishes, all sizes. For porcelain I prefer solid colors. Reds and browns, especially, but I like all colors. And I've recently realized a fondness for white porcelain.

Spring is coming. I can feel it in the air, especially on days like this. I know it's still a few months away yet, but I'm getting excited for warmer weather. I've decided that I'd love a patio full of pretty plants. I know nothing about plants. Nothing. But I want to learn enough to at least have a few potted and hanging plants to pretty up the patio for this summer. And I think it'd be really cool for some of those plants to be vegetable plants or herbs. So...

#3. Plants. I have no clue what kind. Just, plants. Lol. I'll learn as I go.

More to come later...

I'm watching yet another ridiculous, giant man-eating crocodile (or alligator, not sure) movie on Syfy...The acting is better in this one, but the graphics are just as pathetic...

~Tonia

Experiment...

2011-01-29T16:14:00.000-08:00

I've decided to try an experiment.

I've never been wonderful at keeping up with my blog. Not only do I not feel myself to be a natural writer (it's always a bit of a chore), but I've found myself coming to a realization lately that I think facebook might be part of the problem.

Yes, facebook. Actually, facebook statuses to be specific. I update so frequently that when it comes to updating my blog I feel like I'm being redundant. And in the past I have opted against even doing a picture post because I update ALL of my pictures into monthly albums on facebook. And since pretty much everyone who reads my blog also is a facebook friend, everyone who cares to has clicked through my facebook albums and seen all of my picture offerings. So, here's is what I will be trying...

In the hopes that it will motivate me to update my blog more frequently (maybe even on a daily basis), for one week, I will not be updating my facebook status. Instead, everytime I feel the need to update the cyberworld on what I'm doing at the moment, or what is going through my mind, I'll post it on my blog. Even if it's literally just a one or two sentence status update. Also, any pictures that I have taken for the month of January (since I'm behind on my monthly facebook albums) and that I take in the next week, will go on my blog only.

We'll see how this goes. I need to reconvince myself that posting a quick blog post is not really that much more of a hassle than updating my status on fb. My blog was, after all, all I had in my college years (besides myspace, but that never really counted) and my little blurby posts mixed in with my longer more thoughtful offerings made for a much more interesting (and entertaining/ lighthearted) blog than this one has proven to be.

So here goes. I'm sitting here watching some Mega Piranha movie on SyFy. Wowsers. Apparently a genetically modified piranha escaped, bred, took over a river and at this point they are big enough that they are jumping out of the river onto buildings and exploding said buildings. Yes, exploding them. Don't ask me how. That's syfy for you. The main actor reminds me of a very untalented Keanu Reeves. I'm only watching it because it's really that horrible. As the channel motto so proudly declares "Only on Syfy"...

Jase: "What self respecting actor would be a part of this movie??"

I don't know Babe, I don't know.

And guess what's next? Mega Python vs. Gatoroid. Oh, yes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday,I found a coupon for a free candle from Bath and Body Works. Of course it was only a 1.6 oz candle, but who cares? Since I was already on that side of town, Jase picked me up after orchestra, took me out to eat, and then we went to the mall for my candle. As always, I picked the closest thing to straight vanilla I could find. :)

Since we live on the opposite side of town from the mall, we don't ever just pop in to stroll through for fun like we used to when we lived on Republic. So, even though we had no spending money, we walked through anyway.

On our way through we also stopped by Godiva for our free truffle for the month of January. Yumminess.

So I'm off to make quesadillas for my hungry hubby...

Young at Heart

2011-01-25T10:54:00.000-08:00

Listening to Sinatra this afternoon while cleaning house...

~

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you
If you’re young at heart
For it’s hard, you will find, to be narrow of
mind
If you’re young at heart

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the
seams
And life gets more exciting with each passing
day
And love is either in your heart or on it’s way

Don’t you know that it’s worth every treasure on
earth
To be young at heart
For as rich as you are it’s much better by far
To be young at heart

And if you should survive to 105
Look at all you’ll derive out of being alive
Then here is the best part
You have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart

:) :) :)

In Everything Give Thanks...

2011-01-20T10:09:00.000-08:00

...for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you...

...Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spriritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...

*~*

We woke up first thing this morning to a phone call from our insurance agent who had offered Jase a job, saying that he had decided to give the job to someone else. So we're back to square one. After the first wave of disappointement, and then several waves of annoyance and frustration :), I realized that the only thing left to be done was to give thanks. Apparently, this is not the job that the Lord wanted Jase to have and He made it unmistakeably clear. And that's the first thing to be thankful for; a very clearly closed door. Now to continue waiting for another door to open.

So rather than dwelling on worry about what the future holds, I'm trying my best this morning to count my blessings and give thanks.

I'm thankful my husband.
I'm thankful for the Lord's provision through gifts, odd jobs, and unemployment.
I'm thankful for the beautiful, crisp, white, snowy view that we woke up to.
I'm thankful for a warm, cozy apartment for which the rent will be paid next month.
I'm thankful for the opportunity to sell baked sweets on fridays at orchestra and the little bit of living money that it provides for us on a weekly basis.
I'm thankful... for so much more...
and I'm content.

*~*

...and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee...

...Not that I speak in regard to want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content...

Snow, Catalog Requests and Baboos...

2011-01-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

We were supposed to get 3-5 inches of snow last night. Or so I heard. Of course, it didn't happen. But we did wake up to a gorgeous light sifting of snow that has continued pretty steadily all day. The last time I peeked out the window before it got dark, the snow wasn't quite deep enough to completely cover the grass in the field behind our apartment, but if it keeps up all night we'll likely have a beautiful, crisp, new white blanket in the morning. I opened up the blinds and all day enjoyed the sight of the falling snowflakes as a backdrop to my artificially frosted windows. So pretty.

I rearranged my living room AGAIN last week. Moved the black bookshelf that was in my room and arranged it in a corner next to the matching shelf in the living room. I'm still trying to decide if I like it. With the piano next to the shelves and the small couch angled in front of the shelves and the window, it creates a cozy little corner. But it also kind of throws the entire room off balance since moving the shelves left a big blank section of wall space on the opposite side of the room. I'm contemplating moving the shelves back to take up that space. I still haven't decided yet.

My walls throughout the entire apartment have been striking me as rather bare lately and it's been bugging me. The few frames that I have (and the even fewer that are actually filled) are still sitting in corners here and there waiting to be hung. I'm really not good at wall arrangements. It DEFINITELY need SOMETHING though.

So today I requested several home decor catalogs in the hopes that they will provide me with a little inspiration. Of course I won't actually have money to buy anything that I like, but maybe it will give me some ideas for reinventing what I have or any cheaper items that I may come across. Here are a few of the companies that I requested catalogs from.

Pottery Barn
Home Decorators
Ballard Designs
West Elm
and
Chia'sso

PB was the only one I'd ever heard of but by the looks of the websites they should have some fun stuff. I'm looking forward to them already. :)

In other news, as of yesterday we have a new niece. Della May was born at 6:02 am on Sunday morning to Aaron and Jenna, Jase's brother and his wife. We haven't met her yet, we've just seen pics. And, as we expected, she's a cutie.

Tyana is due with another baby girlie in March, so we're now on the countdown for Elaina Jael.

I'm off to find a snack to spend my saved up carbs on and/or do some T-tapp...:)

Friday...

2011-01-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting at orchestra behind my bake table. Feeling slightly bored. My computer is working for the moment. This last week it decided that it doesn't want to hang on to the plug and the battery is so shot that everytime it unplugs it shuts off. And then this morning I had a heck of a time getting it to turn on because it would only get power if the cord was plugged in and shifted to the left. However that works. So I figured out how to wrap the cord around the side of the comp in order to hold it at just the right angle. Ugh. Now I'm trying to chat, blog, search, etc. without bumping it or the cord. I almost didn't bring it this morning, but then decided that fighting with it would be more entertaining that sitting here staring at people all day. *sigh*

Today's bake table spread: Cinnamon Chocolate jumbo muffins, chocolate marshmallow jumbo muffins, oatmeal cookies, chocolate chip cookies and brownies.

I'm still catching faint whiffs of the Cutie that I finished a few minutes ago. I LOVE the smell of freshly peeled oranges. So refreshing. I bit into my pb&j sandwhich a few minutes after finishing the orange, only to find that the bread tastes a little funky. Not bad. Just funky. Now I'm trying to decide if I'm hungry enough to get past that. I think I am. Off to lunch I go...

:)

I will sing...

2010-12-31T19:25:00.000-08:00

We started the morning off with some Fernando Ortega hymns. The first one that played was 'I will Sing of My Redeemer'. It's been running through my head all day.

I will sing of my Redeemr,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,
With His blood he ransomed me,
On the cross He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In His boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant power I'll tell,
How the victory he giveth,
Over sin, and death, and hell.

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His heavenly love to me;
He from death to life hath brought me,
Son of God with Him to be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy New Year all!!

Gyro Bowl

2010-12-30T20:25:00.001-08:00

I'm sitting here watching tv. And a commercial for the Gyro Bowl comes on. I found it to be rather a cool concept.

It's the bowl that never spills, whether you put cereal or raisins or pudding in it. It's dishwasher safe and 'virtually nondesctructable'. Nifty. :)

Kitchen Krafts

2010-12-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

I started receiving Kitchen Kraft catalogs a month or two back. Not sure where they came from or why I'm getting them, but after looking through a couple of them I've decided that, given the opportunity, I could most definitely spend a rather ungodly amount of money on their products.

