Organize THIS!

Hiatus

2010-01-03T22:23:00.000-08:00

Obviously it's been a while since I've updated this bad boy. Life has been super busy and my priorities have shifted, which has definitely led to it's neglect. Oops!

This blog is basically on indefinite hiatus for the foreseeable future. BUT! If you miss me too much... you can check out my new blog here:

http://shipuptoboston.blogspot.com

Thanks for sticking with this thing and inspiring me to come back!

--Becca

Food, Inc. and Sante

2009-08-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night Matt and I headed out for our first "date night" in a while - mostly with the intention of seeing Food, Inc. and relaxing after a long day of work. We ended up having quite the local experience from dinner to the theater seats we sat in. These are some reflections:

Image from Food, Inc. movie website.

There's no shortage of print media about the perils of factory farming and Big Agriculture these days. There is, however, a drastic shortage of video - we don't see much about issues of Agriculture on the news or on the big screen. Food, Inc. is the movie equivalent of all those books (well, more specifically, the movie equivalent of The Omnivore's Dilemma). Basically, I learned a few new things from this movie - i.e. more details about the way seed patents influence farming techniques - but most of the info is contained in the most popular written works on this subject. However, I would still recommend going to see this movie, because the images that are presented along with the well-known information are really powerful. I also applaud the makers of this movie for bringing faces and images to the population of people that are just never going to read a full book about the importance of eating seasonally and locally. It's sad that we live in an age where many people don't take the time to read a well-written article, but we do, and it takes people like the producers of Food, Inc. to get important messages out to the public.

At the same time, don't expect Food, Inc. to be an objective view of the state of agriculture in America today. The intent of the movie is clear from the start, and the voice of BigAg is basically non-existent in the movie. However, the facts presented are well researched and sourced, and make logical sense - so don't write the whole thing off as just propaganda!

Basically, is Food, Inc. worth your time to go see when it comes to your area? Absolutely. It'll make you value your local farmers' market so much more! Go check it out. But as with everything, take your thinking cap and do your own follow-up research if you haven't already.

Image from The Inlander.

Another part of our local evening was the venue. The Magic Lantern is one of the few (if not the only) theaters that show independent movies in Spokane. Unfortunately for us Spokanites, it had been closed for quite a while. BUT, it was reopened recently, and we got to experience the awesomeness that is a small, independently-run theater in the heart of downtown. And, to top it off, all tickets are only $5 - so cheap for a movie these days! If you're in Spokane and looking for a movie to see, be sure to check out The Magic Lantern (and you can read more about the reopening from The Inlander, here).

The final part of our evening was dinner at Sante's restaurant in downtown Spokane. I have no pictures of our food, but trust me when I say - delicious! It's a little pricey for Spokane - the meal with a drink for each of us, an entree for each of us, and dessert came to about $75 - but I think it's a great *really* special occasion restaurant. My two favorite parts of dining there? A complete vegetarian menu (diners are presented with both a vegetarian menu and a "regular" menu upon seating), and an amuse-bouche! I'd never received an amuse-bouche at a restaurant before - even though I've heard about them tons on shows like Top Chef - so it was pretty awesome to finally go to a classy place that serves them! Also, super fun fact that really fit with the evening - Sante's lists all of the farmers that they get their food from right on the menu.

So that was our date night in Spokane last Saturday. A good movie, a good venue, and delicious food. Can't ask for anything better!

Project 18: Fail Sauce

2009-08-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

Ugh, epic fail. A month ago, I wrote about wanting to change my morning routine. I wanted to get up earlier, get more out of the morning hours before work, and do a better job of getting to work "on time" (or before 8:30). Honestly, the first day of the project went well. The rest of the month? Not. So. Much.

It's hard to drastically change a routine that I've become so used to, even though it's detrimental to my life in so many ways! I really needed to exert the effort to make this a consistent habit for a few weeks, in hopes that it would stick, but I just couldn't do it. I could blame all the craziness going on and time off in Portland that I took, but it really is my own fault for not making this a priority.

Instead, I'm going to give it another shot. Except I'm going to wait until September, because I'm taking a trip to the East Coast for 9-ish days before the end of the month - and that's not going to help cement any sort of "getting up early" project into habit. Come September, I will succeed in making myself a morning person! It just seems like such a waste of perfectly good hours in the day to not take advantage of these beautiful summer mornings.

I really don't mean for this blog to turn into a bunch of whining...

2009-08-09T20:19:00.000-07:00

... but seriously, this weekend was LAME! My job has this tendency to give us last-minute notice of mandatory overtime, so on Friday afternoon I learned I'd be putting in a full 8-hour day on both Saturday and Sunday. Sure, they bought us lunch both days as a sort of consolation, but I was sadly out-voted and we ate Red Robin, both days. Now I'm trying to catch up on everything that was on my giant to-do list for the weekend, while wandering around with a grease-bomb in my stomach from the huge burgers and trying to make up to Matt for being gone all weekend.

But it's not all bad! I still miraculously got to a yoga class on Saturday morning (talk about a sanity saver!), and Matt and I managed to sneak out for a date night last night (which I'll probably write about tomorrow). I also made sure to decompress especially well on Friday and Sunday night, including the construction of a few birthday cards for some special ladies with birthdays this past week.

Happy birthday girls! Love you all!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to enjoy my glass of wine while folding a few loads of laundry, watching Who Wants to be a Millionare (did that carnival worker guy suck it up or what?), and reading some of my new book, Three Cups of Tea. I'm definitely not ready for the work week to start again tomorrow but I'll do my best!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-08-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

I missed menu plan Monday last week! Oops! We got some great deals at the farmers' market this week, so our meals this week will focus on delicious fresh veggies. I love that summer gives us opportunities to incorporate such a variety of freshness into our diets. Yum! As always, check out Org Junkie's website for more plans and planners!

Monday: Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

Tuesday: Zucchini and Corn Quesadillas

Wednesday: Stir fry or curry of random veggies, served over jasmine rice

Thursday: Amy's canned soup and grilled cheese

Friday: Dinner out - gotta take a break from cooking sometime!

Saturday: Lasagna Rolls

Sunday: Leftovers - because no one wants to cook on Sunday!

On my time off...

2009-08-05T23:07:00.000-07:00

...I learned a few lessons.

Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. Horrible reactions to antibiotics are just that - horrible. It's alright, my brain is back to normal size now and I'm all better.

Trying new things in yoga will make you sore. Yoga doesn't usually make me sore. Deciding to go the extra mile with your high-hip extensions - and then doing like, 10 on each side - will literally kick you in the butt the next day.

Getting a Costco card means you will eat your weight in Costco cookies. Immediately. And good lord those Costco cookies are delicious. We (Matt and I) joined Costco on a joint account while they were offering a bunch of specials for his company - and we got $3 off a package of cookies and a free rotisserie chicken. Thank GOD we had guests this weekend to help us eat stuff!

Once you stop blogging, it's hard to get back into it. Basically you just have to sit down and write something to get yourself started again, regardless of how interesting that particular thing is (for reference, see this post). Hopefully this will serve as the jump-start to blogging for the rest of the week!

Lazy Bones Barbecue Restaurant

2009-07-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Matt, Rachel, and I headed up to a new barbecue joint in southern Spokane. Of course, we forgot the camera to adequately document our adventure, but it's alright, I feel like blogging about it anyway.

Lazy Bones Barbecue in Spokane, Washington

So you're probably thinking to yourself, "What? A vegetarian at a barbecue restaurant? Riiiiight..." But no! This place is the only barbecue place I've ever been to that actually has an extensive vegetarian/vegan menu, AND an extensive gluten-free menu! Seriously, check this bad-boy out. Vegan side-dishes, lots of tofu, and separate cooking surfaces to keep meats and vegan dishes from mixing. A local vegan blog and the local weekly newspaper have both declared their love - so we had to see for ourselves!

So what'd we have?

I ordered the tofu slab sandwich (with slaw) and a side of mac-and-cheese
Matt got Diablo burger with a side of fries
Rachel got the pork sandwich and a side of southern greens

I really wish that I had pictures for you - both of the food and our clean plates! I think we all enjoyed our food a LOT. I don't know that I'd get the mac-and-cheese again, but I would certainly get the fries - Matt (jokingly) got mad at Rachel and I for stealing some of his, but they were good! Matt's burger also looked fabulous - full of veggies and cheese and barbecue deliciousness. It was also nice to see that all of their sauces were vegan, making it easy to pick out condiments to indulge in. And of course, beer and wine are available for purchase as well. Can't have a barbecue without the beer, right?

So vegetarians, vegans, and those that enjoy a good barbecue - if you're in south Spokane any time soon, stop by Lazy Bones to see what's up. No matter what your dietary preferences, they can grill you up something good!

An Ode to Reality Dating Shows

2009-07-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

So, no secret here, but I freaking LOVE reality television. I honestly don't know why, but it seems like every show I watch a few episodes of I get hooked on. This, of course, includes the last season of The Bachelor. Jason ended up being kind of a tool (come on, you know you think so, too!), but who didn't absolutely love Jillian? I wanted her to be the one Jason chose, but I was super excited when she was announced as the new Bachelorette! Of course I was glued to this season, and wasn't this moment just awesome last night?

Photo from NY Daily News

Oh Ed, even with your short shorts, you still were obviously the perfect one for Jillian. But Ed's fashion choices aside, one of the best things about this season was Jillian's fashion choices! I loved her sense of style, and every outfit she wore had me going "God, that's gorgeous, I'd love to wear that!" Obviously, we're completely different body types (I think Jillian is 5'1", and I'm a hurking 6'2"), but I still love her clothing and how she tastefully showed off her (rocking) body throughout the season.

This is one of my favorite photos of her, showing how something as simple as a white button down and cuffed jeans can look so cute and fun. If I were dressing myself in a similar outfit, here's what I'd do:

Jillian Harris by organizethis featuring American Ea

gle Outfitters

Click on the photo for product information. I'm restraining myself right now, I swear! Since I live on the West Coast, I'm still waiting to see Jillian and Ed bask in their love on the After the Final Rose reunion special, but seriously. Could those two be any cuter?

In the mean time, I'm watching Fox's new reality dating show (that's basically a rip-off of The Bachelor) about "larger" people finding love. I think the thing that is really bothering me right now is that the majority of these "average" women are super tall! There are so many 5'9"-6'2" women in the group - and we all know that isn't average! And honestly, the name - while cheeky and easy to remember - seems borderline insulting to me.

Did you all watch "More to Love"? What did you think about the producers' definition of "average", and the way the the show handles weight/body issues?

Menu Plan Monday

2009-07-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

Wow, the internet has been a-buzz with delicious recipes that I'm just dying to try this week. Yum! I'll admit, a lot of it has been the fault of Healthy Yum, which you have to check out if you haven't yet. Also check out Org Junkie's website for more menu plans and planners!

Monday: Indian Curry in the Crock-Pot, served over brown rice

Tuesday: Avocado-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with some baked tofu marinated in bbq sauce

Wednesday: Sri Lankan Palak Dal, served over brown rice

Thursday: Fried rice made from leftover brown rice (based on this recipe)

Friday: Dinner out, or grilling random stuff.

Saturday: Something simple - like soup and grilled cheese (and maybe some cucumber salad)

Sunday: Leftovers

Wow, I really sucked at posting this week!

2009-07-25T22:08:00.001-07:00

I guess it's hard to get back in the swing of things after taking a super busy, whirl-wind 4-day weekend away. This is evidenced by my inability to post this week and the fact that I just unpacked my suitcase... a few hours ago? Yeah, not so much success in the "back to normal" department this week.

