happy me

Reconnecting with old friends

2009-01-04T02:29:00.001-08:00

So, Larry and I have recently become obsessed with Facebook. I think that is why my blog has suffered. It isn't because less things are making me happy these days. It's because my computer time is being monopolized by Facebook! It's just so fun to see what everyone is up to. I'm addicted to checking statuses. But I miss my blog! I'll have to make some time for it! I wonder if anyone even checks it anymore. Hmmm...

Let the Baby Drive

2008-10-31T09:28:00.001-07:00

I'm reading this book called "Let the Baby Drive," by Lu Hanessian. I'm only a few chapters into it, but I'm finding it refreshing. Since Isaac's birth, I have read stacks of parenting books. I've read Babywise, The Baby Whisperer, the Brazelton sleep method, the Furbur method, 12 hours by 12 weeks, Tips for new moms, Bright Baby, Bringing up Baby, The happiest Baby on the Block... and the list goes on. Really. Good grief. But this book is different. One review of it says, "Finally, a parenting book that does not give advice and yet offers such profound insight into what it means to be a child, a mother, a wife, and a thinking woman," I agree. While I'm still trying some of the "methods" I have been reading about, it's nice to be reminded that parenting isn't all about methods. Sometimes it's about those moments when I can't take my eyes off his perfect face. Like right now.

babies in hats!

2008-10-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

I love all babies in hats, but of course this is my favorite one!

2008-10-24T21:00:00.001-07:00

of course if you like your kids, if you love them from the moment they begin, you yourself begin all over again, in them and with them. [william saroyan]

Life is wonderful

2008-10-21T18:16:00.001-07:00

I used to say getting married was the best thing I ever did. Now, it is a tie between getting married and having Isaac. How can we love him so much already? It's a mystery, a wonderful, wonderful mystery...

baby kinnard

2008-07-15T13:15:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of our little baby!! This was taken when I was 23 weeks along. Now, I'm 31 weeks! yikes! Time is going by fast. Can't wait to see this little one in person :)

30 weeks

2008-07-06T21:44:00.000-07:00

I took a giant hiatus from my blog. For a while it was because the only thing I wanted to mention was my pregnancy and it was still a secret!! Then, I just got out of the habit. Then, I wanted to post some belly pics and I don't have any downloaded. Excuses, Excuses, but now I'm back. Quick update: I'm 30 weeks along, feeling great, don't know the sex of our little mystery baby, larry painted the nursery a bright, happy turquoise.... all is well.

berries with breakfast

2008-03-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

I worked last night and came home oh so tired. I only perked up when I loaded my waffle with blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and real maple syrup. Sometimes it is the little things that matter...

bright slamanders

2008-03-13T07:40:00.001-07:00

I took this picture last spring on a weekend camping trip to big south fork. It was so lovely, I wish I could go back tomorrow (too bad I have to work, whaa!). Yesterday, I went on a short afternoon hike with a friend and while we didn't see any salamanders, it was beautiful and fresh. I am definitely geared up for spring...

Flowercide

2008-02-26T09:16:00.000-08:00

So we have some flowers in our front bed that are starting to bloom. At first I was sad because this happened last year and when spring came and all the yards were bursting with yellow loveliness, mine were bare because my little flowers had tried to come to early. But, it really is nice to see a bit of color at an otherwise drab time of year. It makes me happy to walk by and see a little burst of yellow. So, even if our daffodils are trying to commit flower suicide, or "flowercide," I

am going to smile and enjoy it as an early gift of spring...

a ride to work

2008-02-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

While our roads look nothing like this (and oh, how i wish they did), they are icey this evening. The wonderful part is that Larry drove me to work!! Ahh. For those of you who know us, you will know that this is a true act of love because taking me to work also means picking me up from work at 6am!! Yikes-a-rama! That is true love!!