Some things, like the Cake Batter Dispenser, honestly just look unnecessary and space consuming. I, for one, use a spoon or a small measuring cup (if I'm needing to be exact) to transfer my batter to my muffin tins and it works absolutely fine. Also the Icing Drizzler looks..well...dangerous for a baker like me. I make enough mess dipping a spoon or a fork into icing and drizzling my sweets, without having a dozen different dripping prongs to manage. And to be honest, my drizzled end product looks every bit as good as that picture. In my (limited) experience I have found that the trick to beautiful drizzling is not nearly so much in the tool used to drizzle but in the consistency of the drizzling icing. It's consitency and how well it runs ultimatley determines drizzling finesse.

On the other hand, I do find other tools like the Layer Slicing Kit to look fascinatingly nifty. I always have a heck of a time getting my cake layers flat and even, even when I use my little Cake Slicer Leveler . I also found my self drooling over the 3-In-1 Baking Rack and the Space Saver Rack. Also, how cool would it be to be able to ensure that all of your cookies come out the exact same thickness by using these Rolling Pin Rings? Ok, yes, I am slightly OCD...

Anyway, I could go on and on about their cupcake liners, and decorating tools, but I really should go do something productive like pushing through laundry, or cleaning my kitchen. And it's definitley time for some more Pandora...

Coziness and Contentment...

2010-12-29T13:51:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here feeling so very cozy and content at the moment. My house is smelling like a blend of vanilla cookie candle, baking banana bread and taco soup. So yummy. Taco soup and chili are some of my favorites. They turn out a bit different every time I make them, because I don't actually follow a recipe. I throw whatever I have that sounds good into a pot and spice it up to taste. And I have to say, I can't remember a time when it turned out bad. This time I started with about half of an onion, chopped and sauted in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. I added ground venison, 1/2 lb of 80/20 ground beef, and several tablespoons of chorizo. When that was cooked I dumped several cans of chili beans, kidney beans and black beans, a can of stewed tomatos and a small can of tomato sauce and about a half cup of frozen corn. For spices I added half of a packet of StoneMill Essentials taco seasoning mix and then added paprika, chili powder, cumen, garlic powder, cayenne and salt to taste. Pretty darn yummy, if you ask me.

I set my pandora to play Acoustic Eidolon and similar selections and have been enjoying a wonderfully soothing stream of various stringed instruments for the last hour or so.

Among the various goodies that I came home with from our trip to mom and dad's for christmas was a box of Land O'Lakes Chocolate Graham Hot Cocoa.

This was my first time trying LO'L hot chocolate and I was head over heels the second I tore open the first packet and got a sniff of the mix. It really truly tastes and smells like a graham cracker dipped in hot chocolate. I'm not sure I'm even going to be able to go back to regular hot chocolate again. Which is a bummer because I googled this new stuff and couldn't find a 6-envelope box for less than 6 bucks plus shipping and handling. Yikes. I don't know how much it is in-store but I'm not expecting a much better price. It makes me sad.

My timer for my banana bread is about to start yelling at me...

Ugh. Pandora just started a bluegrassy song with vocals. I'd better go kill it....

Xanga excerpts...

2010-12-28T15:55:00.000-08:00

I found my xanga blog earlier today. My last post was over a year and a half ago. Yikes. And despite wracking my brain for like an hour, I cannot remember my password. I barely remembered the url. Ugh. I even dug through my entire memory trunk hoping that I had written down my sign in info on a scrap of paper and stored it amidst my college papers and keepsakes. No such luck. I did, however, find a different xanga blog that I had completely forgotten about even starting. I'll be signing into that soon and seeing what I can salvage. For now, here are a few excerpts from my days as PianoGirl_87 on xanga.

Friday September 22, 2006

'I went and got my lunch out of my car today only to find, once I got back inside, that the microwave has been removed. All I had this morning to eat was a zone bar. I didn't even have time to make a protein shake. A threatening headache finally forced me to the snack machines, which contained absolutely NOTHING that looked even remotely filling much less healthy. I finally settled on Harvets Cheddar Sun Chips and Sour Cream and Onion baked Ritz Chips. So I'm sitting in the theory room again waiting for class, eating my 'lunch' and staring defiantly at the "NO FOOD OR DRINK" sign posted on the wall in front of me, as I shovel chips into my mouth. Yummm...'

Friday, August 4, 2006

'I dreamt last night that the fall semester started and we walked into theory only to find that we had not only new fellow students but a new teacher, who as it turned out, was just a difficult and rediculous as Riche was. I just sat there the whole time going, "Who is this guy, and where is Roed?! I want Roed!"

Not a good dream.'

Monday, July 10, 2006

'Highlight of the day; A book I ordered came in the mail. It's an early edition of Louisa May Alcott's Jo's Boys. I was so excited. I've spent pretty much the rest of my day smelling it.

Ok, I know that sounds wierd.

But seriously. There is not a neater smell in the world than that of an old book. And this book is OLD. I'm talking about 109 years old. It was printed only 7 years after it was first published. Very cool. Alcott is one of my all time favorite authors, right up there next to Gene Stratton Porter, Charles Dickens, Jane Austin, George MacDonald, and J.R.R. Tolkien. And the list could go on.

The only qualm that I have with going to college, is that over the last year I haven't had time to read the way I used to when I was in highschool. With homework constantly hanging over my head and threatening my GPA I can't afford to spend 2 and 3 hours a day on anything. Not even homework. It's a vicious cycle, I'm telling you. But who's complaining? Not Me.

Emoticons for the day;

Did you hear about the midget fortune teller that broke out of prison.?

It was a small medium at large...

Har Har Har...

One last thing; POTC Dead Man's Chest was AWESOME beyond words.

Absolutely, unbelievably, amazingly, spectacular. And that doesn't do it half the justice it deserves.

By the way, it set a record debut, bringing in over 120 million.

The only negative; I HAVE TO WAIT AN ENTIRE YEAR TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS!!! WAAAAHHHH!!!!!

I don't know if I have the patience for that.

If Elizabeth ends up in love with Jack, I'm going to die of laughter...'

Sunday, June 25, 2006

'Is it OK to be in love with a fictional character? What about two?

I'm thinking Jack Kelly and Laurie (Teddy) Lawrence.

Oh, and Quinn from Reign of Fire. That makes three.

*sigh*

One of these days I'll grow up. I promise.

All I know is, that day is not today.'

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

'Our pool is UP UP UP!!!!

Very exciting! It’s not full quite yet, but by this weekend it will be.

Went to the gym today, as always. Mack called be body-building material. Oh yeah.

Supposed to be studying Oceanography right at this very moment, but durn it, I can’t concentrate. I’m already three days behind, so I figure what’s another day gonna hurt?

I’ve nothing planned for tomorrow so I’ll just make it a study day. I hate first tests, cuz I never know what to expect.

Got a B today on my first in-class history assignment/activity. I’m slightly worried and annoyed at myself for not having done a better job. I hate B’s.

After class I went to the office to ask Lisa something and Mr. Riche was there. Before he left, he pointed to me and told Lisa, “That’s a good person there. A really good person.”

?!?

I was flattered of course but very curious as to how he came to such a firm conclusion after only two class periods and only one activity to show him what I’m capable of. And as I said above, I didn’t exactly do a very impressive job if I only got a B.

Stayed home tonight from VBS, determined to study. So far I’m not succeeding.

It’s dull as tombs around xanga and myspace. Somebody needs to liven things up. Jeepers.

Hardly anyone comments me and I’m OFFICIALLY COMPLAINING.

A thought: If I were to create a Multicultural Lit. Bank of Memories type thing, would anyone contribute? Pics, fave memories, recipes, songs, so on and so forth. I thought it might be neat. Probly won’t do it, but I was just curious.

*Sigh* Gonna go make another attempt at study.

What I want is sleep.'

Thursday, May 25, 2006

'I used to spend time outside by going down to the creek to catch frogs and crawdads, or walking along the river, or spending time down at the cabin at the foot of the mountain. But now we have a bear… ever since it moved in it has been the object of my despair. Stupid bear, that’s my mountain you're terrorizing… and I want it back.'

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

'Concerning our discussion today in Lit. about weight, gravity and mass, I think I've finally gotten figured out.

Weight: The pull of gravity on an object.

Mass: The amount of space an object takes up.

And finally...

Gravity: The pull of weight on your mass.

One last note:

The difference between light people and heavy people is in the 'm'.

Science according to my mom.'

I'm still hoping I'll remember or find my password for that site. I'm also severely tempted to switch over and make that my main blog. Reason? The emoticons. Blogspot doesn't have emoticons. It's a sad thing, really. :)

I'm sure I'll be posting more snippets from xanga.

Tuesday's Thoughts

2010-12-28T10:07:00.000-08:00

Christmas is over. The tree is put away. Decorations are packed and lights stripped off of the patio banister. I can never stand to leave christmas stuff up after christmas. I find it depressing to constantly be reminded that the holidays are over. And, besides, after having my tree up since October, I was quite ready to have the 10 sq ft of floor space back that it was consuming.

The week before christmas my sister-in-law gave us her piano that she was replacing. Once the guys got it up the stairs and in the door, they made it no further than the entry way with it and there it sat for almost a week. Once the tree came down, I rearranged the living room and moved the piano in. I topped it with a pretty green satiny table runner that I had found at the dollar store last week (was that really only a week ago?!) and arranged our hymnals and a few other trinkets along the top. It looks so nice.