I had a couple of posts that I wanted to make this afternoon, but realized that I sent Matt off to see a concert out-of-town with my camera in tow. So this note is just to say that Organize THIS! really will be returning to normal tomorrow.

Oh yeah, and thanks new subscribers and followers that have joined up in the past week! There are a few more of you than usual, so welcome!

Grocery Blogging

2009-07-21T21:10:00.000-07:00

Ugh, I haven't blogged about grocery shopping since last month - mostly because I haven't done a good job of grocery shopping! It's been a busy few weeks, with some time away from home, so tonight Matt and I cleaned out the fridge and then took off to the grocery store to restock on delicious, (mostly) healthy foods!

Tonight we spent $68 for groceries that'll last about 2 weeks. Wanna see what we got?

Most of the goods!

Tonight's goods included the following:

Tofu
Bananas
1 package of baby spinach
Organic strawberry yogurt
Sour cream
Milk
Boxed shells and white cheddar
1 sweet potato
1 onion
3 heat-and-eat soups (for Matt's lunches)
Barbecue sauce
1 can diced tomatoes with chilis
1 can red kidney beans
Wheat Thins
Baby Carrots
3 Lean Cuisines (for my lunches)
2 red bell peppers
2 mangoes
1 head of cauliflower

Not pictured above are some items that Matt was excited about as well. First up, some "locally" brewed beer...

Alaska is pretty close to Washington, right? :D

...and a frozen pizza for those days when he has to eat without me.

California Pizza Kitchen Sicilian Pizza.

Yum yum yum! These groceries will definitely make my menu plan for this week a delicious one, and feed into next week's planning. Now I'm off to watch the premiere of Hell's Kitchen - I love Gordon Ramsey! They edit him to make him sound so mean, but apparently he's super nice in real life. Good night!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-07-20T23:45:00.000-07:00

This is a true menu plan Monday this week! Since we just got home this evening from our weekend in Portland, I haven't had time to plan out this week's meals until now. We'll be taking it easy this week cooking-wise, just because traveling is hard and I need some recovery time! As always, check out Org Junkie's website for more menu plans and planners!

Monday: We picked up Thai food from Thai Bamboo after getting home tonight. YUM, curry!

Tuesday: Amy's Mac-and-Cheese with steamed veggies and barbecue-marinated tofu

Wednesday: Sweet Potato Chili in the crock-pot

Thursday: Falafel wraps or salads

Friday: Curried Quinoa Salad and some steamed veggies

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower

A very long weekend recap

2009-07-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! How I love love love 4-day weekends! I'm currently sitting in the Portland (Oregon) airport awaiting my plane back to Eastern Washington - how smart is it that Portland has their entire airport connected via free wifi? - and am very happy that I decided early on in the weekend to abstain from internet usage. There was just too much to do!

What's that, you ask? You want a recap of my weekend? Sure!

It all started with Friday. Oooooh Friday. We had all of our official wedding appointments scheduled for Friday, so we headed to the caterers first. Since our meeting wasn't until 1, we stopped at McMenamin's Barley Mill Pub for some cajun tots... YUM! Matt gets these every time we're in Portland. Then it was off to Vibrant Table for an hour-long meeting -- got so much stuff done, the most exciting of which was deciding on colors! I'll write more about that in Wedding Wednesday in a few days. After that Matt, Matt's mom and I headed downtown, where we met up with Nurse Paul. The boys headed off to a record store while Matt's mom and I hit up the Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale! I was so excited to not only be in a big city for it this year, but to be in a big city without sales tax! Check out what i got:

Enzo Angiolini Zambiah boots - hot!

After Nordies and a quick stop at the Portland Visitors Center and a look at the sand castles on display and being built at Sand in the City, we met back up with Matt and Nurse Paul for some cupcake sampling at Cupcake Jones. And then it was off to the main attraction on Friday: DEATH CAB. Death Cab for Cutie was playing at McMenamin's Edgefield property, which was a pretty awesome concert venue. We snagged some free food at the end that the concert vendors hadn't been able to sell, and then it was home for the night.

And that was just Friday!

Saturday started out a little more tamely, with a leisurely breakfast at Vita Cafe with Nurse Paul and another college friend and her boyfriend. Their corn pancakes? DELICIOUS. Then, because every time I go to Portland I have to go to Powell's, we went to Powells. I bought two books (a biography about Leni Riefenstahl, and Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel) and a reusable shopping bag to show my Portland love in Spokane. After that, it was off to the International Beer Festival in the Pearl District. We sampled tons of beers - and a few other things, too - but my favorite was a Mango Weizen by Trade Route Brewery. Then, immediately following quick Taco Bell and Burgerville stops, we headed back to Edgefield to listen to the soundcheck and wait for Decembrists concert #1! While chilling on the porch, Nurse Paul, Matt, and I split a bottle of wine, some marionberry ice-cream, and tried to avoid being in the wedding photos of a couple that were getting married at the property. The Decembrists were playing 2 shows in Portland, along with Blind Pilot and Andrew Bird - they were fantastic! After the concert, we waiting out the parking lines by getting some food in Edgefield's Black Rabbit Restaurant - I had a Portabello mushroom sandwich that was delicious. Then it was home to bed!

Sunday was another wedding planning day! Matt's parents, Matt and I went to the Hands on Cafe at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. I had some delicious buckwheat pancakes topped with peaches, blueberries, and cream. Then Matt's mom and I took of for some mother-in-law/daughter-in-law bonding. We headed to Home Depot to get some paint swatches that match our new wedding colors, and then took off to The Wedding Cottage to check out things like favors, invitations, unity candles, and other accessories. Our final stop was at Saint Cupcake, where we picked up pricing info and a 10-cupcake sampler pack. Following a brief taste test with Matt's parents, Matt and I took off to get Nurse Paul for our final concert of the weekend - Decembrists concert #2 at Edgefield. Decembrists concert #2 wasn't as good as Decembrists concert #1, but both were awesome and I'd love to see them again sometime soon. Because we decided we hadn't had enough fun yet, we went to see the new Harry Potter movie after the concert. Overall, I'd say the new movie is "meh" but thought it was still pretty entertaining. It didn't stand out over the rest of the series for me like it has for others.

So now I'm sitting in the Portland airport, waiting for my flight! We made a quick stop at Ikea to get Matt some record storage units (always the organizer, eh?), and then we headed over here. It was a fun weekend, but I'm looking forward to going home (and reading the 250+ items in my google reader!).

Hope you all had great weekends!

Wedding Wednesdays - Episode 10

2009-07-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

I had every intention of making this post about wedding "colors" and the direction I'm leaning... but why write about my wedding when I can write about other's weddings??

I woke up early this morning (go Project 18!), and after doing some 30 Day Shred, turned on the Today show. And what do you know, the Today show hosted a wedding for 2 cross country coaches live on air this morning! Don't get me wrong, I'm having a great time planning my wedding, but how awesome would it be to have everything picked and arranged for you - and completely paid for?

As with any wedding (especially one where everything is decided by the general population of the US), there are things that I'd want to change if it were me. But this one was pretty good overall, and I could only think of two things:

Striped Tommy Hilfiger Suit (image credit: Indochino)

The groom and weddign party wore grey-striped Tommy Hilfiger suits. They looked quite a bit like the one above, and I was not a fan. I'm not sure what Matt and his entourage will be wearing, but it will not be these suits.

Martina McBride

I don't like country. There will be no country music at my wedding (unless it's as a joke - like Matt and his entourage singing me "Achy Breaky Heart" or something ridiculous like that). And our first dance will certainly NOT be to Martina McBride. But, you know, to each their own, and they seemed to enjoy it - that's what matters, right?

I will, however, be very happy to accept NBC's donation - or anyone elses - of a honeymoon to Australia (good choice America!). Any takers? Anyone?

You can check out the video if you missed it on the NBC website. And seriously, these two are super cute - since they're runners, they "ran" down the aisle after being pronounced husband and wife, and Leigh's vows included a reference to "spinach chicken surprise".

Get Real Simple Magazine for $5

2009-07-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

1 year of Real Simple Magazine for $5!

So I'm sure this is flying around the blog world as I type, but in case anyone has missed it, you can get a year of Real Simple magazine on Amazon.com for $5 right now. I love this magazine, and have spent way more than $5 just picking up issues off news stands. So if you're like me and have been putting off signing up for a subscription, go now!

P.S. Thanks Sarah Elizabeth for alerting me of this offer!

Project 18 Update

2009-07-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

So on Friday I wrote about wanted to change my morning routine, and today was my first shot at getting up at the crack of dawn (which obviously means 6am) and stop being a lazy bum. And I was successful! But not necessarily of my own accord...

There's a ghost in Spokane/my shower, and it wanted me out of bed at 6am this morning. Who am I to say no?

At exactly 5am, my shower developed a noisy, twice a minute drip. This of course drew me out of bed to see what the deal was, since our shower has never dripped (except due to user error). And then, through nothing my blind-as-a-bat-without-contacts inspection revealed, the shower inexplicably stopped dripping at 5:30am. And obviously, I'm already wide awake at this point.

At exactly 6am, the torrential downpour that began last night abruptly stopped, yielding a damp but still slightly warm morning. Which, in case you're wondering, is absolutely perfect for a morning run.

Call it fate, the stars aligning, or the intervention of a Higher Power, but my butt was at work by 8:30 after a morning full of working out, breakfast, lunch-packing, blog-checking, and the ever important SHOWER. Hallelujah!

Day one of Project 18: COMPLETE.

Decluttering Your Closet through Smart Clothing Purchases

2009-07-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

Does anyone constantly struggle with the state of their closet like I do? It feels like a never-ending battle to both keep things organized and actually find stuff that I want to wear. In the past 12 months I've removed many more things from my closet - including virtually all clothing items purchased in the 1990s - than I've added. And honestly? I think the sheer number of things I used to have was keeping me from making good clothing choices. I think that closets are another one of those things where "more" doesn't necessarily equal "easier". Even though Cher had an awesome closet, she still had a hell of a time deciding what to wear every day!

Who didn't want Cher Horowitz's closet in the 1990s?

What I've learned about my closet and my clothing in the last year is this: the way to keep your closet under control is to closely monitor what goes into your closet - if you don't buy it, you don't have to worry about it! I've cut down on the things I buy by ensuring that the majority of new items adhere to one major rule: multi-seasonality!

Perfect example: I need a cardigan for summer; I also need a cardigan for winter. Why not choose a cardigan in a color close to neutral, and a style that can be worn alone (summer) or layered (winter)? The short-sleeved cardigan from Anthropologie above can be paired with shorts and a tank-top for a light summer look, or layered under a turtleneck for a warmer winter look. One piece, multiple ways. Now instead of needing 2 pieces, I've found a cute way to get by with just one.

I love love love patterned and embellished skirts, which are a little trickier to get so that they are wearable in both summer and winter. However, I've found that patterns using browns and lighter grays (as opposed to black and darker grays) as their neutral are more versatile for varying seasons. The example above is a brown and yellow skirt: for summer, play up the yellow and throw in a complementary color of accessories (I chose blue). For winter, play up the neutral tone, and work in the pattern's colors in the accessories. Again, I've found this works well with patterns that have lighter neutral tones, as opposed to the heavy black and dark gray that tends to scream "WINTER!" no matter what.

So when you're shopping, buy pieces that can be used in both summer and winter - you'll save space in your closet and keep more money in your pocket! Happy shopping!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-07-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

This week's menu plan isn't super complex - mostly because Matt and I will be venturing off to Portland for a combination of friends, concerts, and wedding planning in the latter half of the week! To say I'm excited is quite the understatement... this future "mrs" is looking forward to a 4 day weekend (and no work), and only one real day of cooking! As always, check out Org Junkie's website for more menu planners.