buying paint

2008-02-19T06:40:00.000-08:00

It's a tricky undertaking for those who fear commitment. Larry and I were married eight years before we finally bought a house. We both tried a few careers before we buckled down and settled on one. And after 9 years of very happy marriage we still don't have kids. So, it should come as no surprise to learn that after a year and a half in our new home, we still haven't changed the paint colors. What if we don't like it? Well, last night we bit the bullet and bought some paint. Larry coached us with the idea that if it looks bad, we can just redo it. We have some friends who painted their kitchen seven times before they got it right. That sort of inspired us. It's allowed. And surely, we'll get it right before time number seven!! Wish us luck!!

chocolate covered strawberries

2008-02-14T05:58:00.000-08:00

I considered giving up sweets for Lent this year. The reason I didn't was chocolate covered strawberries! They are so romantic and yummy and delightful. Larry brought me one in bed this morning for Valentine's Day. Ahhh.... Thank goodness I hadn't given them up!

Love After Love

2008-01-07T13:36:00.000-08:00

The time will come

when, with elation

you will greet yourself arriving

at your own door, in your own mirror

and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was yourself.

Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart

to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored

for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,

peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life.

- Derek Walcott

personialized gifts

2007-12-20T16:20:00.001-08:00

Maybe it's because my name is not very common. Maybe it's because they make me feel special. Whatever the reason, I love gifts that either have my name on them or point towards something that is uniquely me. My friend Valerie gave me this ornament with my name on it. It was perfect on so many levels...

the first dusting of snow

2007-12-19T20:58:00.001-08:00

this week, we had our first dusting of snow. the deck and tree limbs were covered. it felt so cozy and wintery and fresh. i just love it. it left me wishing for more.

my new RAV 4!!

2007-12-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

i love it! it's smooth and pretty. our dogs love it. it feels so safe and fancy. it's our first car with the remote control locks. i'm loving it!!! those of you who know me, know i don't love driving. but the other day i actually thought to myself, "where do i need to go today?" just so i could drive it!!!

secret santas

2007-11-28T12:01:00.000-08:00

At work we drew names for Christmas. We are going to give one gift per week to our special person until Christmas. It's so exciting! I just loved looking for something small but special. And, I had no idea I would be so excited to tell them who I am at the end! Some secrets are fun and this is one of them!

shopping

2007-11-24T17:08:00.000-08:00

Like most girls, I just love shopping. I especially like it at this time of year. I went in Target the other day and they were playing Christmas music and all the trees and lights were twinkling. Ahhh. I feel cozy and cheerful just thinking about it. I can even get into Internet shopping. Lately, I'm intrigued with this website "etsy." It's where people buy and sell homemade items. Fun! You can buy any number of unique items. I looked for aprons, pottery mugs, Christmas cards etc. It's great fun when you don't have time to search for a parking space at the mall...

late night quizzes

2007-11-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

So I'm here at work and am wasting time with brainfall quizzes. I took the quiz "Which Desperate Housewives Character Are You?" and found out that I am Susan. Here was my description:

"You are Susan. You are a klutz and verifiably awkward in social situations, but you are sweet, easy-going, and not afraid to get what you want in creative ways."

Other things I've learned about myself tonight:
1. if i were a sesame street character, i would be Elmo.
2. if i were a disney princess, i would be part Ariel and part Cinderella
3. if i were a car, i would be a volvo station wagon
4. of all the cities in the world, i should live in Paris. Very nice...

Yoga

2007-11-09T07:35:00.000-08:00

So I've always loved the idea of yoga. It seems so peaceful and lovely. It also seems a little more my speed. I'm not really one for high impact aerobics and fast crazy stuff. It's probably my lack of coordination. Whatever it is, the idea of yoga really pleases me. My only problem, as with any exercise regimen, is motivation. Well this week, I am happy to report, I dusted off one of my DVDs, laid out my yoga mat and tried my hand at it again. Wow!! I was sore all over for days. In fact, I'm still sore! My back, arms, tummy and thighs. It feels so good! I'm super inspired and am going to try it again today. Maybe I'll work up my nerve to actually join a class!