I think we will play it more now that it's no longer in the cold empty entry way. I already sat down and played for a few minutes today. I'm so very rusty.

We got to go to my family's house for Christmas. We missed Thanksgiving with them and I was afraid we weren't going to make Christmas either, but we hitched a ride with cousins who were headed that way anyway. Our stay was less than 24 hours, but we had a blast. Mashed potatos, corn, green beans, turkey, brisket and mexican casserole for christmas dinner and pumpkin pie, cheesecake, cracker candy, dipped pretzels and dipped peanut butter and ritz sandwhiches for dessert and snacks. I, of course, over ate. And enjoyed every bite.

We spent the day hanging out, eating, playing games. We checked out the local walmart for their after christmas markdowns. It's the weirdest thing, but the Fredericktown walmart always has the best christmas clearance. It's become an annual must-do. I found four-packs of red and gold glittered ornaments for next year's tree for .50 a pack, 6-packs of votive candles in vanilla cookie, cinnamon, and cinnamon apple scents for .50 a pack, cute christmas mugs for $1.50, plastic christmas cups for .50, a six-inch red pillar candle for $1.25 and canned snow for .62 a can. I love stocking on sales after christmas and then having a bunch of new decor to open up and use the next year. I opened one can of the fake snow when we got home and added 'frost' to my living room windows. I wanted it before christmas and wasn't able to get it, but now I'll leave it up with the snowflakes for a while longer. It is, after all, still winter. :)

I came away from christmas this year with pretty good loot. My wonderful hubby bought me the leather Steve Madden boots that I had fallen in love with on our christmas shopping trip the week before.

I absolutely adore them. I've been hunting for a comfy pair of boots for several years now. Last year he bought me leather high healed boots, and as much as I love them, the height on them kills my feet if I wear them for more than a few hours and walking for very long distances whatsoever in them is an absolute no-can-do. Which limits their wear time to sunday morning services and occasional wednesday night church sessions. So I am very ecstatic that I now have a warm comfy pair of boots that I can wear for whole days at a time if I so desire.

My wonderful and talented Mummy, gave me a quilt that she had worked on all year. It's so gorgeous. I'm thrilled to finally have something pretty to go on my bed.

Now if I can only stay motivated to make my bed every morning. :)

We also received a pretty reed diffuser from Jase's mom, which is at this very moment, filling my living and dining room with a lovely, cozy, cinnamon orange aroma, an acapella praise cd from the above mentioned si-in-law, an adorable cupcake themed calendar from another sister-in-law, a cute crocheted scarf and necklace (for me) from my litter sister, sweaters (for Jase) from my family, and various other fun items. We are very blessed.

I hope that all of you, my readers, had a lovely christmas and I send warmest wishes for a very happy new year.

May God Bless,

~Tonia

Yummies and Ramblings...

2010-12-21T18:46:00.000-08:00

I spent the day making yummy edibles for the goody tins that I try to make every year as christmas gifts. I so love the candy making process and every year I look forward to revisiting the traditional christmas recipes as well as trying a few new things. The only thing I do NOT enjoy about my baking days is the aching feet that I end up with as a result of standing all day long. My feet are throbbing as I write. And I even had my Asics on all day. They would be hurting so much worse, I know, if I hadn't taken the time to stop and slip on my tennis this morning before I got started. Darn feet.

I've discovered a new site that I look forward to using in the future. Become.com is a comparison shopping site that helps you find the best price on everything from clothes and shoes to electronics and home and garden. I browsed through Steve Madden boots, looking for a pair that I found and fell in love with at a shoe store last week. Unfortunately, I had no luck finding them. I also browsed the sports shoe section, including the MAVRK Team Red Sprt Red 37 BR, naki shox turbo 10, and the nike shox turbo 10. Wishing I had extra christmas money to buy my sweetie a new pair of tennis. It'll have to wait a while, though.

Well, I'm off to cook some more of the pizza pockets that my hubby picked up for me today on his way home from giving his brother-in-law a ride across town. He really is the best hubby ever. <3

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

2010-12-18T19:04:00.000-08:00

I so love Christmas.

The last few months have been a bit rough. Jase was without work and there was a period of about 7-8 weeks between our last paycheck and the first unemployment deposit. To be honest, it made it rather difficult to get into the holiday spirit. Having no money for christmas decorations and fun holiday baking and treats was difficult enough, but not being sure we were going to get our bills paid every month was stressful. But God is faithful. Bills are caught up on and unimployment started just in time for Christmas. :) God is good.

And so it's finally starting to feeling like Christmas. I finally got the lights I wanted for the balcony banister, candy canes for the tree and the tins that I will be filling next week with yummy goodies are stacked under the tree. My kitchen counter is stacked with candy making ingredients and my 4 ft tree is set up in our bedroom and decked out in white and silver ornaments and ribbons.

We had our first round of gifts today with Aunt Jane, my father-in-law's sister. She gave us a gorgeous set of dinnerware, white with gold trim, a couple of super cute ornaments, a beautiful red and black decorative tealight candle holder, and a big yummy tin of popcorn. :) Very good start.

I had super much fun setting my table when I got home this evening.

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I'm starting a little project. Trying to use my blog to generate a little income. We'll see how it goes. Of course my first assignment WOULD be something that I know nothing about, in a place that I'm halfway across the US from. Ha. Los Angeles auto repair
Fortunately having experience or knowledge are not in the required criteria. Cars are so not my thing. I had to look up a Honda Civic to even know what one looked like. Sad, I know. My hubby can tell the make, model and year of a vehicle, even if the only thing he can see is it's headlights in our rearview mirror at night. He amazes me.
I also had to look up a head gasket. I still have no clue what it is. Oh, well. Anyway, for anyone living in LA would might be reading my blog and own a Honda Civic, check out the site and see what they may have to offer you.

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For now, I'm going to go find a few more things to knock off my to do list before the craziness of Christmas week sets in. Merry Christmas to all!

Fall is here!!...

2010-09-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

There is something about the fall that inspires and motivates me. It's my favorite season. Maybe it will inspire and motivate me to keep my blog better updated after this last unexpected break. :P

For now here are some pics from the last few months...

Moving into our new apartment at the end of May...

We really like it...

My new kitchen. I'm loving the counter space and extra cabinets...

The first weekend in June we spent a couple of days in St. Louis shopping in St. Peters and visiting historic downtown St. Charles. It was so much fun...

We found a little authentic Italian pastry shop and got to have a nice chat with the owner, Jasper Noto, and try some cream puffs and canolis...

We found some loose leaf tea in one of the shops...

We hosted the guy's annual TI party...Fortunately this time, they opted to start in the morning and go all day...so much better than pulling an all nighter...

Summer showers...

And double rainbows after...

Homemade ricotta gnocchi...

My first time trying the popular fruit flag cake...

Summer soccer league...

My Love's 26th birthday...he was quite thrilled with the set of GLAD cd's that he's been wanting for so long...<3

Jase's second birthday present...:)

A new game Jase came home with one day...it's called Quelf... it has quickly become a favorite with friends and family...

Playing Quelf with the guys and Rachel at the little goodbye party that we held for JB before he left for Cape Verde...

A day on the lake at Bull Shoals while on vacation in Arkansas with the Burks clan...

Lastly, our most recent undertaking is a low carb diet. This is my first real low carb meal. Hamburgers with mozzarella on flax focaccia, cooked cabbage with cheddar and steamed broccoli and cauliflower. This plate was around 8.5 carbs...

I didn't care for the focaccia so my plate was about 6 carbs without the bread...

6 Days to Go...

2010-05-26T11:40:00.001-07:00

I'm living in a sea of boxes. Can't wait to get rid of them. Living half packed is miserable.

Boxes in my living room...

Boxes in my dining room...

Boxes down my hallway...

Boxes in my bedroom...

Boxes in the back bedroom...

Too many boxes...*sigh*

Apartments, TVs and Failing Diets...

2010-04-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

Just got home from several appointments to look at apartments and I'm happy to say that after several phone calls and 3 different appts we finally decided on one. And this one will for sure be available (we double checked) for our move in date. We stuck with Coryell Courts since we already had a prelease down and everything set up. We also stuck with the Morris floor plan, except we had to go with the Phase I instead of the Phase II. Basically we gave up the elevators and enclosed walkways for slightly lower rent, comparable utilities, hardwood floors and keyless entry. After we get everything up three flights of stairs to our third floor apartment I'm sure we'll think it was a decent trade off.

'Sides...we're still getting all the amenities: heated pool and hot tub, free to reserve private theatre, private fitness center, outdoor basketball, tennis and sand volleyball courts...and I'm finally getting the hardwood floors that I've been longing for ever since I was old enough to start building castles in the sky...:)

This is the new floor plan.

1225 sq ft, 2 BD, 2 BTH

It's the same size, and the layout is similar though it doesn't feel *quite* as open as the Morris Phase II did. Oh well...I think it looks nicer that the Phase II because of the hardwood floors, and as we found with our current apartment, the rooms always look bigger once they have furniture in them. :)

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Jase has already firmly stated that he refuses to even think about moving our 56" high def tube TV up said stair flights. So onto craigslist it goes and whatever we get out of it is going into a savings fund towards a newer, smaller, thinner model.