Monday: Falafel wraps on whole wheat tortillas with cream cheese, spinach, and whatever else we end up throwing in.

Tuesday: Zucchini Herb Casserole

Wednesday: A "use up the produce" stir-fry/curry served with brown rice.

Thursday: Grilled cheese and soup before heading off to catch a plane.

Friday - Sunday: In Portland! Probably out and about eating delicious food with friends and (future) family!

TIme for another personal confession...

2009-07-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

Ladies, I never foresaw my admission to my participation in a certain... *ahem* extracurricular.... happening on this blog. But now, as i sit to write a post about what I'm doing and have done on this particular Saturday, I see no way around it.

I am...

A former pageant girl. And by that, I mean that I competed in one Miss America preliminary shortly before my 21st birthday. But, nonetheless, that has classified me as a pageant girl (and crossed one of those "what-if" things off my adolescent to-do list. I didn't do well - it was quite comical in fact - but it's one of those experiences that you glad you took advantage of while you still could.

Want proof? I give you... the infamous pink bikini (that played a part in Rachel's blog name):

Yeah, it's pretty heinous, isn't it? Crocheted pink bikinis will do that to ya.

So I hope you all will excuse me while I continue to watch the live webcast of the Miss Washington and Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen pageants tonight instead of contributing anything blog-worthy (again) tonight - except for maybe that photo up there. Don't blackmail me now y'all!

Project 18 - Morning Routines

2009-07-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

My morning routine (or lack-thereof) has really been biting me in the butt this week. I used to be such a morning person - getting out of bed at the crack of dawn to workout, starting the day early with loads of energy, and still being able to stay up through to the wee hours of the morning. And seriously? It's only been two years, but I've apparently become well settled into "old lady"-dom. It's ridiculous!

Basically, I stopped having a morning routine when winter came around, and now my lack of routine has turned into a routine in and of itself - and not a good (or helpful) one! A typical morning for me these days looks something like this:

7AM - Matt gets up, I rearrange myself so I take up the entire bed, and fall back asleep
7:30AM - Matt wakes me up to tell me he's leaving, I debate whether or not to get out of bed
7:45AM - I bite the bullet and drag myself to the bathroom to brush my teeth/put in contacts
7:50AM - Still not awake, I decide to forgo a shower and check blogs/watch the morning news instead
8:05AM - I decide that I can still make the 8:06 bus, and sprint to the bedroom to get dressed
8:06AM - The bus goes by, and since I still don't have pants on, I decide it's time for a nap
8:15AM - Finish getting dressed and put make-up on
8:20AM - Start packing lunch for the day
8:29AM - Begin the frantic search for enough quarters to get the 8:36 bus
8:34AM - Sprint out to the bus stop, praying I'll make the bus the whole way
8:36AM - Either get on the bus, or watch it roll past me (in which case, I will have to walk the 1.75-ish miles to work) - more often than not this week it's been the latter.
8:45AM - If I caught the bus, roll into the office; if I didn't, lament about how I should be to work by now while still being far away, and on foot.

See what I mean? Not a great way to start the day. Especially when the rest of your coworkers show up at 8AM and schedule 8:30AM meetings that you're constantly being late to.

A little bit of blog research has shown me that morning routines are a pretty popular topic in blog-land, and that everyone likes to wake up in the 5am hour (good lord, really?). While my before-6AM-wakeup days are over for sure, it seems like everyone accomplishes a lot more in their mornings than I do - working out, fixing food, actually eating breakfast, and showering (ugh, I know). It'd nice to be able to do all (okay, maybe at least two?) of these things during my mornings as well.

So this is it. I'm giving myself a month. What is today, July 10th? August 10th it is. I am going to change my morning routine (for the better!) by August 10th. My tangible measurements of this change will be arriving at work before 8:30 and showering in the mornings (can you tell I'm really hung up on the fact that I don't do this anymore? Because i am).

Resources: There's a great article on Zen Habits entitled How I Became an Early Riser that outlines a gradual progression into morning activeness. Unclutterer also wrote an article a while ago called Streamlining Your Morning Routine to help you figure out where you're wasting time. And The Simple Dollar has an awesome article about starting new habits that should be pretty helpful. More productive morning, here I come!

A blah evening ahead

2009-07-09T20:54:00.000-07:00

I had every intention of writing an insightful blog post tonight about something, but honestly - I'm exhausted, there's laundry to be done, and I really need a shower.

On the plus side, I went on a super fast and energizing run with the Flying Irish tonight, watched a running friend get her club shirt, and afterwards enjoyed 2 beers and lots of laughs with friends, coworkers, and fellow runners. And, due to my inability to control myself in the local Rite Aid, I have 2 new wedding magazines to peruse tonight, in bed, after my shower.

So with that, blog friends, I bid you good night, and hopefully I'll return tomorrow with more energy and some sort of meaningful blog post. Hope you all have fabulous evenings!

Wedding Wednesdays - Episode 9

2009-07-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today's "Wedding Wednesday" is going to feature everyone's favorite wedding topic - THE DRESS. Or, more specifically, the QUEST to find the dress. I've learned so much in my three dress shopping excursions that I feel I have to share the struggles and successes that I've had so far. And no, I'm not going to be showing you my dress in this post, for 2 reasons: 1) I haven't found it yet, and 2) Matt reads this blog and I'm old fashioned - it has to be a surprise!

So anyway, here are three lessons that I've learned so far that I feel it's imperative to share with fellow brides searching for dresses, or those helping brides search for dresses.

1. Bring your own underwear. Especially if you're a "weird" size. Now, I'm not a particularly weird size (*cough* 34A *cough*), but I'm a weird height, and unfortunately for me the third bridal shop that I went to only had strapless bras that also were intended to suck in your stomach - oh yeah, and no 34A. Why is this such a big deal?

Improper undergarments may make you appear pregnant.

If the bridal store happens to have undergarments that will make you look even better in a gown, awesome. But don't depend on them to provide you with what you need - especially if your mother is like mine and tends to get hung up on how many months pregnant your aunts might think you are.

2. Don't be afraid to try on things that your bridal consultant might think you'd like - as long as they're in your price range. One of my bridal consultants (I had 3) was AWESOME at suggesting dresses that she thought I might like. Considering that I walked in saying "no lace, no beading below the bodice, simple, classic, and elegant", she managed to find a dress that I really liked that didn't fit any of my criteria.

The lovely dress by Mori Lee.

Me in the dress. Had it not had the halter top business going on, I think I would've walked out with this one.

I never would have picked this dress off the rack, yet the sales assistant looked at the first few dresses I tried on, asked what I liked and didn't like, and came up with this number. This dress is a close third to the top two I'm currently considering. So basically, trust your consultants - they know quite a bit about dresses and what you might like.

3. Stick to your gut, and don't be afraid to say no. Having been on three appointments, there can be a tremendous amount of pressure to buy a dress that you're not 100% happy with - whether it's from the saleswoman or the friends and family you've brought along. Don't be afraid to say no for now and take the information for the dress. 99% of the time, the dress will be still be there the next weekend or next month, and will still be the same price. Wedding dresses are a big investment, and you should always be happy with your investment. Be sure to get a card with all the dress info, though, of your top choice(s), so that you can go back and see them immediately.

My final tip really only applies to tall girls - walk in knowing exactly how tall you are and how high you want your heels to be when you get married. Especially if you're over 6 feet tall, bridal saleswomen tend to assume you'll be wearing flats. If you're not, tell them up front. And if you're over 6 feet tall, don't bother bringing bridal shoes with you - sample dresses are NOT that long. In fact, the first question out of your mouth when you find a dress you like should be "How much longer can I get this dress?" It's important!

Case in point: Me in my bare feet in dress #1. Shoes? Who needs 'em?

So this is what I've learned in my dress shopping experiences so far. Any other brides out there with tips to share for finding THE DRESS? Share away!

Kraft Bagelfuls Product Review

2009-07-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

So I was asked to try Kraft Bagel-fuls a couple of weeks ago, and thought "Why not? I like bagels and frozen things!" So Kraft sent me a coupon for a box, I picked it up, and now here we are.

In the interest of full disclosure, let me say: I am definitely NOT a morning person, and I hardly ever eat a "proper" breakfast. As proof, I give you my attitude towards sampling this morning:

Tired and skeptical. Possibly not super enthusiastic. Notice the bed-head.

But after a shower and a bit of waking up time, I was much more excited to check out Bagel-fuls. Matt also tried one, although he had his before I'd even gotten out of bed - and therefore avoided my not-so-skillful morning photography skills.

Ready to chow down!

First, some info on the product itself. There are tons of different flavors - so I chose to try the Original (plain bagel with plain cream cheese). Bagelfuls come in boxes of 4, and at a Fred Meyer in Washington State, they'll set you back about $2 a box. The Originals are 200 calories, and based on some quick internet research, this is pretty comparable. You store the box in the fridge, and then heat up the individually packaged Bagelfuls in the microwave for 30 seconds or the toaster.

In my hand for sizing reference, heated up and ready to be eaten!

I cut mine in two to make for easier eating, and was greeted with warm, gooey cream cheese oozing in the middle and out of the ends. Now to be completely honest: these DO NOT replace the traditional bagel and cream cheese. If given the choice between Noah's Bagels and Bagel-fuls, I'd choose Noah's Bagels hands down. Another negative - the ingredients list. I don't make ti a habit of eating processed food very often, and this ingredient list contained quite a few things that I couldn't pronounce and had to look up (all ingredients are listed on the product website).

Gooey cream cheese oozing out, ready to be munched.

However, these were quick and easy to fix. I don't have a lot of time in the mornings (which is one of the reasons I don't eat breakfast), but I could definitely take 30 seconds to pop one of these in the microwave while I'm rushing out the door. While they're not as flavorful as a fresh bagel with cream cheese, they taste pretty good and are a good substitute. I'm also super sodium sensitive, and found that these contained quite a bit less sodium than the average single-serving frozen/chilled processed food. Additionally, if you live alone (or don't eat a whole lot of bread products), I'd recommend these so that you don't have to buy a whole pack of bagels and cream cheese that will go bad before you can finish it.

So will I be eating Bagel-fuls on a regular basis? Probably not. But I can definitely see myself picking up a box of these in the near future to have on hand for quick snacks and house guests, especially considering how often I have guests!

P.S. Matt's thoughts: "It was pretty good!"

The Importance of Farmers Markets

2009-07-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

It's no secret on this blog that I go to the farmers' market nearly every weekend, and shop at the local CSA otherwise. I'm a big fan of locally grown food - it tastes great and is so fresh! I've had chain-grocery produce and CSA produce in my fridge at the same time (asparagus), and the CSA stuff literally lasted a week longer than the store bought! Anyway, that's not the point of this post...

Some fresh, locally grown Bing cherries purchased at the farmers market this weekend

Recently my city has been discussing the importance of farmers' markets to the community as a whole, particularly in light of some actions by the Washington State Department of Revenue. Basically, an official at the DoR decided that since the farmers' markets are on church parking lots in this area, the church parking lots cannot be classified with the rest of the church and must pay taxes on the land. The full details can be read in this article written by the local paper. So the churches have to pay the tax or shut their markets. Isn't that ridiculous?

Spokane Farmers' Market

All of this has got me thinking about why I support farmers' markets and locally grown food. I know a lot of my readers feel the same way that I do, but in case there are some that don't frequent CSAs or farmers markets, here's why I do.