waffles

2007-11-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

so my friend matt won a bakeoff with his oh-so-fabulous cheesecake recipe. not only was it the yummy flavor that won, but also the presentation. he made it in a heart shaped pan and put cream and raspberries on the top. it looked like valentine's day delight. with his prize money he bought a super duper waffle maker and then invited larry and me over for some yummy breakfast. we always joke that we are the friends he tries his recipes out on first. depending on how how a recipe goes with us, it might get tweaked and used again or perhaps discarded. as for the waffles, we voted for them to be cooked on the setting between 3 and 4. this resulted in a golden browned waffle with very little crunch. ahhh, it's hard work being experimented on, but we are up for the challenge. :)

Winning

2007-10-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

This week, my mom and I went to Keenland, the local horse racing track. I absolutely love going there. The races run in April and October, my two favorite times of year. In April, the dogwoods and red buds are in full bloom and spring has settled across the bluegrass. In October, the air is crisp and the maples are blazing with orange and red. The atmosphere is charged with excitement and history. Usually we don't bet. It's fun enough just to be there watching the horses being led around the paddock before a race. It's fun enough to see the tiny jockeys in their bright riding gear. But this time we thought we would try our hand at betting. One of the jockeys waved at me and that sealed the deal. I made my first $2 bet. I won!! Of course the horse was favored to win and I had only bet for him to place. So I won a grand total of $3.20. But the thrill of seeing him sprint across the finish line sent my heart to pounding. I literally screamed with excitement. It was a wonderful wonderful moment.

Adoption

2007-10-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Heather and her husband are working towards adopting a baby from Russia. She told me the other day how amazing it is to think that her baby might be growing in a woman's belly right now. That is such a beautiful image. Heather is trying to raise money for the adoption by selling children's books. I am going to buy some to have on hand for baby showers and birthday parties. I thought I would include the link to her adoption blog in case any of you would like to help her as well. That would definitely make her (and her future baby) smile.

Middle Class Life

2007-10-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

So I guess it is true. As my friend Nicole points out, I am officially middle class. Even though I've been working for two years now, it still comes as a surprise to me that I can actually afford things that I previously thought were crazy and only for rich folks! For example, our dogs now go to "doggie daycare." This sounds absurd, right? Well, in our defense, they go just one day every other week. They love it. They get to play all day with all kinds of dogs and people. They get great exercise and socialization. As I type this, I realize that it is actually really embarrassing to admit that we are concerned about our dogs' socialization skills :) Are we ready for the loony bin? Here is another example. I bought some meals from "Dream Dinners." It's like going on the food network! You pick a number of meals from a monthly menu, then you go to the shop and make them. They do all the prep for you. When you arrive, preferably with some super girl friends, they hand you an apron, turn on some music and set you loose. Everything is washed and chopped and ready to go! You just stand at your little counter and compile your meals like you are Paula Dean herself. You follow the recipes, or venture off a little if you'd like, and at the end you take home meal after meal to put in your freezer for future days. Again, I am so embarrassed. I feel the need to tell you that mine averaged out to be about $5 per serving. So, am I going crazy or just taking advantage of some fun opportunities? Hmmm.... In the spirit of this blog, I must also admit that both of these adventures, regardless of how silly they are, definitely make me smile :)

Haines, Alaska

2007-10-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

Larry and I found our idea of paradise in Haines, Alaska. We found ourselves wanting to wake up there every morning. Although, I'm not sure I could actually make it to work with the scenery you have to pass on the drive into town. I imagine folks would say, "Well she still isn't here. Must have stopped to watch the brown bears again." Really you can insert any number of words for "brown bears." You could say eagles, seals, whales.... To describe Haines is to risk sounding like a travel add. You just can't help it. "Haines is located on the shores of Lynn Canal, the deepest, longest fjord in North America. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and hanging glaciers, it is home to some of the most stunning scenery and wildlife you may ever see." Maybe they should hire me to advertise for them! It also didn't help that before going there, I read this book written about the life and people of Haines. By the time we rolled into town I felt as if I knew everyone personally.

I wish I did.

One new thing

2007-10-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

While we were on vacation we met this national geographic photographer Paul. (I must admit I could have had a slight celebrity-type crush on him. Larry, on the other hand, claimed that he did not appear to like girls.) Anyway, during our conversation Paul mentioned that he likes to try to see at least one new thing everyday. I loved this idea. It was easy on vacation because each day we were seeing amazing things like the alepenglow on Mount Denali, orcas spy hopping, puffins, and bears pulling salmon out of the river. But, I'd like to try this idea out at home too. Maybe it will help me notice things in my world that I would have otherwise stepped right on by.