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I'm sitting here finishing up fries from my Wendy's deluxe chicken sandwhich meal. *sigh* This week's diet has been a very lame joke. Monday I did wonderful. I didn't go over 1500 calories and I got my t-tapping and hoe downs in for the day. Tuesday was the girls shopping day in Branson. I ate three times that day...Chili's for lunch, Braums for dinner... and later that evening, a very small bowl of icecream and brownie torte for dessert. It's been downhill ever since. Thankfully I have kept up with t-tapping at least once a day and random sets of hoedowns whenever I remember them.

For the past week I've been itching to get outside for walks and runs but Jase has been sick so I've been stuck inside nursing him back to health. Fortunately he's feeling somewhat better today, though he still has enough of a cough that we had to reschedule his dentist appointment that was set for today. Granted that he feels better on monday, we have vowed to start running. Must. Get. Into. Shape.

...

Vitamins and Chocolate...

2010-04-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

Vitamins to keep up healthy...

Chocolate to keep us happy...

What more does one need?...

Just had to share...

2010-04-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

I came home from a long day of fun shopping in Branson with the Burks girls to a clean house and this sitting on my stove filling my apartment with a luscious chocolatey aroma...

A cream cheese, sour cream and white chocolate chip brownie torte...

So we bought some Braum's ice cream to add to it...

...and enjoyed a bowl of nice, fattening, diet-defying, heavenly goodness...

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

I seriously have the best hubby...

Last night...

2010-04-12T11:21:00.001-07:00

we made a wally run for meds, tissues and cough drops for Jase who has been severely congested, feverish and achey since friday. I forgot shampoo so we're gonna have to go back today. I hate it when I do that. We found Ricola sugar free Lemon Mint herb throat drops and decided to give them a try. They're amazing. I've been sucking on them and I'm not even sick. :)

We also bought some Kraft mac 'n' cheese. I haven't allowed it in my house for months now because I'm trying to keep healthier whole foods available and cut out the unhealthier stuff. Mac 'n' cheese was one of the first things to go. But Jase's throat has been raw for days now and he wanted something hot and soft to eat. So I actually suggested it...cuz I love him...:)And it tasted so very yummy.

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Friday we made a trip to Mama Jeans for some tea and lozenges. We bought cinnamon apple spice and honey vanilla chamomile. Jase has been drinking it like crazy. He's gone through 13 tea bags in about 3 days. I'm not a tea person. I've made myself try it several times now thinking each time that maybe my tastes have changed and I'll like it. Hasn't worked yet. The cinnamon apple spice is not too bad. The honey vanilla is not too good. They do both smell pretty wonderful though.

The lozenges on the other hand are all around nasty. Thayers Slipper Elm Lozenges with rose hips and vitamin c. They're supposed to be a natural tangerine flavor. They're barely orange. Basically they are little round pasty tablets that you're supposed to allow to dissolve on your tongue and repeat every 2 hours as needed. I haven't tasted them but they smell pretty offensive. Jase actually ate about 10 of them. His throat must feel pretty bad. :(

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Last month was long. Very long. The company Jase worked for let him go at the beginning of the month. It's been a big long drawn out mess that actually started late last year. I can't go into details. Basically it was a ridiculous situation (much more complicated than one would think) that was going to make it very hard, if not impossible, for Jase to get another job. Finally, towards the end of the month, after much stress and frustration, resolution took place. Very not fun, though we are grateful to the Lord and to the company leadership for making it happen.

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But God is so good.He truly does work everything out for good, even if only in that we don't have to deal with a certain somebody ever again. :) That in and of itself is immense relief and happiness. But that hasn't been the only blessing. God has provided financially ever since and we've lacked in nothing. Jase now has a new job which he is very excited about and which has the potential to be more successful than his last one. And he's working from home. HAPPINESS!! I've had him home with me for over a month now and I'm not sure I'll be able to bear it if he ever has to 'go' to work again. I'm getting very spoiled.

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I'm hoping this month goes a bit better though it started out with a phone call from Coryell Courts saying that they aren't going to have availabel the apartment that we wanted after all. Grr. Apparently they allowed us to prelease without explaining that at the time they still had not received all of their notifications for who was going and who was staying for the month of June. They only told us that several leases were coming up and that we could put down money to secure one of the apartments. On Thursday they called saying that all of their notifications are in and it turns out that none of the Morris Phase IIs that we wanted are going to be available.

So we're left scrambling around trying to find somewhere else, because as of June 1st our apartment is rented out. We have an appt today to go look at another apartment at a different complex and I'm hoping we can squeeze in a trip to Coryell also to look at the Phase I apartments which are supposed to be available. We really liked the location of Coryell, we LOVED their amenities and even the Phase I apartments are newer and nicer than our current one, so maybe we'll get one of those. We'll see. I also found several duplexes in springfield and even a 4 plex in Marshfield that we may look into if we don't settle on an apartment within the next week or so.

I'm tired already just thinking about it.

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I almost forgot...

2010-04-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

...today is our 10 month anniversary!...I LOVE YOU DARLING!!!...xoxoxoxo

Finally!...

2010-04-06T19:47:00.001-07:00

I got a new dining table and chairs!! I'm so excited. I've been shopping around for a set for months and just hadn't found the right one...until yesterday when I was looking through Craigslist posts and saw this set. Today, Jase took me to look at it. The guy said it was straight out of the box, but it had a few dings and scratches and one of the chairs was slightly wobbly (which they kept trying to blame on the floor, and it seems they were right as I've noticed no wobbliness now that it's in my dining room) so they gave me about a 10% discount. *smiles*

I really, really like it. It's pretty much exactly what I've been looking for and it looks so good in my dining room. And it will look SO much better in my new dining room. :)

Mom Burks helped us pick it up in her van and brought it home for us. Then she helped me rearrange a bit. We unloaded the hutch, centered it, and set it back up again. After dinner I got Jase to help me put up the mirror that was originally in the living room and had been replaced by a painting yesterday. Finally my dining room is complete. Happiness...

Dinner was cream cheese, garlic and chives stuffed chicken (minus the chives, cuz I didn't have any so I substituted a dash of oregano), buttery mashed potatoes, and a salad...

Last night's dinner...meatball nirvana and homemade marinara on whole wheat pasta with homemade whole wheat garlic bread...

My last batch of roses from Jase are drying and turning dark...and looking gorgeous in the process...

Last week we shopped for and organized an easter egg hunt for Jase's siblings...I forgot to take my camera on Sunday so I missed pictures of the actual hunt and all I have is prep pics.

Our loot...

It didn't look like much at first...but then we got all of the candy dumped into a bowl and realized just how much it actually was...lol...

Our first batch...150 eggs...

And the leftovers...

So when we went back to Hobby Lobby to make some returns we picked up a few more bags of eggs...

All filled and ready to go...246 small, medium and large eggs...and we had to exchange the nesting eggs from purple to yellow cuz the first set we bought had a crack...

It was a fun Easter Sunday...

I'm going to go t-tapp and go to bed...good night...

Bread Recipe

2010-03-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Tyana Burks. This is the way she gave it to me and my tweaks and substitutes are in parenthesis...I use a stone ground whole wheat which is fine enough to use for the entire flour content...

3-4 C White Flour (Stone Ground Whole Wheat)
3 C Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 C Sugar (Honey)
4 1/2 t Yeast
1 T Salt
2 C Milk
1/2 C oil (homemade sugar free applesauce)
2 T Honey
2 Eggs
( I also like to add 1/4 C flaxseed)

Combine 1/2 C white flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, yeast and salt (and flaxseed). In a small saucepan heat the milk, oil and honey to 120-130 F. Add to dry ingredients. (Because I substitute honey for the sugar and applesauce for the oil, I heat the 2T + 1/2 C honey with milk, add that to the dry ingredients and then add the applesauce.)

Add the eggs. Stir until moistened. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl and cover and let rise until doubled; 30 min - 1 hr. Punch down. Divide into 2 to 3 portions depending on desired size of loaves. Shape and place into greased bread pans. Let rise until doubled; about 30 min. Bake at 350 F for 20-25 min or until golden brown.

Last time I made this batch I got 2 regular loaves out of it and had enough dough left for two mini loaves. The batch also splits in half very easily for one huge loaf or two smaller loaves.

I've also found that this recipe burns easily. I always set my oven to about 310-320 F and bake for a bit longer. It may just be that my oven gets hotter than the temp I set it at, but I don't have trouble burning anything else, so I tend to think it's just the recipe.

Hope everyone who tries this enjoyes it as much as we do. It is also great for dinner rolls, cinnamon tolls and pizza crusts.

One of my regular and mini loaves from my last batch.

Seriously??

2010-03-10T15:14:00.000-08:00

For real?? Sorry, but this struck me as one of the dumbest ideas I've ever seen...

Floor Plan

2010-03-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

This is the apartment that we preleased...

Coryell Courts
Morris Phase II
1225 sq ft

Compare to our current floor plan...

Hawthorne Suites
1000 sq ft

In case you can't tell...I'm REALLY excited...:)

Moving Plans

2010-03-09T20:05:00.001-08:00

We went over to Coryell Courts today to put a prelease on an apartment. I was also hoping to be able to see the apartment that we were reserving so that I could take pics of it to show everyone. Unfortunately when we got there, we found out that they had just leased the last available apartment for the move in date that we wanted. It wasn't even available to look at so I wasn't able to get any pictures. :(

Coryell has two different sets of apartments; Phase I and Phase II. Each floor plan was named after a different Coryell family member. The Phase I apts are the older ones. The Phase II apts are the newer ones with the secured breezeways, elevators and keyless entry. The apt we had looked at and wanted was a Marie in Phase II. Since there were no empty apartments to look at we looked over the floor plans on their brochure and found out that the Morris in Phase II is exactly the same floor plan (just flipped) except that it has an extra 25 sq ft in the door way which gives a little bit more opening when you first walk in... for the same price as the Marie. And they told us that there would be more Morrises opening up in the next few months than there would be Maries...