Economic benefit to me and my community. Doing a direct price comparison of organic produce at the chain grocery to the organic product at the farmers' market has shown me that my farmers' market produce is always equal to, but more often than not less than, the price of produce at the chain store. And that money is going directly to support the person who is growing my food, and staying in my community!
It's delicious. Seriously. Matt and a friend that was in town this weekend bought some fish (how cool is it that my farmers' market is close enough to the Pacific and Alaska to have fresh fish???) and honestly exclaimed that they'd never had better. We've seriously spoiled ourselves with the caliber of spinach, asparagus, squash, and apples that we've gotten through the market and CSAs.
Connection to food and agricultural education. There's so much to learn from each and every grower. Growing methods, use of (or lack of) chemicals, harvesting methods, any processing that goes into readying the food for market, and just general life experience: all are there to be learned from the growers by consumers, kids, and other curious parties. It's a learning experience! And, because the farmers markets in Washington accept government food assistance programs, this education is available to everyone - not just those with the luxury of paying for local organic food.
There's so much more than just food! One of the most common misconceptions that I've encountered is that there's only veggies and fruits at the farmers' market. NOT TRUE. There's meat, fish, flowers, honey products, local wool and other cloth-type materials, and various community organizations that set up booths and make themselves available to the public during farmers market days. And CSAs tend to be well connected with all these entities as well. And, perhaps my favorite part of the farmers market - sprouts! Many vendors sell seedlings that they've sprouted at the farmers market so that you can begin your own garden, and provide important tips on how to be a successful gardener.

I could go on and on about the benefits of locally grown organic food and why I shop at farmers markets, but I think a lot of you do this already and I certainly don't want to preach to the choir! For more information, I highly recommend Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan (or any of his other books, really). Also check out localharvest.org for information on local farmers markets, CSAs and fruit stands.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-07-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

Another week, another menu plan! After a fun-filled long weekend, it's back to work and back to eating "real" (re: not charred on the grill) food. As always, check out Org Junkie's website for more menu plans!

Monday: Baked tofu (marinated in bbq sauce) and Baked Asparagus in Balsamic Butter Sauce

Tuesday: Vegetarian Chili in the slow-cooker

Wednesday: Curried Broccoli Chicken Casserole

Thursday: I'll be honest, probably fast food after my run (shameful, I know!)

Friday: Boxed pasta (probably Amy's) with steamed veggies and Poor Little Eggplants

Saturday: Either dinner out somewhere, or a stir-fry (with brown rice) to clean out the fridge

Sunday: Leftovers - because no one wants to cook on a Sunday!

I need some workout music recommendations!

2009-07-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

Now that I have a new computer that can actually connect to the internet, it's time to download some new workout music. Basically I've been listening to the same few mixes of workout music for a loooong time, and it's time for a change.

I've got a few songs in mind already that I've heard and immediately said, "That would be a GREAT song to run to!" It's just a start, but here's what I've come up with:

Kanye West's "Love Lockdown" is definitely leading the charge on this front.

Kanye West - New Music - More Music Videos

And there's also this gem by Kat DeLuna, although I'm told that Busta Rhymes isn't actually in the record version of the song.

Kat DeLuna - New Music - More Music Videos

I'll be honest, I also fell in love with this song during several of those dance-y artsy reality competition shows. But I really don't like Lil Wayne, so... we'll see.

Kevin Rudolf - New Music - More Music Videos

This is a great start (in my opinion!), but it certainly won't make up a whole new workout play list! So I turn to you, readers. What's your favorite workout song? What song really gets you pumped up to push through and finish your workout?

New Year's Resolutions Update

2009-07-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July everyone! Hope you are all celebrating the birth of our nation with your friends and family and enjoying every minute of it! I'll be hanging out with a few friends, getting some sunshine, and of course watching some fireworks.

The beginning of July also marks the halfway point of the year, and what better time to revisit those New Years' resolutions? I wrote about my resolutions earlier this year, and I think I've done a pretty good job with them. Let's revisit, shall we?

1. Read more books for pleasure. I'm getting there! Now that I'm officially done with classes, I have a lot more time to read, and I fully intend to get to the goal of 50 by the end of the year.

2. Apply to PhD programs. Eh... haven't started yet. I'll put this on the top of my list for the summer! It'll also be a lot easier to accomplish this one after I finish my thesis. We'll see!

~~3. Win the biggest loser competition at work.~~ Check! I didn't win, but Rachel came in second. I consider this one complete and a win!

~~4. Get my passport.~~ It is in my possession! Hooray!

5. Make a budget and stick to it. Er... not so much! I need to get on this one.

6. Meal Plan every week. I've only missed a few weeks so far this year, so I think I've been pretty successful on this one. Just have to keep it up now!

7. Go on 2 mini-vacations (as in 3- or 4-day weekends. Matt and I hit up Missoula for a weekend not too long ago, so one of two has been completed!

8. Go on an extended vacation (as in a week) with Matt. This is still in the works, but looks like it's going to happen

9. Set up a weekly volunteering activity again. Have not done this yet, need to get on it!

10. And last but not least, make a better effort to keep in touch with all the people that I love that are far away from me now. I've been horrible at this one too! I really need to make a better effort here.

So even though I've only got 2 that I can cross off, I think I'm doing pretty well!

How're you all doing with your resolutions? Hope you're enjoying your holiday!

Long Weekend Plans

2009-07-03T08:09:00.001-07:00

I can't even tell you how excited I am to have a 3-day weekend here at home. I've done a lot of traveling in the last few months, and have a 4-day Portland weekend coming up later in July, so it's nice to not worry about going anywhere for once! Hooray!

But just because we're not going anywhere doesn't mean we're not doing anything! On the contrary, the weekend will hopefully include a few fun things. For example:

Strawberries!

There's a strawberry festival going on a few miles north of Spokane, and it includes U-Pick strawberries. I hope we get some juicy fresh strawberries like these, and turn them into strawberry shortcake!

It's supposed to be awful, but maybe IMAX will make up for it?

I really want to see some hard-core special effects on IMAX film this weekend, and figure Transformers 2 will come through in that regard. Plus, Matt can make Shia jokes the entire time. Everyone wins, right?

Fireworks!

There always has to be fireworks on the 4th, right? Spokane has a huge 4th of July celebration featuring fireworks on the Spokane river, and lots of music and festival food in the park at the center of town. Not sure how much of the rest of the festivities we'll take part in, but you can bet we'll have ourselves situated for the 10pm show tomorrow!

Alright, I'm off to run before it gets to 90 degrees today (ugh!). Hope everyone has a fantastic 4th of July weekend and enjoys a little extra time off!

Project 17: The Office/Guestroom - Completed!

2009-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

So a little over two weeks ago, I wrote about how I needed to clean up our guest bedroom to make it livable for our guests and also an office for me (and Matt if he decides to use it that way). I thought it would only take me a few days, but there was a lot more stuff in the room than I thought! So, after a lot of sorting and organizing, as well as some shopping, I've finally created a space that fits all the requirements!

Again, here are some before pictures. And here we go with the afters!

A new book-shelf to hold all of our books, and everything in its place.

The desk and window with new curtains, as well as a glimpse of the guest nightstand.

The new workout corner with the inspirational Rosie the Riveter poster to motivate!

A close up of the desk space, complete with new laptop.

In all, the room transformation cost about $70 - for the bookcase, the curtain rod, and the curtains. Not bad for how different the room looks overall! For the most part, I reused other furniture and organizational pieces that we already had that weren't being used to their full potential, and I'm really pleased with the results! It's so nice to finally have a workspace, I've been sitting at the desk just to sit at it! And you'd better believe I'm writing this from my chair new desk right now.

Hot Soup for a Hot Summer

2009-06-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

Is it weird that, even as the temperature is reaching the upper 80s and 90s, I'm still reaching for steaming hot bowls of soup? I know a lot of people associate hot soup with winter and couldn't imagine eating a bowl on a hot day, but I love it!

I wish it was only 5 cents!

My lunch today came from Soulful Soups, by far the best lunch spot in downtown Spokane if you ask me! A large steaming bowl of Tomato Bisque was just what the doctor ordered to wake me up after my long night yesterday. And I was delighted to see that I wasn't the only one craving a hot bowl of deliciousness on such a warm day - there were a few other patrons indulging themselves as well.

Soup - winter warmth, now also a summer delicacy!

New Fitness Journal

2009-06-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

Ugh, I'm really dragging my feet this morning! I had a really nice dinner out last night (at C.I. Shenanigans on the river in downtown Spokane) with my mom and a family friend after spending two hours dress shopping. It was a long, tiring night, but it was also fun and I got a lot done!

So my mom is leaving to go hom this morning, and it's back to life as normal for me. Hooray! One of the things that I've been slacking on in the last few weeks as I've jet-setted back and forth from my various travels is food and exercise planning/tracking. I've gotten back into the Menu Plan Monday swing after a few weeks off, but I've yet to get back into my personal meal tracking. I wrote a few months ago about a notebook I'd been using to track things, but on a recent trip to Houston I found this gem in the airport bookstore:

It was on the clearance rack at the Houston Airport Borders, so it was less than $4!

There are two reasons that I bought this journal. First, I love how organized (yet detailed) it is. There's space for every meal and snack, with boxes for writing how many grams of fiber and calories there are. The exercise portions are divided into weights and cardio/other exercise, and it works well to get you motivated to fill up the space.

A sample exercise page from the weekly portion.

The second reason I love this journal is that it allows you to track yourself and make goals along various time frames. While most of the journal is taken up with pages for the weekly tracking, there are also pages and spaces for monthly tracking and making monthly goals. But it wants you take pictures of yourself... no thanks, exercise journal!

A monthly page from the journal.

So basically, I'm in love with this little book. It puts my own tracking notebook to shame! Unfortunately, it was so discounted at Borders because it was not going to be carried there anymore... I don't know what I'm going to do when I fill it up! I'll have to photocopy the pages or something and make my own.

Now I've got to catch up on The Bachelorette since I missed last night's episode! I'm curious to see what Jillian's going to be wearing... she's got a great sense of style!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-06-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

A few people commented about the sweet potato chili from last week's menu plan -- and I have to tell you all, it was FANTASTIC. Matt even said I should make it again sometime! Big thumbs up on that one.

This week's a little crazy meal-wise because of my mom being in town and the 4th of July. How is it the 4th of July already? I've completely lost all sense of time, because I could have sworn it was just yesterday that I was complaining about winter never ending! Anyway, check out Org Junkie's website for more menu-planners!

Monday: Dinner out with my mom after dress shopping!(!!!!)

Tuesday: Santa Fe Casserole (recipe from Caitlin of Healthy Tipping Point, found in Jenna's Team In Training Cookbook)

Wednesday: Lentil Sloppy Joes and some veggies on the side

Thursday: Soup and grilled cheese

Friday (Day off!): A little culinary experiment with Giada's Lasagna Rolls (minus the prosciutto of course!)

Saturday (4th of July!): It's kind of against nature not to barbeque on the 4th, isn't it? Burgers, veggies, and all the fixings!

Sunday: Leftovers, because no one wants to cook on Sunday!

Busy Weekend!

2009-06-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

These past few days have been pretty hard on my psyche. Probably the biggest downer in my life that happened this week was my company's decision to cut a bunch of jobs and give the rest of us that are still (thankfully) employed a pay cut. The economy's tough, and my company is definitely feeling it. That, coupled with the celebrity deaths, and my mother's arrival in less than 36 hours, has made this NOT the most fun end of the week ever!

This weekend, I fully intend to keep myself busy busy busy to get my spirits back up! This morning Matt and I will be getting a delicious bagel breakfast, and then head here:

The Spokane Farmers Market

After all that, we'll be heading down to check out the action at Hoopfest! Despite the fact that I'm nearly 6'2", I'm not playing in it this year - I've been a volunteer referee in the past, but this year I'm ready to enjoy it as a spectator! Hopefully we'll see some friends play and meet up with other spectator-friends while there.