Homecomings

2007-09-26T11:54:00.001-07:00

We are home from Alaska! It was so wonderful. It was even better than we expected. And usually we dread coming home from vacation, but this time we were happy to return to hot water, puppies, families and friends, not in that order of course!! As we expected, it is so nice to be back home. Our house feels like a mansion compared to that tent!! We are thankful for it all over again! And, while we didn't see this particular seal (we haven't downloaded our pictures yet), we did see lots of seals and incredible wildlife. We now feel like National Geographic Explorers. It's so good :)

Memoirs

2007-07-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

I like reading memoirs. The latest two that I have enjoyed are "The Glass Castle," by Jeanette Walls, and A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel. They are different from each other, but entirely wonderful to read. It seems that everyone thinks their life could be a memoir. I have a friend who's dad says "Everyone has at least one good book in them." I like to think that's true. For these girls it definitely was.

health

2007-07-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

Larry and I are saying "cheers to good health" this week. The reason we noticed our good health is that Larry temporarily lost his. Thank goodness, it appears to be coming back. There are several versions to what happened, the quickest is that he was pulled about 30-40 feet across a parking lot by an SUV. He didn't lose his footing so he wasn't dragged. Just pulled. The other versions include him leaping across car tops in a single bound to save a poor little family from certain destruction. Of course, these stories are also true. So he basically has serious muscle strain. He's going to physical therapy and is off work for at least three weeks. He's fine,but bored and tired of hurting. Anyway, it helped us to realize how much of our life plans depend on us being able to get around. It doesn't sound like that stunning or dramatic of a discovery, but for some reason it was for us!! Three cheers for our health!

Keifer

2007-07-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

We weren't planning on getting another puppy. It just sort of happened and now it's wonderful. Piper and Keifer are best friends! It's so darling. And Larry is so happy to have a "boy." It's pretty adorable around here.

planning

2007-06-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

so, i'm not always that great at it. sometimes i procrastinate and am therefore forced to be spontaneous. like the time i didn't plan and let my sweet hubby organize our backpacking trip to glacier national park. we ended up hiking 10 miles a day to find empty campsites! i wouldn't trade it now, but yikes-a-rama!! but back to planning, the idea of it makes me happy. it gives me something to look forward to; something to direct my attention towards. i always love having something new and exciting on the horizon and planning makes that something stay at the forefront of my mind. right now, i am conjuring up ideas for a trip to alaska this fall. if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please share them...

Sites we have found useful:
http://www.kayak.com/
http://www.carrentals.com/

Pearls

2007-06-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, I thought pearls were for "old women." They seemed too stately for me. My birthstone is the pearl, but I always wanted it to be something more flashy like emerald, aquamarine, or sapphire. Now, I am starting to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of pearls. There are freshwater pearls, saltwater pearls, cultured pearls, natural pearls... Yesterday was my birthday and I celebrated my special day by wearing a string of beautiful black pearls that my friend Matt brought me back from China. They felt cool on my neck. Just thinking about the time it took for them to form and all the miles they had traveled made me feel rich and, well, maybe stately. But, I liked it. Hmm...

Projects

2007-06-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

I love projects. I’d like to have one. The problem is that you have to be creative to come up with a semi-original one. I have ideas of refinishing furniture or planning a better flower garden… But what I really like are long, crazy projects. I recently read the book, Julie and Julia where the author decided to cook the entire Julia Child’s cookbook in a year (I would read some reviews before running out to get this, it's not for everybody). Right now I’m reading the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A year of food life, where the author and her family eat for an entire year on only the foods from their own neighborhood. Wow! I’m so inspired! I love reading about others that take on something so big!! Oh, I just realized that both of these were food projects. Hmmm. I’m not sure that my 2 tomato plants are going to help me… and there's the fact that sometimes I look like this bunny when you try to get me into the kitchen ...