So...they didn't have an apartment available for us until June 1st. Our lease where we are is up at the end of April. So Mr. George Coryell contacted the Hawthorne office and worked it out with them to extend our lease here for an extra month at regular monthly rent so that we can wait for the apt we want to open up at Coryell.

While we were talking with the guys at the office (Jeremy and George), we asked about the 13 month lease agreement with one free month that we had been told about the last time that we called. But we were also wanting to do the prelease now to ensure that we get an apartment when one comes available. Apparently we couldn't get the 13 month lease unless we were signing to move in immediately...But... George called Sam ( who is apparently the top dog) and worked it out that we will get the 13 month lease with one month free in June. And for now we have a prelease down for when it becomes available. Also our lease here is extended for a month.

So in the end...Jeremy, though nice, wasn't very helpful but we REALLY like George. :)

I'm having trouble deciding on whether I'm dissappointed or relieved that our moving date has been shifted. On the one hand we get an extra unexpected month here...in our first little home...which is kind of a happy thought. Plus I can put off moving prep for another few weeks. But..on the other hand, for the past couple of weeks I've been feeling the approaching move looming and I'm dreading it and wishing that I could just go ahead and pack and move and get it over with. Just thinking about it thoroughly exhausts me. So I now have an extra month to dread it...which isn't such a happy thought. :/

I've already started some prep. I have a list going of people, places and accounts that are going to need address changes as soon as we move. I add to it as they come to mind. I've also found a source for nice new crisp packing boxes. I think the next big step will be finding a huge moving van. The less trips back and forth the better. It would be very nice to have a big enough vehicle to be able to pack everything in at once and make only one trip.

I know I'll have plenty of help, which will also make it more enjoyable. But I'm really dreading it...

*sigh*

March

2010-03-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday we went to see the midnight premiere of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. I've been waiting for this movie since I first saw the trailer last July. Back then it felt like it would never get here. I reserved tickets on Fandango a week in advance.

Earlier in the evening we had a couple of the guys from Classy Llama over and we watched Disney's Alice in Wonderland and enjoyed some snacked before heading to the movie. We got there 45 minutes before it started and we still ended up towards the end of the line. By the time we made it into the movie we ended up stuck on the front row. Not cool. Fortunately, right before the movie started we found a couple of seats in the very back row. I was so very happy. The movie was AWESOME and I wouldn't be surprised if we go see it at least once more while it's still in theatres. LOVED it. Even Jase like it...and he can't stand Alice.

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Us in February. *heart*

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A couple of weeks ago I pulled out the sewing machine for the first time in months to make the elephant pincushion that mom bought me the pattern for for my birthday. It ended up being a project that got spread over a couple of weeks. I had to order some buttons from Etsy.com cuz I didn't have any cute enough for the elephant.

At Christmas I started an afghan and finally finished it last month. It's a bit rough around the edges (literally) but considering that I haven't crocheted in years and it was my first try at an afghan I was pretty pleased. And I love the colors.

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Baby Edward's blessing was a few weeks ago. I baked a butter cake and Tyana's sister helped me cut it out and she piped Pooh onto it. It turned out pretty cute.

I also made cupcakes with honeybees. The bees were lemon flavored jelly beans drizzled in almond bark and the wings were sliced almonds. Very cute.

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Our lease is up at the end of next month. I can't believe we've been married almost a year. We're planning on moving to Coryell Courts which is another TLC apartment complex. We looked at a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment that's about 200 sq ft bigger than what we have now. It's also a newer building so it has wood floors, newer carpets, and the kitchen is gorgeous. More cabinet and counter space and new appliances. The breezeways are secured, and heated and air conditioned and there are elevators which will make moving in a ton easier if we get an upper floor apartment like we requested. The complex is gated, the apartments have keyless entry, there is a small private theatre that we can reserve for free for movies and parties, outdoor basketball, tennis and sand volleyball courts and a cozy little gym. It will be a much better location for us and will cut trips to church in about half. It also puts us only about 10-15 minutes away from Jase's parent's house instead of being about 35 min away and will make Jase's commute to the office shorter in the mornings. I'm very excited.

And yet I'm also very sad to be leaving our first little home. I kinda feel like I've just now fully settled in and I'm already looking at packing things up soon to move. I'm trying not to think about it for the time but I can't ignore it for much longer.

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Last week I found a recipe for almond honey-butter cookies. I wanted to avoid white flour so I replaced it with oat flour and almond flour that I ground myself in the blender.

The almond flour smelled soo yummy. The cookies had no sugar, white flour or oil and they were way yummy. I really enjoy cooking healthy. I just wish the ingredients weren't so much more expensive.

I'm gonna go cut into the fresh bread that I just pulled out of the oven. It smells wonderful...

Simplicity

2010-02-11T18:58:00.000-08:00

How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn't care about careers,
And exigencies never fears;
Whose coat of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity

Birthday cake I made for Ethan's 2nd birthday...

Cupcakes for the Superbowl...

Pretty colors...

Best pizza I've made yet...

Fat quarters mom sent me... :)

The Love of God

2010-02-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

I found myself this morning with bits of this tune running circles in my head as I fixed breakfast. Finally I recalled enough of the lyrics to find it in the hymnal. I even sat down at the piano and plucked out the treble clef. ( I haven't actually practiced in over a year. It's rather depressing that something that once felt so natural as breathing now feels so foreign:( I really need to start practicing again. Especially since I'm toying with the idea of picking up teaching sometime in the near future. )

~ The Love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reachest to the lowest hell
The guilty pair bowed down with care
God gave his Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forever more endure
The saints' and angels' song.

When years of time shall pass away
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall
When men who here refuse to pray
On rocks and hills and mountains call
God's love so sure shall still endure
All measureless and strong
Redeeming grace to Adam's race
The saints' and angels' song

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forever more endure
The saints' and angels' song.

Could we with ink the oceans fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forever more endure
The saints' and angels' song.

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Cozy Days

2010-01-29T17:34:00.000-08:00

Woke up this morning to our second snow of the year. Jase stayed in and worked from home. It's so very wonderful to not have to worry about him being forced to go to work in icky weather. I remember last winter when I would spend the day worrying myself literally sick, knowing that he was out in the slick nasty weather trying to make his way to and from Chase to keep from losing his bonus pay. It's such a relief to not have to deal with that anymore. The snow came down pretty steadily all day long. I took this pic around 5:00 pm and it's been snowing ever since. It's supposed to keep snowing all night. We're under a winter weather warning until about midnight and the total snow accumulation is supposed to be around 4-6 inches.

It was super cozy to spend all day inside. I'm honestly not sure where my day went. I didn't seem to get much done and yet the day seemed to fly by so fast. I spent my morning napping on the couch and then putting off doing the dishes and instead made some major progress on my current puzzle. It's 1000 pieces and probably one of the hardest I've done yet. It's so close to being done and it's bugging me. Every time I walk by I have to stop and try to get a few pieces in place. That's probly part of the reason why I still have a pile of laundry in the living room that has yet to be folded and a mess in the kitchen from dinner. Oh well. :)

The beautiful red roses that Jase brought home for me on Monday. :)

For dinner I made baked potato soup. While it was cooking I decided that the day called for some yummy muffins too. 30 min later I pulled out these warm apple cinnamon muffins topped with a crunchy brown sugar and cinnamon mix.

Well, my puzzle is calling me. Maybe I'll finish it tonight so that I can begin my next project.

Goodnight all,

~Antoni

2010-01-25T14:38:00.000-08:00

So the vehicle troubles never seem to end. We finally got our van licensed after a month of hassles, and on the way home I told Jase, " Watch it fall apart now that it's legal."

I should've kept my mouth shut. Jase barely made it home Thursday evening, and then didn't make it out of the parking lot Friday morning. He coasted it into a parking space and there it sits. So we started scouting around and made some phone calls. The next day mom and dad made a trip over to bring us their extra car to use for a month or two. We were planning on spending our next bonus check on a cheap vehicle to make do until we could save up for something more reliable. But mom and dad's sweet offer to loan us their car is going to give us a month's head start on that plan. It's such a blessing.

I think I'm going to order pizza tonight for dinner. I always feel guilty about 'throwing' money away like that but today I'm totally willing. There is only one day out of every month, that I hate being female. Today would be that day. 'Nough said. I've been absolutely worthless today. I still even have dishes piled on the counter from yesterday morning's brunch with mom and dad. Oh, well.

One day last week I broke down and gave into my craving for sugar cookies. I found an awesome icing glaze that hardens and is pretty tasty too. I bookmarked it and have plans for it in the near future.

I found this snowman cookie idea while picking out recipes to make this last christmas. I never got a chance to make them so I just had to try a few. These turned out abominably ugly, but I wasn't surprised considering that I'm completely out of christmasy baking supplies to make them cute. But at least I now have an idea how to make them, and I'll hopefully turn out a cuter batch when my pantry is better stocked.