And then, it's back home to clean like crazy so my apartment will pass my mom's white-glove inspection! I'm not sure when she's arriving tomorrow, so it all has to be done tonight.

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

I know this is a blog about organization and life style and all that, but I have to say that my heart is feeling pretty heavy today after learning about the sudden, pretty unexpected passing of Michael Jackson. I grew up with his music, watched Thriller and his other music videos all the time on the VHS tapes that my parents used to copy them off of the tv; I started dancing in part because of the sheer magnitude of his videos and performance energy. And let me tell you, I perfected the moon-walk! For someone with a pretty tumultuous life and career, it is impressive that he made the mark on the music world that he did. Goodbye, King of Pop.

And of course, who hasn't heard of the passing of Farrah Fawcett yet? I'm so glad that she's finally at peace after her epic battle, and hope that her family can find peace as well.

So many celebrity deaths this week; it's going to be a long few weeks of mourning.

Summer Swap

2009-06-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, a summer blog swap was announced by Angela at Sweet Tea Diaries, and I was super excited to sign up! My assigned swap partner was Elizabeth of Precious and Pink, and I was really excited to put a package together for her. This morning, I received her wonderful package of goodies, and want to share with you how thoughtful Elizabeth is! Here's what was in the box:

A beautiful blue and white beach towel.

J.Crew flowered flip-flops in dark blue. To DIE for!

A silver shell-topped bottle stopper.

I'm so glad I signed up with this swap - it was a great opportunity to connect with another blogger on a different side of the country! Again, thanks to Angela at Sweet Tea Diaries for hosting the swap, and Elizabeth of Precious and Pink for being a great swap partner!

Wedding Wednesdays - Episode 8

2009-06-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

So it's legitimately been a while since I posted about how our wedding plans are coming along. Sorry! The only real progress that I've made since last time is going dress shopping with my mom and sister - and I can't post about that because Matt reads the blog and the dress has to be a surprise! I want him to be totally shocked (in a good way) when I walk down the aisle, both by the dress AND me!

Anyway, so what HAVE we been doing to get ready for the wedding (which, PS, is only 311 days away!)? Well... we've gotten a TON of information from our church's wedding coordinator - she's there to help with the service and everything that happens within the ceremony itself. One of the primary things that we've been tasked with by her (among the MANY other things that need to get done soon) is deciding on readings for the ceremony!

To help us make our decision, the wedding coordinator sent us a booklet listing out a bunch of different readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Gospels, as well as providing some commentary on them. We need one reading from each section for our nuptial mass.

The readings suggestions workbook.

She also sent us a bunch of programs from weddings that have been recently held at the church to show what readings others have used - but I'll be honest, I looked at them more for stationary and colors ideas! I really like the longer single-sheet idea as opposed to the booklet... but that's another post. :D

Sample programs.

So, blog world, what were the readings at your wedding, or what readings would YOU recommend? I've got a few in mind already, but I'm curious about what others have done.

Grocery Blogging

2009-06-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday night I had one of the most financially productive grocery shopping trips ever. Seriously! I was surprised! I went in with a hefty list of fresh produce and other foodstuffs to pick up, and managed to walk out having only spent $26! All you Inland Northwesterners, head to Rosauers this week for some excellent deals!

The goods!

Here's what I picked up:

2 very large oranges
Cantalope
Pepper-Jack cheese
Parmesan cheese
2 sweet potatoes
1 can diced tomatoes with chiles
1 can red kidney beans
2 zucchini
2 green bell peppers
2 large onions
Package of whole wheat fusili pasta
Loaf of french bread
Tostitos chips (Matt's special request)
Package of salad greens
Cayenne pepper

This will make everything on this week's menu plan, with a bit leftover for additional meals and snacks. And you better believe I'll be freezing some of that cantalope for post-workout snacks! Yum!

Donate to Jenna!

2009-06-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

In the off chance that some of you readers do not also read Jenna's blog (Eat, Live, Run) you should head over there and donate to her Team in Training run! All proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - a great cause that helps tons of people with those two horrible diseases. For a $15 donation she'll send you two great e-cookbooks, and trust me, they're awesome! Tons of great recipes in both that I'm going to be trying out soon.

To read Jenna's post about the cookbooks, head here; or, go directly to Jenna's Team in Training fundraising page to make your donation!

Gym Bag of DOOM

2009-06-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking about what I take to the gym lately. My shoulders and upper back have been bothering me, and I think it's because of all of the stuff I carry in my gym bag every day! Seriously, when I got an official gym bag months ago, it had just the basics of gym-going staples. Now, it's expanded to a 20 pound beast that I don't know what to do with!

What's in the bag?

Running skirt
Shorts
2 t-shirts
Sports bra
Extra pair of underwear
Flip-flops
Athletic shoes
Bath towel
Hand towel
Brush
Loofah
Hair dryer
Trial size shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
Combination lock
Tampon
Water bottle
Lotion
Sun screen
iPod
Not pictured: running sunglasses, gym card, extra socks

I mean, looking at the picture, it seems like a lot. But it all fits in the bag, and I can't think of a single thing in there that I don't use on at least 50% of my workouts. I just wish it wasn't so darned HEAVY.

What does the inside of your gym bag look like?

Menu Plan Monday

2009-06-21T17:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I actually planned out meals ahead of time, but it's nice to sit down and think about it and make good choices. Lots of cheese and spice in this week's meals, but sometimes that's just what you need! I'm trying out something new this week - front-loading the cooking so that there are more options for at-work lunches. We'll see how it works (and if I get sick of cooking on Wednesday or not!). Check out Org Junkie's blog for more menu planners!

Monday: Sweet Potato Chili in the crock pot

Tuesday: Zucchini and Corn Quesadillas

Wednesday: Garlicious Mac-and-Cheese (recipe is at the bottom of the post)

Thursday: Grilled cheese and soup (or leftover chili) after my run

Friday: Stir fry or curry with leftover veggies and tofu, served over brown rice.

Saturday: Festival food while we enjoy the Hoopfest craziness downtown - and maybe seeing Liz because she's on the fence about coming even though she knows she really wants to!

Sunday: Leftovers - because no one wants to cook on Sundays!

Road Trip Eats

2009-06-20T11:36:00.001-07:00

Today Matt and I are embarking on a road trip across the state for my little brother's graduation party (congrats Joel!). The 4.5 hour drive usually involves junk food of various sorts - chips, soda, candy-bars, etc. But, in the spirit of healthy eating, and inspired by many other bloggers, I'm determined to snack on some healthier options as we make the trek to Seattle. So here's what I've got packed:

Half a package of baby carrots and half a fresh cucumber.

Leftover peanut-butter and chocolate granola bars (homemade! yum!)

Because we don't road-trip very often, I'm not sure how this is going to work out. But it's summer, and road-trips are more likely to happen. So you people that road-trip a lot -- what are your favorite (healthy) road-tripping snacks?

Why Matt is the best fiance ever:

2009-06-19T17:54:00.001-07:00

Matt knows that when I say, "Will you help me hang a curtain rod?", he knows that I mean "Will you put up this curtain rod for me?" and he does it while being super nice to me and using a ridiculously awful drill that I bought. Isn't he the best?

Freshly hung curtains on a new curtain rod.

Redesign coming this weekend!

2009-06-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

My little blog has had the same color scheme for almost 6 months now, and while the oranges and blues were just what I needed to help me get through a dreary winter, I think it's time to mix it up! Summer is upon us, and that means sun, bright colors, and the end of spring cleaning (hopefully!). This weekend I'll be updating the blog to reflect the season, so if things look a little wonky at times, that should be the reason.

In addition, I'll be updating my "blog roll" (the links on the side) to reflect my personal faves and what I read every day... so leave me a comment if you have a blog you want me to check out!

Thanks for understanding, and hope you all like the results!

Summer Reading

2009-06-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

While on my brief hiatus, I developed a pretty large literature appetite. I quickly devoured four popular books, and thought I'd share with you all how I enjoyed each one. A lot of people are looking for "summer reads" right now, so here you all go!

Everyone's heard of Wicked (the musical), right? Well, this is the book that started it all. I've never seen the musical, so I can't attest to how true it is to the book, but the story in this book is pretty interesting. Think of it as Harry Potter, but set in Oz. If you're looking for a read on the beach, I'd recommend this one, but with the caveat that the ending kind of drags on. And on.

The Secret Life of Bees is a movie starring Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning. It's also a quick read with a lot of summer imagery of the rural South. Just because it's a quick read, don't pick it up thinking it's going to be light-hearted though... there are definitely some heavy issues discussed in these pages, from child abuse to segregation and civil rights. Additionally, the author really did her research on bee-keeping, though, making this fictional book a pretty informative read!

While this book is the only non-fiction one of the bunch, I think it is definitely my favorite. The Glass Castle is a memoir of Jeannette Walls' childhood with her crazy parents, and how they helped her grow into the woman she has become. It's heart-breaking, but almost uplifting at the same time. Again, a quick read, but not a light-hearted read. Apparently I like depressing books. Ha!

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao has gotten so much critical acclaim that it'd be ridkculous NOT to put it on your summer reading list, right? So I read it. Oscar's character reminded me so much of bits and pieces of people that I know, right down to the Star Trek references, that I was captivated the entire time. Alternating between the Dominican Republic and the United States, the author discusses Oscar's inability to fit in with his peers and his isolation and lonliness that results, while throwing in a few history lessons on the Domincan Republic. This one definitely lived up to the hype for me.

Also, if you're looking for an economical way to acquire some summer reading and don't feel like going the library route, I highly recommend PaperBackSwap.com. You can read more about my experiences with the service here and here. You'll notice that I got most of these books from PaperBackSwap; I'll be posting them for trading again soon!

Project 17: The Office/Guestroom

2009-06-18T17:14:00.000-07:00

So, anyone who's been in either of the apartments that I've had since college knows that the second bedroom is ALWAYS a disaster. Unfortunately, it also functions as the guest room, so my poor friends (that continue to love me anyway!) have had to suffer through my clutter while trying to get a good night's sleep. It's been a constant point of anxiety for me, because my family always had this thing about making the house look good before guests arrived, and my house certainly hasn't! That's why Project 17 is focusing on this room, getting it in tip-top shape, and making it a more home-away-from home for guests. So check it out, here's what I'm working with:

The left corner and closet, clutter and piles beyond belief!

The guest bed, window, and far side of the room.

This space is also supposed to be the "home office"... not a lot of work happening in here with this mess!

Seriously, I'm so embarrassed just posting these photos. My friends are such troopers, aren't they? This space features a huge closet (that is pretty poorly organized at the moment), and will hopefully house an "office" area and a "guest" area. Come back this weekend for the transformation - you won't believe your eyes!

You know you're a domestic goddess when...

2009-06-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

... people get to your blog by googling "you know you are a domestic goddess when".

I am a golden [domestic] god[dess]!

It's been a while...

2009-06-17T23:14:00.000-07:00

So I really suck at this whole "letting readers know when [I'm] not going to be here" thing.... but in case you missed it, I took a random 2 week (if you count that book review as a week's worth of posting) hiatus from blogging without filling you guys in! But I have a good reason, I swear! Two major things have happened since I last wrote, and they are the following:

I finished my last masters class ever! I don't have my masters degree yet - still need to write that pesky thesis/research paper and do my comprehensive exam - but I never have to go to another class for this degree again! Hooray!
My baby brother graduated from high-school! Okay, we're less than 6 years apart... but he still feels like my baby brother even though he's 18 and officially graduated! So weird! Of course, this prompted an extended trip home to celebrate the occasion appropriately, which also partially explains my absence!