girl with a pearl earring

2007-06-12T18:04:00.000-07:00

For the past few years I have been rather unimpressed with my literary choices. Yikes! That's a bummer since I love to read! After every book, I seem to say the same thing, "It's no Secret Life of Bees." Occasionally, I also say "And it's not The Red Tent." Of course, this book wasn't either, but I loved it anyway. It was lovely and it made me want to go to an art museum. It made me grateful for my life and curious about the lives of others. It inspired me to try to find more books that are not my old favorites, but wonderful in their own right...

spring life

2007-06-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Ellie's baby is due today. I can't wait to see how happy everyone is when they are holding her. What a wonderful way to welcome in the springtime!! Doesn't that just seem to be what spring is about? New life? I love it. The flowers, baby animals (and people), fresh faces, bright air... It makes me feel warm and happy and new.

swimming

2007-05-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

Remember that feeling you had as a kid after you swam all afternoon? Your muscles were heavy but your heart was light? That's how I feel now. I've been swimming a little for exercise the past month or so and it feels so good! i never understood when people said they felt energized after exercising. now i do. i feel healthy and invigorated. p.s. these are my new goggles. i love them....

a day away

2007-05-27T05:58:00.001-07:00

a day away acts as a spring tonic. -maya angelou

Larry and I just went on a little weekend canoe/camping trip. It was wonderful. I think I need to subscribe a day away for myself every month or so. I come back refreshed and exuberant. Ahhh. :)

Pink Lady Slippers

2007-05-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

Pink Lady Slippers are endangered and this past weekend I saw my first one in the wild. I loved how bizarre and beautiful they were. They are actually wild orchids. I wish I could have them in my front flower bed. I would feel as if I was walking through a cozy forest on my way to work!!

cupcakes

2007-04-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

while i really don't make them, i do really love them. it must be part of the general theme that i love all things little. and yes, mini cupcakes are really my favorite! this cupcakeblog that i found has lots of recipies. the bar on the left has ingredients listed. you just click on say.... bananas.... and recipes for banana cupcakes pop up!! i'm already trying to think of where i might need to take some!

dice

2007-04-04T06:05:00.000-07:00

my grandparents came to visit last weekend and it was so good to get to see them. my grandad taught us how to "shoot craps." we laughed so hard our sides hurt. at the end, i went "all in" and won about a million "dollars!" i must take after my grandad who won enough money playing his navy buddies to buy my grandparents' first vacuum cleaner!!

dreams

2007-03-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

for years, and i do mean years, i dreamed of relaxing in a rocking chair on a cozy porch sipping lemonade. little did i know that the porch would be mine! spring is good. life is good.

p.s. can you find little piper in this photo i took this morning?

affirmation

2007-03-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

yesterday in our marriage class, we talked about affirmation. we each had to stand in the front of the class while the rest of the class used affirmative words to describe us for 60 seconds. it was wonderful! how often do you get to be bombarded with kind words by 30 or so people? never. it will make me smile for a long time. we should all try it with those we love.

Baby duckies

2007-03-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

To me, there’s nothing cuter than a baby duck. In our dream world, Larry and I have a pet one named Henry. He comes when we call him.

The Library

2007-03-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

Where else do you get to take an item you want, use it and return it without paying a thing? I love the library. I like the quiet peace. I like the big open tables and the smell of old books. I like the pitter patter of little feet in the children’s section. I like the magazaines, the cookbooks, the travel books, the do-it-yourself books. I like the fiction, the nonfiction and the picture books. I like the idea that I can learn about anything I want. I like the slower pace that the library makes me feel. The library always makes me smile.

happiness

2007-03-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

the time to be happy is now. the place to be happy is here. the way to be happy is to make others so.
-robert ingersoll

Good seats

2007-02-28T05:50:00.000-08:00

Fun! Fun! I got to go to the John Mayer (with Matt Kearney) concert. I replaced our good friend Matt, who ended up having to go to China instead of the concert. Poor guy! The thing that I realized about concerts is that I really like to sit down for them. I like to be cozy and relaxed and just enjoy listening to the music. However, if everyone around you stands, you have no choice but to stand, unless you like looking at thousands of backsides. I guess that's part of the fun. If you wanted to be cozy and comfy, you might just listen to the CD from your couch. And then you'd miss all the lights and the performer talking from the stage (which i love). And you'd miss that feeling that now that you've seem them in person, you actually know them and have a right to love their music more than the next person. Is it just me?