My Beloved just walked through the door bearing gifts. Thermacare heatwraps (for the above mentioned misery), Reese's hearts, a dozen gorgeous red roses and a backgammon set that I've been wanting for a while. He's so wonderful. Time to settle in for a nice cozy evening with my man, pizza, chocolate, soda and backgammon. The day just got about ten times better. :)

Update...Finally

2010-01-18T17:48:00.000-08:00

So...'tis Monday. Actually...'tis about three Mondays after the Monday that I intended to pick up blogging again. I'm so very bad at keeping a consistent blog. I sometimes wonder why I even try, and yet there's always something (or someone) that brings me back, time and again. This time it was a friendly post on my facebook wall from a friend wondering if I had given up, that inspired me to promise an update soon. It's always nice to be reminded from time to time that someone does actually read my blog and misses it when I'm negligent. So Alyssa...thanks. :)

I hate new year's resolutions. Mainly because any resolution I make usually ends up in an epic fail. So I make goals instead. That way when I do fail, it doesn't seem so drastic. 'Cuz it wasn't actually a resolution...just a goal. Lol.

So far I've had a pretty decent start on my goal of eating healthier and getting rid of the weight that slowly crept back after my wedding. I absolutely refuse to weigh what I weighed last summer. Refuse. Since New Year's day I've lost about four pounds. Excercising on the other hand, hasn't started yet. I did one session of T-tapp last week and that's about it. I meant to start today, but once again, life interfered. Instead I spent my day cleaning house. I must say I'm quite happy with today's accomplishments. They are as follows:

- picked up everything off of the floors in the entire apartment except for furniture in preparation for vacuuming...

- vacuumed the entire apartment including bathrooms, kitchen, utility closet floor and door frame, and in front of and around the washer and dryer in the hallway closet...

- washed, dried, folded and hung up all (ALL) of my laundry except for one load of whites which is still sitting in the dryer needing to be put away...

- cleaned out Jase's side of the closet and dresser, sorting, organizing and weeding out pieces that he never wears...I did my side on saturday and there are two big trash bags of clothes waiting to be sent home to Burks kids...

- Washed all of my dishes and counters every (EVERY) time I cooked or dirtied anything all day....

- straightened up and decluttered our bedroom...

- straightened up the bathrooms...

- went to a much needed chiro appt with my hubby at 5:30...

- went grocery shopping for the next two weeks...

- put away groceries...

I think will sleep well tonight.

Earlier today Jase decided that the only thing that sounded good for his not happy tummy was...um....cinnamon sugar potatos. And try as I might to convince him that it probly wasn't a good idea, he insisted that I give it a try. Lol.

I tried to keep them in nice pretty slices, but as they cooked the slices kept sticking together and the end result was more of a scrambled potato mess.

He took about two bites and pushed them away. :) He claimed that they were almost good, but lacked something. I refused to try them, so I can't honestly say what they may have been needing. Although I can't imagine that anything would make them taste good. Poor Babe...usually he has pretty good ideas. Not sure what happened this time. Lol.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mother-in-law today, and an early Happy Birthday to my awesome Dad tomorrow.

Time to curl up on the couch with the afgahn I've been crocheting and watch me some Cake Boss...

G'night all.

~Antonia

Moment by Moment...

2009-09-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

My second sewing project after my napkins ... The pillow inside isn't quite the right size or shape so I'll have to work on that. But I really like the way the cover turned out...

Eilis's birthday present...

They ended up being a bit more work than I thought they would be, but they turned out really cute and everyone loved them, so it was totally worth it. And I very much enjoyed the project...

They are too fluffy to stack well, but I made them more for their cute factor, not really expecting them to stack at all...

Last week we bought a bushel of apples from a discount grocery in Marshfield...

My apartment has smelled like apples and cinnamon for about a week. I love it. It's so cozy and yummy smelling. I've dried some for potpourri and this is my first crisp for the fall...

This coming weekend I'm hoping to take the rest with us to Mom and Dad's and mom is going to help me can them...I'm hoping for applesauce and maybe some apple pie filling and/or apple butter...

Mom Burks had mentioned a while back that my hair was growing fast. I hadn't actually noticed until yesterday and I was rather surprised at how much it has grown. I got it cut only just over three months ago and it's quite a difference...

I've loved having it short, but I am very glad it's growing fast. I like having longer hair in the winter...

And yes, that's football in the background...*sigh*

I adore fall, but football is a very trying aspect of an otherwise perfect season...oh, and halloween...:D

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Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;

Living with Jesus a new life divine;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Never a trial that He is not there,

Never a burden that He doth not bear,

Never a sorrow that He doth not share,

Moment by moment, I'm under His care.

Never a weakness that He doth not feel,

Never a sickness that He cannot heal;

Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,

Jesus my Savior abides with me still.

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;

Moment by moment I've life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;

Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Cheesecake wonton bites...

2009-09-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

I had a request for this recipe. Mine turned out pretty yummy but I didn't follow the cheesecake recipe very strictly so they probly could be better. I only had less then a package of cream cheese so instead of measuring out everything else into a third of what the recipe called for, I just kinda threw the ingredients in until they looked good. Lol. Usually that works just fine, but I think in this case it would be a better idea to measure things out accurately.

Wonton wrapper dough:

1 egg
3/4 tsp salt
2 c flour
1/3-1/2 c water

Combine the egg and salt and beat lightly. Mix in 1/4 c water. Add in flour and add the rest of the water as needed until a soft dough forms. Knead for about 5 min and the cover and let rest for 30 min. Roll out and cut into shapes. I just used a large biscuit cutter but any shape can be used as long as it can be shaped into a little cup. Or if you prefer to make little pockets or rolls you can cut into square or triangle shapes to fold around filling. The recipe that inspired me to try these suggested star shapes like this:

For cup shape, press cut outs into mini-cupcake tins. The wontons themselves only need about 5 - 7 min to bake but I've baked them up to 15 min depending on what the filling requires and they did not burn.

So far I have made about 34 wonton cups from the batch and I still have about half of the dough left. It freezes well, though, so I just pull it out and take what I want and then return the rest to the freezer well-wrapped.

Cheesecake filling:

3 (8oz) pkgs cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp fround nutmeg

Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in 1 egg at a time. Add extract. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 min or until firm.

Spoon cheesecake into wonton cups. Topping can be added before or after baking depending on what the topping is. I used frozen blueberries so I added them before baking. Next time I will probably bake them without anything and then drizzle with chocolate or another topping after they are cooled...

Enjoy...

God bless,

~Antonia

Little Wonders...

2009-09-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning with an intense desire for Christmas music. I'm trying to hold myself off, though. I'm afraid if I start on it too early, I'll end up bored with it by the time Christmas actually gets here. I can't wait to set up a tree and decorate my little apartment...

Last weekend we got our washer and dryer. On Monday I washed every single piece of dirty laundry in the apartment. :D And I quote Jase: "Man, everywhere I look there's clean laundry! This is awesome!" I LOVE it...

On Tuesday I conquered the sewing machine and proudly produced four cute little napkins out of a piece of yellow gingham that mom had found at a material store while she was here. My next project is a pillow out of some brown plaid that mom found at yet another material store. :D I got it all cut out and even started sewing an edge of one of the pieces, when everything came to a screeching and very unhappy halt at the realization that I had no brown thread or extra bobbins. I finally acquired the necessary articles and am hoping to resume work today...

I came across a recipe for wonton cups while disassembling a taste of home recipe card booklet. I decided I had to try them. Since I didn't have wonton wrappers, I searched out a recipe for making them from scratch. Basically they are just an egg noodle recipe. I also had to make up my own filling since I didn't have the required ingredients for the recipe that inspired. They turned out so yummy. I baked about two dozen and still had over half of my dough left. It is now in the freezer awaiting the discovery and/or invention of a yummy dessert filling...

Me + Him = Us...

He's going to fuss at me for posting this, I know.

Poor Babe. He needs a haircut so bad. I love his hair long, but it's getting rather out of hand as of late. I really need to make my next project learning how to cut his hair, but I'm so afraid I'm going to butcher it, which will most likely result in him cutting it super short the way he likes it. *sigh*

This was on our way out the door for our forever long walk on Wednesday to the bank, Walmart, Dollar Tree and back home. I think it was about 7 or 8 miles in all. I was so tired that evening...

God Bless,

Antonia

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Our lives are made in these small hours

These little wonders, these twists and turns of fate

Time falls away but these small hours

These small hours remain...

I will remember...

2009-09-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

Today started with a trip to the laundromat to finish forgotten laundry from yesterday and to pick up a package that Michelle (the landlady) had called us about. I had put laundry in yesterday around 12:30 and then forgotten about it. A text from Jase this morning reminded me that I needed to go finish it and pick up the package that Michelle had left sitting by the dryer for us. We were hoping it was the envelope that Mom and Dad had sent us for Jase's birthday, as it still hasn't arrived. Unfortunately it wasn't, but it was made up for when I pulled out this adorable pillow from mom...

I love it! It's so cute perched on my new couch with the afghan from Ms. Laura.

Also, another new addition to the living room:

Jase's old trunk. I originally wanted to paint it until I got it into the living room and realized that I kinda liked the look that it gave to the room.

So far I am really liking the way the living room is turning out. We've contemplated asking the Michelle if we could paint a wall or three but we decided that for the time being it's more hassle than it's worth, considering the fact that if she did grant permission, we would most likely have to promise to repaint back to the original color when we move out. As it is, with all of our furniture, moving out is going to be enough of a chore without having to repaint walls. Maybe we'll do it later, especially if we renew our lease at the end of a year. We'll see...