But don't worry... even though I haven't been writing, I've been busy! I've been experimenting with my food processor, which has been very enlightening and exposed how clueless I am about some things in the kitchen. My exploits have included an almond butter experiment with Rachel that turned out quite nicely, and my first ever pesto experiment!

I made a spinach-walnut pesto with some parmesan, salt, and olive oil that was absolutely delicious! In the mix was about 2 1/2 cups spinach, 1/3 cup parmesan, 1/4 cup olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Added to 1 cup lightly toasted walnuts (chopped and toasted in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes) in the food processor, it made the excellent topping for some whole wheat pasta! Yum yum.

I've also been busy doing other sorts of kitchen experiments and cooking... the most profitable of which has been my homemade granola bars - made using this recipe. Take a look - they're totally delicious, and I highly recommend them!

I've also been busy keeping my flowers alive - and I must say, I'm so happy that they finally bloomed! 3 months of tender love and care has paid off in some beautiful (and big!) pink and white flowers that really brighten up the balcony. Don't let the pictures fool you - they happen to be taken in the middle of a thunder storm at 10 pm!

And perhaps the biggest news... I finally have my own computer again! I'd been (not so) secretly using my work laptop for school and personal business, but all that has come to an end. Please meet my new Mac - I've never owned a Mac before, but so far I'm loving it! It's only been a few days though, so it's possible I could fall out of love with it... ha! Just kidding. I love love love it, and it's so sleek and pretty.

So anyway, I will be posting a lot more now that my new laptop is up and running and I've got no homework or classes! Thanks for hanging in there in my absence!

Book Review: Naturally Thin

2009-06-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

I've written before about my love for the Real Housewives franchise, and that is by no means limited to the TV shows themselves. So when I heard about Bethenny Frankel's book Naturally Thin and saw how all over the blog world it was, I knew I had to pick up a copy and and read it for myself. I have to preface this by saying that I am not now, nor have I ever been, over-weight or actively trying to change my lifestyle to lose weight - which is not to say that I'm not constantly looking for ways to improve my health and eating habits, but just that I'm probably in a different place than the audience this book is intended for. Anyway, here's what I thought:

The Good

Bethenny definitely has some awesome recipes and food ideas in the book. I enjoy my cereal and the occassional bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, but I had NEVER thought of using leftover brown rice as a morning food! The combination of ingredients she suggested for morning brown rice was also delicious - raisins, nuts, cinnamon, and a natural sweetener. Yum! I'm still on the fence about brown rice, but I've taken to using this combo in my morning oats.
It is made very clear from the outset that the reader should NOT do what Bethenny does verbatim, but find what works for them. This point is so often overlooked in diet and healthy living books that I'm glad finally someone decided to emphasize it a ton! It's so true, too! Life is so much better if you enjoy what you're doing.
Nothing is off limits! (except for super obvious things, like diet soda). I've never read a diet/healthy eating book before that didn't massively restrict things before, and it's refreshing to see someone in that field that acknowledges that people are still going to eat chips and cheesecake. Her bank account metaphor really makes sense and will help a lot of people learn how to make good choices while still eating what they want.

The Bad

Bethenny's message, while a good one, often comes off as your skinny (bitchy) friend telling you "If you just quit eating so much you'll be fine". And let's be honest, that's just really annoying after awhile.
While the book explicitly states several times that Bethenny's personal diet should not be followed and is only being printed for reference, the implication is still there, and she frankly does not eat enough for anyone who even lightly exercises daily. Many other bloggers have written about this point in their reviews as well, and now that I've read it myself, I can tell you again that it's true.

Overall, this book was a quick, interesting read with a lot of good, sensical ideas in it. And some delicious-sounding recipes, too! I don't think it's going to solve the problems of anyone with a ton of weight to lose, but it's some good food for thought (haha, puns) and a decent reference material to have on hand.

Wedding Wednesdays - Episode 7

2009-05-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

No major update this week, except for what's immediately to the right! Yeah, that's right, we officially have the church and the reception venue reserved and have a date!

On May 1, 2010, I will be marrying the love of my life!

It's like the planning can officially begin now!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-05-25T14:38:00.001-07:00

Happy Memorial Day! Hope all of my readers in the States are enjoying their day off and remembering our armed forces! This week we will for sure be having 1 house guest (possibly more) and a few planned events, so I don't think we'll be doing a whole lot of complex cooking. As always, check out Org Junkie's website for more menu-planners!

Monday: Dinner out with a friend!

Tuesday (class night): Dinner out for a friend's birthday

Wednesday: Zucchini Cakes and Tomato, Herb and Cheese Tart

Thursday: I have a school event that will include food of some sort; Matt and our house guest will probably grab something out!

Friday: Grilling - steaks/hotdogs/veggie burgers, green salad and fruit

Saturday: Black Bean and Couscous Salad and some roasted veggies

Sunday: Leftovers!

Barbecue Recipes

2009-05-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

It's Memorial Day, and besides remembering our Armed Forces, the one thing that always happens is barbecuing! I love a good barbecue - slices of pineapple, green pepper, and veggie burgers are delicious. One of my other favorite things, though, is making a hot veggie side dish - and why use a pan when you've got the grill? I used to do this all the time at scouting camp in the summers over open fires, and it works just as well on the barbecue

Chop up a bunch of veggies and put them in foil with olive oil and seasonings.

For today's veggies, I'm using a zucchini, half an onion, and a few baby red potatoes cut into bite size pieces. In the past I've used squash, carrots, tomatoes, and fennel. Today's seasonings are salt, lemon pepper, and thyme - other spices I recommend are red pepper flakes, rosemary, or fresh lemon and lime juice.

Make the foil into a pouch of sorts, and but it on the barbecue!

Why dirty a pan when you've already got the grill going? The worst thing when barbecuing is having to worry about something cooking somewhere else. It usually takes a half hour to cook, flipping once halfway through. Potatoes might need a little bit more time to cook.

Yum! Enjoy!

Running Club Membership

2009-05-24T09:37:00.001-07:00

I finally got my shirt!

The Flying Irish running club that I've been frequenting on Thursday nights has a little tradition - after 6 runs, you're "official"and you get your club shirt, but you have to get up on a bar and tell an Irish joke first.

So Thursday, after a run around downtown Spokane in the beautiful sunshine, I hiked my running skirt up and climbed on the bar to tell my joke. Some guy in the bar that wasn't part of the club was trying to watch the hockey game and alternated between yelling "Nice ass!" and "I can't see the hockey game!", but otherwise it went off without a hitch!

The punchline? "It was a SHAM ROCK!"

Project 16 - Finally Done!

2009-05-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

Our balcony has been finished and usable for a little while now, but because of epic blogging failure - basically, my camera and camera cord never being in the same place at once - I've been unable to show you! Eventually, I'd like to have lanterns going across the entire thing, but that'll take 3 more strands (or $30). So for now, this is how we enjoy the outdoors and the comforts of home at the same time!

The right side, complete with plants and paper lanterns!

The left side, a.k.a. Barbecue Central.

Outdoor furniture, and a bamboo placemat for a little extra color.

My favorite little detail - nails for hanging barbecue tools next to the barbecue!

Wedding Wednesdays - Episode 6

2009-05-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Facebook,

Please stop torturing me with your ridiculous ads geared towards future brides. I understand that your marketing materials key off of profile characteristics, but it seems like the only thing that you find interesting enough to market to on my profile is the fact that I am engaged. And I do not like it.

For example, here are the three ads I was presented with when opening my profile to play my next move in Lexulous:

How do diet plans for brides differ from diet plans for everyone else?

Sure, being a thin bride would be nice, but I'd rather be a healthy bride. Either way, I don't need FACEBOOK to tell me about it.

If my dress doesn't fit, it's because I bought the wrong size. Not because I didn't listen to the Diet Plan for Brides. A-holes.

And finally, Facebook, if you are going to try and mix it up, I suggest you do it by NOT assuming that the next thing I'm doing in my life besides getting skinny for a wedding dress is popping out babies.
Hopefully we'll come to some sort of agreement on this soon. Otherwise, this Bridezilla might have a few tricks in her garter.

Sincerely,
Becca

Menu Plan Monday

2009-05-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a run after eating a huge dinner of wine and veggie burgers, and the last thing I want to think about right now is food! But it's Sunday night, and that means menu planning time. Gotta keep with the tradition! Since the last few weeks have been relatively light on the cooking/baking side, I'm going to try a few new things this time around. For more menu planners, check out Org Junkie's website!

Monday: Tofu, Tempeh and Butternut Squash from Fatfree Vegan Kitchen

Tuesday: Quick curry with tofu and veggies using this stuff (it's my favorite!):
Wendesday: Some sort of casserole with cheese and rice or noodles... undecided as of yet! But I'll be honest, this one from Tina at Carrots N Cake caught my eye and is in the lead!

Thursday: Breakfast for dinner - we got some delicious pancake mix as part of a gift basket, so a dinner based around pancakes is definitely in order!

Friday: Zucchini Lasagna

Saturday: Dinner out somewhere around town.

Sunday: Leftovers

Busy Saturday!

2009-05-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

It's a little before 11am, and I've had quite the Saturday so far! I started my day off bright and early, reading the introduction of Naturally Thin with a cup of tea in the sunshine. It's a beautiful day in Spokane!

Next up, I visited the Spokane Farmers Market - I missed opening weekend last week, so I wanted to be sure to make it this time. Although the produce is a little sparse so far, there were still tons of people out and about! I bought a loaf of asiago garlic bread and two bell pepper plants to add to my balcony garden.

After the Farmers Market, it was time for yoga! Jillian Michaels has been pretty brutal to me the last few days, and some good stretching is just what I needed. The 75 minute class was a little long - I definitely struggled more this week than usual - but I left feeling good and energized. On the way home, a quick stop for a breakfast bagel was in order - it wen nicely with my second cup of tea for the day!

Now it's time for a shower, and then to head out to start the rest of the day! Matt's still asleep, but I'm going to try and talk him into some tennis later today at a local park. Lilac Festival Parade is also this evening, and tons of people already have their chairs set up downtown for the occasion, so we'll have to jockey for seats pretty soon! There's also a community-wide open house of all the community gardens in Spokane today, so I want to check out the one closest to me and see what it takes to get/keep a plot!

Lessons from the First 2 Days of 30 Day Shred

2009-05-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

I started Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred DVD on Wednesday - obviously, I was totally inspired by the season finale of Biggest Loser Couples (Team Tara, but still super impressed by Helen!). A lot of bloggers have written about this workout DVD, most singing the praises of Jillian's methods, so I think I'll give you my impressions after 2 days in a "lessons learned" format.

Day 1: PUT THOSE 10 POUND WEIGHTS DOWN. Lesson learned immediately upon starting the workout - if Jillian Michaels is using 1 or 2 pound weights, you should, too. Or at least not 10 pound ones. I thought my arms were going to break off after circuit one. Jillian is pretty bad-ass, and I certainly am not, so following her lead on this one from the start would have been a good idea.

Day 2: DO NOT SHRED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A 5 MILE RUN. I decided Day 2 of shredding should take place about 20 minutes before Flying Irish - so I went from shredding to running a (relatively) long run in the span of 5 minutes. BAD idea.

Overall, I like the program so far. I hate lifting, though, so I'm not sure how motivated I'm going to be to do it for 30 solid days. We'll give it a shot, though, and maybe I'll get a 6 pack of the deal!

My one junk food craving

2009-05-14T10:41:00.001-07:00

I'm a pretty healthy eater. I get lots of fruits and veggies in my diet, and am pretty good at balancing things out. I also don't particularly care for most snacks. But last night, as I was going through the grocery store to pick up a few items for dinners this week and next (cans of tomatoes, milk, etc), I saw my arch nemesis on sale:

Pre-jarred salsa con queso.