Futons

2007-02-19T07:14:00.000-08:00

Larry and I have "moved" into the basement. We are sleeping on the futon so we are close enough to let Piper out when she needs to go. Yikes! I know we sound like lunatics. I would have never guessed we would go this head over heels for her. All I can say is that I'm thankful for our futon so we don't have to sleep on the floor! You don't really think we would do that do you??

piper

2007-02-12T10:24:00.000-08:00

welcome home piper!! while we aren't quite ready for parenthood, we thought we would test the waters with a puppy. it's been so fun and exciting. it reminds me how wonderful my friends and family are that they are all so excited for us. thank you, thank you, thank you! it probably comes as no surprise to you that piper and larry are best friends forever (bff).
**my favorite is when she stretches.

Style

2007-02-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

Since buying our house, I'm much more interested in style. Mostly, I'm interested in getting some of my own. That might be why I was particularly drawn to this idea that these girls, carrie and danielle, will analyze you and determine the words that define your style. Too bad it costs $500 to find out that you are "elegant playful" or "timeless nature" or some other combo of revealing words. They describe it like this, "Your Style Statement is your life trademark. It is a compass for designing a life that reflects your best self. From your wisdom to your wardrobe; from your longings to your living room, your business plan, your finances, and the parties you throw--your Style Statement is where your essence meets your expression." Doesn't it sound great? Since I can't afford it, I'll just have to think of my own "style statement." Here's a link to their manefesto of style, which I think is lovely and inspiring.

goofy stuff

2007-01-29T09:19:00.000-08:00

I love goofy stuff.

That's one reason I love larry.

In college I had this line cut out of a magazine that I hung on my bulletin board. "His goofy jokes make me laugh." They still do...

Babies

2007-01-25T09:31:00.000-08:00

This one sounds looney. Who doesn’t like babies? I’ve not always been such a huge fan. Silly since I work in a baby-laden place. Nevertheless, this week one really made me happy. He is about nine months old and he came back to visit. He had been born with gastroschesis, a condition in which a baby is born with the intestines on the outside of the body rather than inside. Anyway, now he is perfect and it made me smile.

Plant catalogs

2007-01-24T05:44:00.000-08:00

I’ve recently been really enjoying browsing through plant catalogs. I imagine that my yard will be like a rambling cottage garden. I’ll have hummingbirds eating out of my hand, butterflies landing on my shoulder and glorious flowers to photograph in artistic and lovely ways. Never mind that I can’t actually photograph in artistic and lovely ways, but I’m sure you understand the dream.

www.burpee.com

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/

24

2007-01-21T07:15:00.000-08:00

larry and i recently started watching "24," the tv show on fox. since it's in season six, we started by renting the old seasons on dvd. they are keeping us on the edge of our seats. we just finished season two last night! we are averaging about a season a week. i'm a little embarassed to admit we have reached such serious couch potato status, but who can resist a handsome (and often sweaty) manly man who is able to save the united states from certain destruction over and over again?

Rain

2007-01-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

i love a good rainy day. the pitter pat of raindrops makes me feel cozy and snuggley. i associate it with pajamas and a good book or movie. i also like the idea of thirsty plants being quenched and birds bathing in the puddles on our deck. ahh. nice.

Happy News

2007-01-02T14:14:00.000-08:00

Would you like some happy news? HappyNews.com is a fun website. Instead of the yucky stuff that often fills the news, it tells happy stories. It's pretty fun. Warm fuzzies to you!!

ski goggles

2006-12-30T14:15:00.000-08:00

These ski goggles were so wonderful! They made the sky purple and the snow pink! I felt like a snow bunny in them. Ahh. Since I was average for a beginner skier, I felt pretty proud of myself. It was nice to not be beyond terrible at a sport for once! Yippee!!

