She said YES!!!

Six years ago Art got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. It was a Friday in 2007. We were enjoying a picnic at the park. He wanted to enjoy the lake. All I could think about was getting to a service area, so I could tell my family & friends the great news. Boy how some things don't change lol. 

As I look at my ring finger thinking back over the past six years it seems like a lifetime ago. I never imagined life would take us to where we are now. 

Alaska OOTD

Here are my outfits from our Alaska Cruise. I packed my winter clothes, fuzzy fleece and scarves. I wore my black fuzzy fleece daily ,it was super cozy and I loved it. I bought it at Costco for $19.99. 

I thought I would be wearing shoes or boots every day, but I wore my sandals all bundled up. I bought Sam & Libby sandals at Target for $24.99 at the beginning of summer. They have been my go to shoes ever since. I actually bought another pair once they went on sale. I have just about worn that pair out. 

Black fleece: Costco

Pants: Gap Outlet

Sandals & Scarf: Target

Sweater: Loft

Pants: Old Navy

Necklace: Ebay

Sandals: Target

Outfit: Old Navy

Sandals: Target

I did wear regular shoes a couple times. Mostly when we went on excursions. I would have packed differently for Alaska. I would have packed more tshirts because I wore my fleece every where. Alaska you need more layers. Someone on the ship said to dress like an onion. Lots of layers to peal off. They should have told us that when we booked the trip. 

Recent Haul

Here are my purchases from last weekend. I found some good deals. My budget was to stay under $100. I love stacking coupons on top of sales. Target is really good because I can use a coupon, Cartwheel, Target card all for additional discounts. 

Gilligan & O'Malley Sleep Shirt

I have been watching this sleep shirt for months. I really wanted it, but I didn't want to pay full price. It has gone on sale a couple times, but I wanted a bargain. I ended up getting it in the store for $8. 

Target

The porcupine sweater was on sale for $18.99, 15% off with Target Cartwheel, 

plus an additional 5% with my Target debit card

Banana Republic

I plan to wear the royal & navy sweater with burgundy pants. 

I also bought a color block cardigan from Banana Republic that is royal blue and lime green. At Gap I bought a boyfriend button down that has green bicycles all over it for $8 bucks. 

I also bought a few items from NY & Company:

navy ankle pants

wrap bracelet

mint ballet flats

I feel most of the stores are in between seasons. Old Navy didn't have any fall items. It way almost like a mismatch of different things at the mall. 

Wordless Wednesday

Alaska Overview

Two weeks ago Art & I cruised with Norwegian Cruise Line to Alaska. We stopped in Juneau, Skagway, Ketichan, cruised through glacier bay & one final stop in Victoria Canada. 

To be honest I wasn't looking forward to going to Alaska. The part I wasn't looking forward to was the cold, all the elderly people, lack of sun, getting sick and cruising. All the things I wasn't looking too ended up being non-issues. It was warm, tons of sun, there were lots of elderly people but that was fine, and didn't get strep throat on this cruise. I was looking forward to the vacation, time away from work & limited communication with the world. 

I also felt Alaska was a cruise to take once you retire. My entire outlook on Alaska has changed. It is the place to go when you are mobile. There is so much to see!!!!  I can't believe how many excursions there are in each port. Some ports you can fit in 3-4 excursions. 

In Juneau we booked the glacier and salmon bake excursion. It was a last minute decision and I'm so glad we did. The scenery is breathtaking! Pictures just don't do Alaska justice. I would snap a picture, look at the picture and then back at the item. The real deal just couldn't be replicated. 

Salmon needs to be grilled over an open fire and top with a brown sugar butter glaze. I had tons of salmon over the week. It was the very best at the salmon bake in Juneau. Mmmmm I'm hungry for it again! 

Skagway we checked out the town in the morning. In the afternoon we went on a nature boat tour. We saw tons of eagles, seals, fish and 4 hump back whales. This was the only excursion we booked outside of the ship. We were both a little nervous about this trip. Our fears were quickly extinguished. The crew of Ocean Raft Adventures was super friendly, timely, funny and knowledgeable. We had a fabulous experience. 

Sagway had the best store!!! A Sarah Palin store!! Oh it was my favorite place! We bought a bunch of stuff for $8 bucks! CLEARANCE!!!!