This stuff is HORRIBLE for you, but it's just soooooo goooooood. I bet half of the jar is gone by now, and Matt didn't even have any! I'll put it on everything - crackers, tortilla chips, veggies, rice. It's ridiculous how little self control I have when there's a jar of this stuff in my pantry or fridge.

What's your junk food weakness?

Wedding Wednesdays (a day late) - Episode 5

2009-05-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I conducted my first official duty as a bride - searching high and low for a venue suitable for our wedding and reception. I wouldn't necessarily say that we were successful - we saw a lot of places and heard a lot of information from a lot of very knowledgeable people. If anything, we decided what we don't want - which certainly helps with planning, but means we don't have a location or a date! As Liz Lemon would say, "NARDS".

First up - McMenamins Grand Lodge. At about half an hour west of Portland, this little historical resort would make the wedding into a "destination wedding" of sorts, which sounded fun. And some of the outdoor spaces were SUPER cute.

This ivy-covered stairway could be decorated with colorful flowers and make the perfect backdrop to the actual ceremony.

This outdoor space has a wood-burning fireplace and a wooden "ceiling" that would be perfect for decorating with lights, flowers, and pieces of flowing fabric. (And that's my dad in the picture!)

Unfortunately, the indoor spaces were not nearly as cute as the outdoor spaces, and the outdoor spaces are not available for booking until after June 1st. June 1st, I've learned, is what marks the beginning of "prime wedding season", or when every vendor knocks their prices up a few thousand dollars. And honestly, I don't really want to wait until June 1st. Matt and I have already been dating for 3 and 1/2 years - I want to get this knot tied!

Second stop - Elk Cove Vineyards. This simple, classic little winery is "out in the boonies" (as my dad said), but had some awesome features that I'll highlight below.

First things first, this is the view from the event hall. Imagine how gorgeous this is when the grapes are in full bloom!

Other than the scenery, the thing that I liked the most about Elk Cove was how much of a blank space it is. The fixtures and walls are white, the tables and chairs are simple, and the bar area is one of the plainest I've seen. Not good if this is where you live full time - FANTASTIC if you want to decorate it with your flowers/colors/whatever for a wedding! See what I mean:

The possibilities are endless with this space!

In the end, we decided that this would be a great place for an early Fall wedding, when the grape plants are changing colors and the weather is still nice enough to be able to enjoy the outdoors. We, however, are not going to be ready for an early Fall wedding - that's less than 6 months away!

So we trekked on to our third stop - Garden Vineyards Wine ry. I cannot talk up how beautiful this place is - if it were open to the public, I'd say you absolutely HAVE to go see it. This is one of the most picturesque places I've ever been in the Northwest, and the Italian Villa on site adds so much class to the ambiance it's ridiculous. Of course, this is the place that I forgot to bring my camera in to, so I have zero pictures. But take my word for it (or check out this couple's wedding write-up from Portland Bride & Groom) - to die for!

Fourth and final stop - McMenamin's Edgefield Hotel. Another historic McMenamin's property, and another place with great outdoor areas. We visited this place on Mother's Day, so Blackberry Hall was packed full of people enjoying brunch - not super conducive to getting the creative juices flowing, but whatever. The outdoor area (Blackberry Field, I think it was called) was immediately out the back of the hall.

This space isn't available until after June 1st (again! *sigh*), but apparently it's in full bloom at that time. This field comfortably seats 250-300 people.

The trees here are most commonly used as the backdrop for the ceremony, according to our guide. In late spring/summer, there are white flowers that bloom on them, making them really gorgeous.

In all, we saw a lot of places and met a lot of people, and learned quite a bit about Portland weddings and OUR wedding in the process. I highly recommend checking out all of these places if you're ever planning a wedding in the Portland area. And of course, I'll keep y'all posted when we do decide on something!

Project 16 Update

2009-05-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

I wrote a little while ago about how I want to make my balcony more "user friendly", and then totally left you guys hanging! Oops! I have made some progress, by acquiring some pieces that I think will help liven the place up and provide a better atmosphere for chilling on the balcony. BUT the weather has been super lame, and I haven't wanted to spend much time out there recently. Here's a sneak preview at the revamp of the balcony that is currently in progress.

Step 1: Acquire outdoor furniture.

These bad-boys were on sale at Target for a really reasonable price, and will hopefully be pretty durable. Well, anything's more durable than the old office chair that's been sitting out here for a year!

Step 2: Acquire decorative lighting.

The only lighting on the balcony at the moment is a set of really harsh outdoor lights that blind people more than anything. Channeling the paper lantern ambiance from the picture in my original post, I picked up these guys for $10 at Target. Now I just need an outdoor extension cord and some pretty paper lantern light will be mine!

Step 3: Set the mood.

This cute candle holder was at Cost Plus (or World Market or whatever you want to call it) for $10. There are already several hooks installed on the ceiling of the balcony, and one happens to be right above the table. Consider this my outdoor chandelier!

Step 4: Allow for growth.

No balcony is complete without foliage, and my plants are getting so huge! No flowers yet, but four baskets full of leafy green vegetation brighten up any outdoor living space.

The total for this project so far has stayed under $50, and the space is going to be much prettier and more usable! Check back later this week when everything's put together.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-05-11T10:24:00.001-07:00

Menu Plan Monday is actually happening ON Monday this week for me. Shocking, I know! I'll be perfectly honest about last week or the week before - I basically didn't make any of the recipes I listed! So we'll try this again, and hopefully I'll be a little more dedicated to what I actually list out. :) As always, check out Org Junkie's website for more menu plans!

Monday: Alphabet soup from a local packager

Tuesday (class night): This is going to be a late one, so probably (gasp) fast food of some sort. *sigh* I know, I know.

Wednesday: Curried Cauliflower with Black Beans from FatFree Vegan, served over brown rice.

Thursday: Easy Polenta with Tomato Sauce and some veggies on the side

Friday: Quinoa and Black Beans, and maybe some grilled steak/veggie burgers/veggies.

Saturday: Something delicious that Matt wants.

Sunday: Leftovers! Because no one should have to cook on Sundays. :)

I'm back!

2009-05-11T09:25:00.001-07:00

Image from portlandground.com .

I survived the weeekend in Portland! We made it back last night, after enjoying an absolutely gorgeous weekend in a usually rainy city (at least during this time of the year!). We visited 3 churches, 3 ballrooms, 2 vineyards, and 2 hotels - and only crashed a couple of weddings in the process - to look at potential sites for the ceremony/reception. We don't have a decision yet, but we've definitely ruled out a few of our options. I'll post about the adventure for Wedding Wednesdays this week!

We also enjoyed a Mothers Day brunch prepared by my future mother-in-law - ever had amaretto french toast with peaches? TO. DIE. FOR. My parents and Matt's parents were both there, and my parents met one of Matt's sisters for the first time. Our families really are coming together, and best of all, they really like each other!

Now it's back to reality - work, a dreary Northwest day, and no delicious food in sight. Hope you all had fantastic weekends as well!

Wedding Wednesdays - Episode 4

2009-05-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

This doesn't really count as an episode, I suppose, since I'm not really posting anything of value. I was going to write up the engagement story/proposal day, but since a substantial portion of my family and friends have yet to hear it, I don't think it'd be fair to fill in the blogosphere first!

Image from CakeMag.com, which has some great cake ideas!

The only progress that has been made on the wedding front since last week is on the venue front! We'll be visiting 6 potential venues this weekend - 2 wineries, 2 hotels, a ballroom, and a church - in Portland that could be where the big event happens. We're also doing a "drive-by" of another ballroom that responded to my phone calls but couldn't fit us in to show us around between weddings and brunches. It's going to be a jam-packed weekend between all of these appointments and Mothers Day, but hopefully I'll be back on Monday with a date and a place! This has seriously been the biggest stressor of everything so far - everyone wants to know when and where, and I haven't had any answers!

I'll fill you in on what we see and what we liked/didn't like next Wednesday, of course!

One of those mornings...

2009-05-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

This morning started off perfectly. I had the right amount of energy to get myself out of bed at 6:15 for a run, and pounded out 5 miles pretty easily before 7am. I found exactly what I wanted at the grocery store on the way home (my office is having a bake sale today, and I wanted to contribute muffins and cookies). The muffins and the cookies came out fine, and were out of the oven by 7:40. I was showered, make-upped, and dressed shortly after 8, and all was going well to catch the 8:20 bus to work and make my 8:40 am meeting. No sweat!

And then...

Matt and I are going on a "date" tonight, so I decided to wear my 4-inch heels to work.
I couldn't find any paper plates to bring the baked goods to work on, so I had to rummage through the kitchen to find a few in the back of a cupboard, which took about 5 minutes longer than I thought it would.
Saran wrap and I don't get along
I get all the way down to the street the bus is on (4 blocks away), and it blows right past me because I'm at the wrong end of the block to catch it.
I can't run to the bus stop because I'm wearing 4-inch heels.
I speed-walk the 1.5 miles to work - in 4-inch heels.
I get within sight of work, stop paying attention to where I'm going, step in a pot-hole, and fall down in front of a line of cars in the middle of the street
The contents of my purse go everywhere (including about 15 tampons, lets be honest)
The muffins and cookies are squished and, because they were still warm, get quite deformed. Seriously, they look like the rejects at the bake sale.
I'm late for the meeting.
I have skinned and bruised knee, which isn't going to go well with the dress I was planning to wear to visit wedding venues this weekend.

What started out so promising...

Book Review: House Thinking

2009-05-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

House Thinking: A Room-By-Room Look at How We Live
Winifred Gallagher

I've been reading this book for the last week or so, after picking it up from the local library while looking for home decor books. I have three chapters left, but think I've made it through enough of the book to be able to write about it and tell you what I think about it.

The premise of this book is really interesting - Gallagher delves into a variety of fields to discuss how and why America's homes are they way they are. While the most emphasis is given to environmental psychology, bits of history, home economics, engineering, other psychology fields, and even Eastern religions and traditions (like feng shui) are thrown in. The book is arranged room-by-room (just as the title suggests), beginning with the entry way of the house and working all the way down to the basement. It was interesting to read about how each of these fields has contributed to the shape, size, and uses of each room - how home economics changed the look and feel of the modern kitchen, and how engineering has changed the look and feel of the modern bathroom.

My only have a couple of complaints about this book. The first is the organizational structure of the chapters - they aren't very conducive to the sometimes completely-unrelated facts that the author discusses. For example, you might get a tidbit about behavioral psychology and the conditioned responses to a dining room that we all grow up with, and then have it followed by a completely unrelated tidbit about how home economics made women more responsible for the prevention of germs. Both pieces are interesting, but I don't know why they were put in next to each other! I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why the author connected certain points with each other.

My second complaint is that the author provided a ton of great descriptions about historical homes of prominent people - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Edith Wharton, Louisa May Alcott - BUT there are no pictures! After a beautiful description of Edith Wharton's bedroom, I wanted nothing more than to actually see it and understand visually why it worked so well! But alas, there is not a picture in the book. I'm usually not one to demand pictures, but when you're discussing colors, furniture, and specific visual elements of a room, a picture really helps.

Despite the short-comings, I highly recommend House Thinking. It's different than your usual how-to home decor book, and it gives you some additional things to think about when you're redo-ing a room or two.

Bloomsday Race Report

2009-05-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that Bloomsday was yesterday, especially if you tried to get anywhere in the downtown Spokane area. Basically, this entire city shuts down while 50,000 or so runners lope down the street in hopes of completing the 7.46 mile (12k) race in a better time than last year. For the second official (and fourth unofficial) time, I was among those 50,000.