I really only have two complaints at the moment:

1. The entertainment center is downright hideous. I'm really wanting to get it painted or something, but we haven't been able to get anything done yet. I really have no idea what to do with it. Painting it will help some, I'm sure, but I'm thinking it's gonna need something more done to it to make it look good next to the couches. Whatever we do, I'm really hoping it happens soon because I'm getting really sick of looking at it...

2. My furniture is too big for me to rearrange easily. Even if I could push it around myself (which I can't) the living room only allows so many ways for it to be rearranged. I've contemplated getting rid of the entertainment center altogether, which would make it easier to rearrange everything, but I like the extra storage space that it gives me. For now I kitty-cornered the shelf that used to be along the wall next to the love seat...

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I started the day off yesterday by making oatmeal maple cinnamon muffins. They turned out a little dry which didn't surprise me considering that I had to tweak the recipe a bit. They need some work but overall they were pretty yummy...

Yesterday we went to Redeemed Books and Music to spend a gift card that Jase had gotten from his mom for his birthday last month. We found these:

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Travels of Marco Polo

The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne

Tom Sawyer by Clemens

I love collecting old books. Even if I never read them they look cool sitting on a shelf...

We also got this one, which I'm not altogether sure about:

I have never read any Edgar Allan Poe. Jase pulled it off the shelf yesterday and started talking about how freaky Poe is and how we would probly never sleep if we read this book. My reply was a sarcastic, "Sounds like fun...".

So we bought it. We'll see how that goes. I'm glad it was cheap cuz it may not stick around for long...

Well, I'm off to do some cleaning. My mom and bro are possibly coming tonight and bringing my two mattresses for the trundle bed in the back room and my washer and dryer. The back room and closet need serious cleaning and rearranging to be ready for them. I can't wait to have my own washer and dryer. If I never have to carry laundry to a laundromat again in my entire life, it will be too soon.

One last adorable pic of my beautiful hubby...

Isn't he so cute?

God bless,

~Antonia

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A beautiful and blinding morning

The world outside begins to breathe

See clouds arriving without warning

I need you here to shelter me

If I could make these moment endless

If I could stop the winds of change

If we could keep our eyes wide open

Then everything would stay the same

So keep me awake for every moment

Give us more time to feel this way

We can't stay like this forever

But I can have you next to me today

We'll let tomorrow wait, you're here, right now, with me

All my fears just fall away, when you are all I see

And I will remember

All the love we shared today

Oh, I will remember...

Wedding Photos...

2009-07-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

So it's been way too long since I posted last, but life has finally settled down. Jase and I have been married for 7 weeks today and we've loved every minute of it so far. We're settled into our little apartment in Springfield. We love our little home. It's small and cozy, 2 bedroom and 2 bathrooms. My only complaint at the moment is that I don't have nearly enough counterspace in the kitchen. :D It makes baking and cooking projects a bit tricky but I'm enjoying having my very own kitchen, nonetheless.

We're about 2-3 miles from Jase's work so it's been really nice to not have to get up super early even though he's been moved to an earlier shift. I'm back to working on my papers for school and the dealine is looming over my head again. I can hardly wait to be out from under them.

Here are a few more pictures from the wedding. It went so well and our photographer was wonderful. We're thrilled with how everything turned out.

Engagement Pictures

2009-05-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

10:47 pm

Last Wednesday, May 6th, we had an engagement photo shoot at the Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield. We're a little late getting them but I'm glad we finally did. Here are some of the pics for those of you who do not have a facebook account.

We are finally pretty much moved into our apartment thought not technically living there yet. I've been with Jase and his family for about 2 weeks now. Long story short, what was originally supposed to be a two day visit turned into a 2 weeks visit due to changes in plans and then bad weather moving in and wiping out mom and dad's power. I'm headed back to Fredrock tomorrow night for two last weeks with my family before heading back here the week of the wedding to finish up with last minute preparations. Mom and Jana came for a short visit yesterday and went back home today since our power was restored yesterday afternoon. I was supposed to have gone back with them but at the last minute I just couldn't leave. I know the longer I put off leaving my apartment the harder it will be but I just couldn't do it today, especially since leaving today meant leaving Jase here. So Jase and I will be heading back that way tomorrow night after he gets off of work. I've been hanging out at the apartment unpacking, cleaning, sorting, organizing and messing around on our highspeed during the day while Jase is working. So far I've gotten to see him on every break for the last two weeks. It's been awesome.

I finally have all but my clothes and few other things in my apartment. When I came two weeks ago I brought all of my shower stuff to move in and then most of my furniture was brought by my cousins who were kind enough to haul it over in their trailer since they were headed this way

from our house and had room to bring stuff. Yesterday mom brought my shelf and the rest of my stuff except for what I need to survive for the next two weeks. I have all my elephants out and my kitchen is set up. Mom and dad have loaned us some furniture for the time being until we find what we need. Oddly enough we've encountered the problem of not quite knowing where to put things because we have a bit too much furniture. :D NOT a bad problem to have but definitely a surprising one. I have tons of pics but I seem to be stuck in transitioning them from my camera card to Jase's old computer. As soon as I get that figured out I will update with those also.

22 days to go...

~Antonia

Wednesday morning...

2009-04-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

4-22-09
10:40 a.m.

I'm sitting in Panera with Jase listening to a consulting meeting he is in with some friends that own a website company or something. Today is his day off but they are paying him for his time so we are happy to let them have a few hours. Hopefully this is going to be happening occassionally and we are grateful for the extra income.

We are 6 1/2 weeks away as of today. It feels far away and yet every time I turn around a week has gone by and we are a week closer. Time is going by so fast. Things are coming together well and yet there is so much yet to do. Much of it we are at a standstill with as it's still to early to be purchasing things like food. :D The flowers are purchased but I am still working on arrangements. I have names for cakemakers and photographers and Lord willing those will be settled soon. Today after we are done in Springfield we will be going to the church to measure tables, doorways, the basement, etc for decorating purposes.

This last Sunday we found wedding bands. Today we will be returning mine and looking for something else. I love the ring. It's absolutely beautiful but it simply isn't going to work as a cohesive piece with my engagement ring. And it kind of swallows my finger when I put it on with my engagement ring.It is a band of diamonds and it kind of takes away from my marquis and it's just too much bling for my size hand. The guy at the jewelers said that he could custom make a simple band that will actually fit my engagement ring as I am having trouble finding something that works with it because Jase had it custom made. I think a simple band with no stones is probably the best idea since my stone is pretty impressive by itself. I adore that Jase has such gorgeous taste. He's amazing.

We get the apartment a week from this coming Friday. That makes everything seems really close. We found a mattress a couple of weeks ago and with the pieces of furniture that mom and dad are giving us we're pretty much set.

This last Saturday Shelly and Joanna(Jase's mom and sister) hosted a shower for me at the church. It went really well and I was actually somewhat surprised at the turnout since I know so few people at Bethesda. The gifts were wonderful and I was very thankful to everyone for their generosity.

That same evening Jase took me to the Springfield symphony. It was my first time. I enjoyed it very much despite the fact that I was sooo sleepy after a long crazy day and the beautiful violin solo almost lulled me to sleep. A friend of mine, Brooke Barksdale, and her sister April who had come in from Arkansas for the the shower went with us. It was a great evening.

Yesterday Jo and I spent the day in Springfield shopping. We found gifts for Becca's upcoming personal shower and spent some time walking around the mall oohing, aahing and drooling over Dillards home furnishings and decor. I'm taking Jase back there today to look at several bedding sets and dishes that I found. I'm wanting to pick out a china set also.

We have an upcoming couples shower on May 3rd hosted by mom. It should be lots of fun. For anyone who does not have facebook, doesn't attend Parkland Chapel and unfortunately didn't make it onto my invite list: the shower is from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Families are invited and we will be serving an afternoon dessert and beverages. For registries visit our site link on our blogspot profile or go to www.theknot.com/ourwedding/antoniavalenciaandjasonburks.

I'm sleepy. We're sitting in the conference room and I'm observing the decor. I think I like it. Plummy purples, golds and burnt oranges. Somewhat similar to my color scheme for the wedding. Whoever decorated this room has pretty good taste.

Jase and I have been talking color schemes for the apartment. The walls are a pretty, creamy beige. We have two bathrooms, one off the hallway and a masterbathroom. For the hallway bathroom we are doing tans and beiges with sand dollars and dark purple towels and accents. I'm having trouble finding sand dollar decor as it's not a very popular theme at the moment. I like that it's not super common though because even though it makes it a bit harder to find it also means that it will be different. I found paper sand dollar coasters at Tuesday Morning that I am going to frame and use as decor. The few pieces of sand dollar decor that I have found are usually in some sort of aqua setting of somekind. I like aqua but so far I hate all of the shades that accompany sand dollars.:P

The master bathroom will be in wines, reds, chocolates, and gold accents. Some of those colors will probable spill out into the master bedroom.

We haven't decided what the guest bedroom decor will be. I will have a black iron looking day bed but I still have no bedding for it and we haven't decided on colors. Something earthy and sophisticated.

I'm wanting a cafe sort of feel for my kitchen. Blacks,reds, beiges, chromes, and bamboo kitchen items.

I collect elephants. Neat earthy looking elephants. Jase loves fluer de lis. We both love dark woods, deeps browns,golds, earthy colors, greenery, exotic looking plants and bamboo.I can hardly wait to start decorating the apartment.