Blizzard of 2006

2006-12-29T10:41:00.000-08:00

I'm back in Kentucky after a nice Christmas Vacation with my family. So many things made me happy this holiday season. One of my favorites was Colorado's blizzard of 2006! Of course it was extra nice since I wasn't actually out in the cold. I was cuddled up with my favorite people eating, watching movies and playing cards. Could it get much better?

Christmas singing

2006-12-22T19:21:00.000-08:00

I haven't added much to the blog recently because I am spending my holidays with family in Colorado. The trip has been wonderful and I'm daily adding lots of things to my "happy bank." Today we sang Christmas carols in the car. I love to sing as many as I can think of, all in a row, at the top of my lungs. Love it. Love it. Love it.

sushi

2006-12-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

Sushi. I especially like it with Diana. We try to pile on as much wasabi as we can stand. If our eyes water and we have to hold our forehead with one hand and hit the table with the palm of our other hand repeatedly, it was a good bite. Here's to good bites!

Recognizing goodness

2006-12-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

I decided that I love this blog. I’ve only had it a little while, but it has inspired a great little exercise. I was thinking about what to put on the blog and I realized that a ton of things had made me happy today. I thought, “Oh good, I’ll save some of those for another day.” Then I realized I had way to many to save. What a nice realization. It’s wonderful to take a moment and recognize the things in life that are good.

Girl Days

2006-12-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

Since I was little, my mom and I have spent what we call “girl days” together. It almost always involves shopping, lunch, and lots of laughter. We scour the mall for the ideal pair of shoes or that perfect gift for someone we love. I treasure these days with my mom. Today we made buckeyes and did some serious Christmas shopping. What wonderful memories…

Christmas lights

2006-11-30T18:00:00.000-08:00

Our neighborhood has started decorating for Christmas. You might think it’s too early. I might have thought so too, until I saw it lit up at night. It’s so cozy and welcoming. You can’t help but smile. While I loved the pumpkin, it’s time for it to move over for little strings of happiness…

Bewicks wren

2006-11-29T15:03:00.000-08:00

I love to bird watch. I’m not very good at it. You would think with a Master’s degree in biology (I studied birds), that I would be a descent bird watcher. This, however, is not the case. My excuse was that as a graduate student there was no time for bird watching. Ultimately, I named this as one of the reasons I did not pursue my PhD. Why study birds if it ends up making you unable to watch them? I can tell you about the intricacies of bird respiration, the current theory on why parrots mimic, why male bower birds build towers that they dance around on the jungle floor, why yellow breasted chats… you get the hint. But ask me to tell you the difference between a Tennessee and a Connecticut warbler and you’ve rendered me speechless. So, I left the academic world of avian biology in exchange for a chance to do a little bird watching. However, my next career didn’t afford me any more time for watching birds. Good grief. But, now my life is a little less hectic (whew!) and I have a wonderful window. That has made all the difference. Just this week Larry and I added a new bird to our “life list.” We didn’t have to travel to distant places. We sat at our kitchen table with our bird book and our binoculars in hand (we admit it’s nerdy, but we love it) and we identified a Bewicks wren on our deck. Life is good.

They are actually endangered (and relatively rare) east of the Mississippi river. Some might dispute that we actually saw one. Although I may have lost some credibility in admitting what a poor bird identifier I am, really, it couldn’t have been anything else….

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/135/_/Bewicks_Wren.aspx
http://www.50birds.com/BPBewickswren.htm

enchiladas

2006-11-28T13:46:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am going out to eat with some friends. This makes me happy. Things I'm looking forward to tonight: hanging out with people I can really be myself around, hefty laughter and yummy enchiladas. Ahhh. Life is good.

here we go!!

2006-11-27T05:46:00.000-08:00

Here's to my first try at blogging! It's a little bit exciting. I decided that my blog would focus on happy and positive things. I regularly check a few blogs and the ones I love are those that cheer me up, those that make me smile for the day. The tricky part was choosing a name. I was inspired by the movie "happy feet" and wanted to name my blog "happy toes." I thought it would be cute to say I was "happy all the way down to my toes." But, the name was taken, as were about a thousand other cheerful names I contemplated. I think it was for the best because simple is always better and "happy me" is really just what I was going for. So here goes...