Ketchikan we booked an excursion on the Aleutian Ballard crab boat from season 2 of Deadliest Catch. Fabulous excursion!!! We met Derek who was the captain of Phil boat after he passed away. We caught halibut, crabs, sharks, octopus, and rock fish. Saw lots of eagles, deer, but no bears :(  

In Victoria we just walked around bought souvenirs and went to dinner. It's beautiful there and I want to go back. We rode in an adorable little water taxi. I was just tired by this time and wanted to do nothing lol

Previously we cruised with Royal Caribbean. We liked them and didn't really have any complaints. We heard amazing things about NCL, so we decided to try them. NCL is a freestyle cruise. There aren't any set times to eat and you have different dining options for all meals. If you are cruising bring your fat pants!

Here is one thing I noticed a difference with NCL staff.  On Royal Caribbean the staff seemed worn out and very few left the ship. NCL staff seemed more rested, a ton of them left the ship, and they had 1 job not 3-4. I felt NCL treated the staff better.

I can't wait to go back to Alaska one day. We even talked about going to Ketchikan for a whole week. 

This vacation was much needed!!!! It was so nice to turn off the outside world for a week straight. I didn't think about work or cancer for 5 days. That is something that hasn't happened in 2013. I ate waaaaaay too much, slept a lot, read, ate, napped, enjoyed the scenery, exercised a little and loved every minute of it! 

Where is your next vacation? I suggest Alaska!!!

Menu Monday

The ship had some of the best food ever! My 2 favorite things were the cream puffs that were just out of this world and the french toast. I have always like french toast, but the french toast on the ship was out of this world. It was about 2 inches thick, blueberries, syrup, fresh whip cream.....oh my lord my mouth is just watering! I hate it 6 days out of the 7. I tried a lot of stuff on the ship and believe me the scales shows it. Every bite of the french toast was worth it. 

Art loved the sausage gravy and biscuits. He asked me if I would make a pot of gravy each Sunday for the week when we got home. LOL I told him biscuits and gravy are a treat not an every day thing. I will make a pot of gravy each week when Art makes me fresh french toast each morning. lol

Well it is time to get back on the wagon and eating healthy. My scale is SCREAMING at me. lol  We will be eating lots of salad, smoothies, and fruit. Today it is back to having veggie smoothies for breakfast, salads for lunch and veggies & meat for dinner. 

OOTD

Dress: Forever 21

Cardigan: NY & Co

Bracelets: Gifts

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Belt: Target

I found this jacket at J Crew Factory. I <3 a="" am="" cheaper="" expensive="" fall="" find="" font="" for="" gap="" have="" hoping="" i="" is="" it="" jacket.="" just="" light="" little="" navy="" old="" one="" or="" that="" the="" think="" this="" though.="" to="" too="" version="" want="" was="" weight="" will="">

I bought this sweater at J Crew Factor for $20. It was on clearance with an additional 50% off. 

Tshirt & Scarf: Target

Jeans: Old Navy

The scarf was in the $3 bin at Target! BARGAIN!

Tshirt: Target

Jeans & Sandals: Old Navy

Necklace: Veryjane.com

I love this necklace!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Endangered Rocks!

Art has been working hard to get the front yard in better shape. He has raked up all the rocks, sifted through them to get rid of the dirt, laid a tarp down so the weeds can't go through. We needed additional rocks to fill in a bare area, so we went to buy some rocks. We have Ginger Rocks or something along that name. I feel like some of these things only happen in California. The rock guy told us the quarry was shut down. He has no idea how long the quarry will be shut down because they found an endangered lizard. 

We possibly might be able to get the rocks we need in a month or in 3 months. No one has any idea when the quarry will open again. Unbelievable! Lesson learned again. Stop procrastinating and get a stinkin job done!

These rocks are available, but they are NOT the right color!

I have no idea what these machines are, but Art wanted a picture of them! I guess they had something to do with yard work or rocks. 

Food Porn

Chicken & Waffles

Ben & Jerry needs to give me some type of compensation because I have numerous people HOOKED on this ice cream. It is simply the best stuff in the world!

DINNER

Growing Kaleb

Large picture - Kaleb a couple hours old

Bottom left - 2 weeks

Bottom middle - 1 month

Bottom right - 4 months

Middle right - 4 months

Top right - 3 months

He has grown so much! It is almost hard to believe he was ever that tiny. 

Bart Thursday

If you don't have a headset for your phone or want to hold your phone just get an extra large pair of headphones to hold your phone to your head! Classic Bart rider!