45 days...<3 <3 <3

~Antonia

Commenting...

2009-04-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

12:01 pm

I just wanted to leave a quick note to let our readers know that I switched some settings around on here and now everyone can comment whether they have a blogspot account or not.

I will try to update soon. We have had a busy week. I'm working on some papers for school this weekend which are probly going to take up all my time so I will update as soon as those are out of the way. God bless...

~Antonia

Balancing Act

2009-03-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

9:24 pm

Jase and I are taking some pre-marital counseling sessions from the pastor of the church where my family is currently attending. This coming Thursday we have our third session out of four. Our most recent assignment was to make a list of areas in which we are different. I originally thought this would be a simple task but once we got past the initial obvious differences it ended up being a bit trickier than I thought. :) We got through it, however, and I thought it would make for an interesting blog entry. Here's our top 20.

- Most likely the biggest, most obvious difference between us is that Jase is outgoing while I tend to be very reserved. I cannot count the times that people have told me that they thought I was a stuck up snob when they first met me because I was so quiet. :P Jase on the other hand is like my dad. He can start a conversation with anyone, about anything, anytime, anywhere, no problemo. As a result he pulls me out of my shell and helps me to loosen up and I in turn tend to have a calming effect on him (or so he says).

- Jase is very much a people person and I tend to be a loner. He enjoys a crowd; I would much rather be by myself or one on one with someone.

- Jase talks more than I do. I love to listen. I would much rather sit and listen to a conversation than take part in it.

- When it comes to money Jase is a spender and I like to hoard. :D Jase's point of view is that money is made for the purpose of spending it. I agree to a certain extent but I also find satisfaction in setting money aside and watching a savings account grow. Apparently that doesn't do much for him. :P

- Jase is very much a night owl. His ideal schedule is to stay up past midnight and then sleep in past nine in the morning. Until I met him (at which point I seem to have somewhat adjusted to his schedule) I typically went to bed around nine at the latest and then would get up around six or seven in the morning. I still prefer that routine but seeing as how Jase doesn't function well early in the morning I've adjusted my sleeping schedule. :) I do hope, thought, that someday we can either find a balance or maybe even lean more towards an earlier schedule. We'll see.

- Jase grasps concepts and learns much more quickly than I do. And despite what he says I do NOT hang on to things better as a result. This leads me to my next point.

- Jase is a retainer. I am an airhead. I can learn things well if I have to, but it usually requires massive effort and unless I use them on a daily basis I very quickly forget. In college I would memorize what I had to for a test, regurgitate it and then politely forget it the next day. I HATED comprehensive finals. Jase is a different story. He is constantly astounding me with random details about anything and everything. Some of the things he remembers are things that he learned years ago or just happened to randomly read somewhere. I stand in awe. :)

- Jase is way laid back. Kind of a 'fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants' type person. What happens, happens and what doesn't, doesn't. I can't do that. I need a plan. I need a list. And I need to get things done.

- Jase likes to be on time. Even if it's only barely on time. He has a tendency to wait until the last minute possible and then rush, rush, rush to get somewhere on time. I plan out my day in advance and I usually get places at least a few minutes early.

- Jase tends to analyze and understand both people and situations very well. I tend to be rather oblivious. I live in my own little world. It's quite small. :P

- Jase has more patience than me. Much more patience. He's the oldest of fourteen. Enough said.

- Jase hates to sleep. This honestly blows my mind. I don't understand. I love sleep. I look forward to sleep. I basically die without sleep.

- Jase cries easily and often. :) I don't and don't.

- Jase doesn't like indoor animals, which has been a biggie for me to adjust to. I grew up with indoor animals for the majority of my life. I don't know if I'll ever convince Jase to let me have an indoor dog. :(

- Jase prefers dark chocolate. I prefer white or milk.

- Jase likes to cook. I like to bake.

- Although Jase may not love driving he doesn't mind it too terribly much. I hate driving. I loathe driving. I avoid driving.

- Jase loves sports. I can't say I hate them. But I don't love them. I did, however, to my great surprise, find myself watching and making at least somewhat intelligent remarks ( or at least I thought they were) about a basket ball game that Jase was watching the other night. :)

- Jase loves video games. Graphic, gory, violent video games. *shudder*

- Jase loves anything citrus. My citrus likes are limited to orange soda and orange chicken.

The list could go on but it just gets sillier, so that's all for now.

I LOVE YOU DARLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Antonia

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You're a falling star, You're the getaway car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're a swimming pool on an August day
And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy, but it's kinda cute
When you smile at me you know exactly what you do
Baby don't pretend that you don't know it's true
'Cause you can see it when I look at you.

You're a carousel, You're a wishing well
And you light me up when you ring my bell
You're a mystery, you're from outerspace
You're every minute of my every day

And I can't believe that I'm your woman
And I get to kiss you baby just because I can
Whatever comes our way, we'll see it through
'Cause you know that's what our love can do.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every song, you're every word, you're everything
You're every song, and I sing along
'Cause you're my everything.

Random thoughts...

2009-03-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

11:05

I'm tired. My day didn't seem as long as Jase's did but I'm still exhausted. I studied all day and actually feel like I accomplished something...which is sooo nice. I hate working my tail off all day and going to bed feeling like I got nothing done. It stresses me.
Anyhoo. I passed two Western Civ. practice tests today with plenty of wiggle room. I take the test on Monday and then I only have one more. I'm a bit behind schedule with my CLEPs. I was supposed to be done with them at the beginning of March but I dragged and then added another instead of taking an online course that I had originally planned on taking. My next test is Humanities which will hopefully be an easy-ish one to finish up with.
Good thoughts...
- I feel good about my Civ test on Monday.
- I got some flower arrangments done today and designed my bouquet. I think this one will actually be a keeper...:P
- I'm wearing a gorgeous ring that keeps distracting me with giant sparkles...<3
- I get to see Jase soon!!!...:D
- Jase is first in his bracket for the basket ball competition...
- Tomorrow is Sunday...
- Only 10 weeks (70) until I become Mrs. Jason Burks...
- I don't have to give lessons ever again on a Wednesday while Jase is here...
- Bedtime is soon!...:)

:) :) :)

My head hurts. That's all for tonight...

I LOVE YOU DARLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~ Antonia

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10:45 pm

Wow.... today was soooo long! I really don't know what I did before I had Toni to coach me through and encourage me. *MSBA* (that stands for 'mini-soap-box-alert' from heretofore and forever more) I really do not understand how and or why corporate decisions are made. Today we had 3-5 minutes between calls that we serviced and they did not send anyone home... ugh! Oh well, I guess I did get paid to sit there and do basically nothing for the majority of the day.

On a lighter note, my cardmembers did seem to be slightly more intelligent today than they normally would be. I think it must be a moon phase or something, 'cause there were actually some people who seemed to have some valid and well thought out socio-economic opinions. One person actually stated that to spend money that one does not have in order to try to correct a problem that one created by (and I bet you guessed this part) spending money that one did not have to begin with (!) is both suicidal and criminal : D. I will leave you to your political ruminations on that note...

I was so proud of Toni today. For those of you that don't know, she is a really hard worker and she is almost done with her BA. She studied really hard all day while I was at work and passed both of her practice tests for her Western Civ CLEP that is coming up... Good girl, my Love!

~Jase

Hi!

2009-03-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

Vertigo

Life is blur my mind passes through,
Grasping and groping to find what is true.
Twisting and turning, my life rushes by
Time doesn't crawl, it most certainly flies!

The time-mist is thick, the light oft is dim,
I'm out of my mind, truly out on a limb,
The whirl courses through me, around me, then on
I clutch and beseech, but it's already gone.

Time is a maze, I cannot find my way,
My wild, clutching grasp can find only one stay,
I then catch His eye, the Lord of my time
The whirl fades away, I find rhythm and rhyme.

The blur becomes still, my Lord calms the storm,
My Saviour, the Shepherd, His grasp safe and warm,
The hourglass is His, He restores what was lost
Time yet flows on, but my heart is at rest.

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Welcome to Vertigo.

Jason and I thought it would be appropriate to title our blog from a poem that he wrote about two years ago. The idea that we want to communicate through this is that life has a tendency to get crazy (as you will likely see in future posts:P). However, if we are willing to seek our Saviour's face and take time to be still and know that He is God, then our Lord calms the storm and all the hectic chaos that we call our lives fades away and the sweet simplicity of our Jesus remains.

We have put together this blog for a dual purpose; firstly, we want to keep everyone updated on what is going on in our lives, and secondly, we hope to use it as an opportunity to witness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.We hope that as you peruse our meager offerings, you will find something to lead you closer to our Lord, something to provoke thought, or maybe even something just to make you laugh or brighten your day.

We can't garauntee daily posts as I am usually terrible at being consistent with journaling and life right now is hectic as I'm working, finishing school and planning our wedding and Jason's time is taken up with work, church and making the four hour commute every week to visit me. However, between the two of us, hopefully we will be able to keep the updates coming with news about our life as we grow closer and work towards our wedding and life together. We would appreciate all of your prayers in these next few months as we wind up our seperate lives and prepare to become joined together as One in Christ.

We would love to get to know our readers better so please be sure to comment on anything that you appreciate or enjoy (or anything that is just terrible - so we know to not do it again ;P).

In our Saviour's Grace,

Antonia and Jason