Kinda Wordless Wednesday

Grown up?

You know your a grown up when:

- you get excited when someone else does the dishes

- you fall asleep sitting in the recliner

- sleeping in is now 7 am and not noon

- you can eat ice cream for dinner without getting in trouble - but you still hear your mother voice in your head to eat your veggies

- you get excited when you can take a nap or go to bed at 8pm

- college students look 12 years old

- the graduating class of 2013 wasn't even in preschool when you graduated high school

- your biggest fear is finding that first gray hair

- 60 years old is no longer ancient, but young

Encouragement from Mark 10

The other night I saw the statement below on Instagram. The first thing that came to mind was a baby. It is starting to almost seem like an unimaginable thing that could ever happen to us. I saw this statement and thought I shouldn't give up. When I decided at the end of 2012 that 2013 was a no baby year little did I know exactly why. The doctors have told me to avoid getting pregnant until after my CT scans in October. If seems that everyone is having a baby right now too. 

The day after I saw the above statement I read in Mark 10 the following verse:

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27 KJV)

It is really hard to stay discouraged when you are reading your Bible daily. Every single day I read something that is an encouragement. I really need all the encouragement at this point. Some days are tougher than others. I feel like I am in a major fight every single day just to survive. 

Apple Cider Vinegar

This stuff really works! I try to take 2 tablespoons of it every day. I shoot it down like a shot from a shot glass. I believe this is why I don't get sick very often. Between apple cider vinegar and green tea I try to keep all the sickness bugs away!

It is really rough the first time you take apple cider vinegar. You also need to make sure you don't take it on an empty stomach and drink water after you shoot it down. If it is too difficult for you to shoot it down you can add it to 8 oz of water. 

I even packed apple cider vinegar when we go on vacation to get rid of all the flu bugs!

Pink, Glitter, Running Shoes

Three amazing words - Pink, Glitter, Shoes 

Now add in pink glitter Nike running shoes and you have perfection! 

How awesome are these amazing pink glitter Nike??? I already emailed my mom and sister. I REALLY want these for Christmas. Girls you would need to buy them NOW before they are all sold out! These shoes are just perfect! I really hope Santa brings them to me. 

Flash back Thursday

Art went through a pile of pictures last weekend and found some gems. He found these pictures from when we first were dating. Boy do we both look different. lol

July 4, 2006

Lacey took this picture of us a couple days before Art left for in San Diego. I remember how sad I felt because Art was going to be going to San Diego for an undisclosed amount of time. It turned out to be 18 months. He was in San Diego to help with the National Guard with patrolling the border. 

October 2006

The above picture is one of my favorite because I look like I am missing a leg. I look like I have a peg leg. lol My mom took this picture of us in Old Town San Diego when we went to visit Art. 

Wordless Wednesday

Running Motivation

Picture on left - 2006

Picture on right - 2013

Well I needed some motivation lately to get myself to the gym. Art went through some old pictures this past weekend and that was the motivation I needed! I couldn't believe how chubby my face use to be. I am not sure what is up with my mouth open in so many pictures. lol

Menu Monday

Some of my friends and I are cleaning out our freezers and pantries this week. I have some random items I need to use up. I also told Art we aren't eating out this week. We are getting ready for vacation, so it is time to save money. We went to Costco this past weekend and walked out over $200. I can't believe how much each Costco trip ends up being. We bought a few clothing items, breakfast for my Sunday School class yesterday for 50 people, 4 bags of my favorite kale salad kit and some random snacks. How in the world did that add up to $200?  

Here are the random items I need to use this week. 

Hot links
Pork chops
Chicken parm
Kraft Mac & Cheese
Risotto
Fresh veggies

It should be interesting the things I come up with this week. I decided my food this week doesn't all have to go together. lol  There is also a possible Bart strike that will start any minute. If that happens we might be eating oatmeal all week. Ugh! Traveling 3-4 hours to work each day is horrific!

OOTD

I tried a messy bun last weekend. I put my hair in a pony, rolled my hair and pinned it. It was super easy. 

Tank: Old Navy

Cardigan: Loft

Boyfriend Jeans: Gap

Sandals: Target

Necklace: veryjane.com

Jacket: Old Navy

Tshirt: Gap

Skinnies: Marshalls

Shoes: Bass

Cardigan: Gap

Blouse: Garage Sale

Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Bass

Necklace: Lane Bryant