And not to toot my own horn or anything, but I rocked it.

Shamelessly stolen from the Bloomsday website.

Oh yes. I finished in under an hour and made the top 25 of 24-year-old women. Those were my two goals going into the race, and that's what I did! Hooray!

Rachel also ran it for the first time this year, and wrote up here experience here. Go give her a pat on the back for her hard work!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-05-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

This week is going to be another "using everything in the kitchen" week because we're going to be gone again this weekend - we'll be in Portland seeing both of our families and, most importantly, potential wedding venues! It's exciting to finally get the planning underway, and makes it really feel like this is happening!

Monday: Super delicious alphabet soup purchased on this shopping trip

Tuesday (Class Night): Baked tofu (marinated in bbq sauce), steamed veggies, and a box of Parmesan risotto

Wednesday: Curried Cauliflower and Black Beans served over some brown rice, with some additional steamed veggies on the side

Thursday: A stir-fry of whatever is still left in the fridge!

Friday-Sunday: Off to Portland!

For now, I'm going to kick up my feet and revel in my Bloomsday success today! Hope you all had fantastic weekends, and have fantastic weeks ahead!

Saturday Morning Brunch

2009-05-02T11:54:00.001-07:00

I'm a huge fan of the late-Saturday morning brunch. It's taken many forms - hangover eggs and hash-browns at a diner, a egg and cheese bagel sandwich from Ultimate Bagel with a mocha on the side, or cold pizza from the night before. Occasionally I do put it together myself though, and today was one of those days.

2 eggs over-easy, a Wasa cracker with cream cheese, a fresh Cameo apple, and a fresh kiwi. YUM!

I love those Saturdays that I have the time to sit down and enjoy a breakfast like this. It gives me so much energy for the day, and is honestly pretty relaxing. And of course, you can't forget a nice, steaming cup of tea!

Jasmine Pearl Green Tea, to be exact!

Now it's time to watch some DVR-ed Iron Chef America while doing some chores (the secret ingredient is butter, geez!) before heading downtown for sidewalk sales and Bloomsday festivities! It's a beautiful day in Spokane and I plan to enjoy in accordingly. Hope all of your weekends have started fantastically!

Long Tall Sally

2009-04-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

Matt's mom sent us a bunch of wedding information from a vendor fair she went to in Portland, and we got the package yesterday. Amid the brochures of cup-cake makers, florists, and photographers (one of which charges $15,000, good lord!), was a catalogue that didn't quite fit with the rest... entitled Long Tall Sally.

I don't think I've ever written about this on this blog before, but I am tall. I'm a little shy of 6 feet and 2 inches, in fact. Clothes have been a struggle all my life, because let's face it - there aren't many women over 6 feet out there yet. There's not a single store in Spokane that I can actually walk into a buy a pair of pants at. Anyway, I thought it was really thoughtful of Matt's mom to send me this catalogue, because I've never heard of the company before, and I'm always looking for places that sell clothes that will fit me!

One of the things I've been most excited for this summer is the maxi dress trend - and I've been dying to get one! Unfortunately, they are all too short, and not in the way that I could still potentially pull off. But now, I have some options!

I can totally see myself wandering around downtown in a pair of gladiators and the Nirvana Maxi Dress in Khaki during the middle of summer!

A night on the town or an outdoor summer wedding? The Woodstock Dress has got it covered!

Rolling out of bed for a lazy Sunday brunch would look so much more elegant in the Karma Maxi Dress!

Tall women out there, check out Long Tall Sally. They also have a great selection of light, long summer skirts, jeans, trousers, and other basics. I'm definitely going to be buying a few items in the near future!

Wedding Wednesdays - Episode 3

2009-04-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

To hire a wedding planner? Or do it myself?

I've been tossing these questions around to myself for the last couple of weeks. Since we've decided to have the ceremony in Portland, which is a 6 hour drive (1 hour plane trip) away from where we live, something or someone is going to have to help me. The last thing I want is to guilt some relative (or soon-to-be relative) into doing a bunch of stuff for me because I'm incapable of doing it myself, or making the arrangements to get it done.

On the one hand, I'm a control freak. I like knowing exactly what's going to happen, when it's going to happen, and who's going to be doing it. I like having a schedule that I have complete control over. I like having a say in everything. And honestly, I kind of like putting together events - granted, I've never done even close to the size of a wedding - and think it would be genuinely FUN to put this together. As long as I don't take it too seriously, that is!

On the other hand, I know nothing about planning a big event, let alone a wedding! I can count the number of weddings that I've attended as an adult on one hand, and I haven't been in a wedding since I was... 6? I also have this tendency to bite off more than I can chew, and then refuse to admit that I need help when I actually do need help. These things aren't really good when coupled together, I think.

Basically, I need Jennifer Lopez from The Wedding Planner. Except I'd rather her not steal my groom!

Ladies that have attended or planned weddings, did you have a wedding coordinator/planner? If you could go back, would you change your mind about whether to have one or not?

Combatting Stress with Craftiness

2009-04-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a rough weekend, coming back from 8 days away, preparing to go back to work after working from Houston for a week, trying to adjust my sleep schedule to be normal again, and making up for a week of missed chores. *sigh* So much to do, so little time!

Whenever I get stressed, I like to do something "creative". It's even better when that creative thing is for someone else! Since my birthday was a couple weeks ago, I decided to make some thank-yous to send to my family members that sent me presents. My mom always used to make us make birthday cards and thank-you notes when we had to send them, so it's a habit I've had since childhood I suppose. Anyway, here's my handiwork - I think they're pretty cute, and I finished them during the 20 minutes of The Simpsons we had DVR-ed!

Flowers are the perfect addition to every Spring card!

I've found the urge to "make things" coming on more and more, and it's made me reaaaaalllly want a sewing machine. I used to make all kinds of stuff - doll clothes for my American Girl Doll (Kirsten, the Swedish one, of course!) and various other crafty projects. I've been imagining the reusable grocery bags I could make; the aprons I could assemble that are actually proportionate to my body; I've even had an occasional desire to learn how to quilt.

I think I'll probably go for something a little more... modern? But you get the idea.

As my mom would say, "Add it to the registry!" And in the mean time, I'll keep making cards when I need to take my mind off things.

Getting Back On Track With Work-Outs

2009-04-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Nothing side-tracks your health like an extended vacation/work trip. Add that to a whirlwind few weeks of amazing life-changing-ness, and you've got a food and lack of exercise bender for the entire month of April. Well, no more! This is the week to get back on track.

As with everything I do, it's go big or go home. So I've assembled a work-out plan to kick my butt and teach me a lesson - make time for exercise every day! So here's the plan:

Monday: A morning run, and an after work spin class
Tuesday: A morning run, and mid-day weights
Wednesday: Mid-day yoga, and after work cardio (probably elliptical and stair thingy)
Thursday: Flying Irish!
Friday: Mid-day run, and after work yoga
Saturday: Long yoga class and some light cardio
Sunday: Bloomsday!

After this week, I think I'm going to start up on 30 Day Shred. I need a challenge, and I feel like Jillian Michaels is the one to provide that challenge. Plus, the blog world has been blowing up with how great this workout DVD is, so I've got to give it a try myself!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-04-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

I'm sooooo happy to be back home and cooking again this week! I've missed it - eating out really gets old after awhile. Nothing too adventurous this week, just trying to make the most of my time being home again! As always, check out Org Junkie's website for more menu planners!

Monday: Tofu and veggie curry served over brown rice.

Tuesday (class night): Breakfast for dinner! Which means omelettes.

Wednesday: Quinoa with Black Beans (my first time trying quinoa!), and grilling - Matt has a steak, and I have veggie burgers.

Thursday: Baked Asparagus with Balsamic Butter Sauce and some baked tofu (marinated in BBQ sauce)

Friday: Polenta with Tomato Sauce and some sort of veggies.

Saturday: Matt's choice - whatever he feels like tonight

Sunday: Leftovers, or food at various Bloomsday festivities!

I've been tagged!

2009-04-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

While I was away, Megs over at Newbie New Yorker tagged me for this little meme (love her blog, check her out!). So here goes!

Here are the rules...

1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag other un-tagged people.

The Questions:

What is your current obsession? Aprons! I love aprons; I want to get a sewing machine just so I can make aprons; I look at aprons on Etsy instead of clothes shopping when I'm day-dreaming at work; I even write blog posts about aprons!

What do you think your name says about you? Well, Rebecca is a pretty classical, biblical name; it says that I'm not Jewish maybe? Ha, I don't really know.

Who was the last person you hugged? Matt! Well, and Monkeybear (he'll get his own post soon).

What’s my favorite dinner? I love love love curry. I think I prefer Thai curry to Indian curry, but definitely a green curry packed with veggies and tofu over rice. Yum! I could seriously eat curry every day.

What was the last thing you bought? Coffee and a bagel at the neighborhood coffee shop this morning; and groceries yesterday.

What are you listening to right now? The NBA playoffs (go Celtics!).

What is your favorite weather? Warm rains. The kind that you can go out and get soaked in, but not be cold.

What is your least favorite season? Winter! I'm not a snow person at all, and the darkness and coldness and heavy snows just are NOT my cup of tea.

What's in your bathroom cabinet? Basically nothing, because I took everything with me to California and Texas and haven't unpacked yet!

Say something to the person/s who tagged you (Megs from Newbie New Yorker). Her sense of style is amazing - I love reading about her new finds!

What is your favorite tea flavor? My engagement tea - Marzipan Rose Black Tea. It's delicious and will always hold a special place in my heart.

What did you want to become as a child? When I was super young, I wanted to be a ballerina. The more practical career path that I decided on around age 10 was an Ambassador to Europe.

What do you miss? I miss Seattle - A LOT - and I miss all of my friends and family that I haven't seen in a long time!

What's your favorite brand of jeans? Jeans and I have a love-hate relationship - the only ones that fit that I can afford are Gap brand, so I guess them.

What designer piece of clothing would you most like to own (new or vintage)? I would love to own a classic cocktail dress from the 1940s or 1950s - something that I could wear to Christmas parties and the symphonies that is classically beautiful.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Sweden!

Who do you want to meet in person? Jake Gyllenhall, because he's beautiful and talented. And I think it'd be really fascinating to sit down and have a discussion with Hillary Clinton about her life, where she's been, and where she's going. Love her or hate her, she's had a really interesting life so far.

What is your most challenging goal right now? Planning my wedding. Hands down. It's lots of work!

What’s your 5 year plan? Get married; finish my masters and start my PhD; buy a house that I love in a city that I love; spend significant amounts of time traveling. Yeah, that's about it!

Why is today special? Today is special because it's a beautiful, sunny Sunday in Spokane and I might get to see some friends I haven't seen for a while!

What is my favourite sport to watch? NCAA basketball, curling, and gymnastics. To play? - Does running count? Cuz I'm a runner, and I love it. Other than that, ultimate frisbee and tennis.

What's your favouritve TV show right now? Hands down, Big Love on HBO. Reality-wise, it's The Hills.

Where do you do most of your blogging? In my super comfy over-sized arm chair, with my feet up on the Ottoman. So comfortable!

Tag! You're it! I'm tagging the following lovely ladies:

Grocery Blogging

2009-04-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I successfully made it back to Washington in one piece! I left the Houston hotel at 5:30am (central time!), and I hit the sheets in my own bed for the first time in 8 days around midnight (there was a slight detour to a Death Cab for Cutie concert in the middle there). It feels soooooo good to be home, although my sleep schedule is pretty messed up. I crashed at 8pm last night, and woke up at 7am this morning... after being wide awake yesterday after barely 6 hours of sleep at 6am! It's going to be an interesting week, to say the least...

So what does a girl just home from a week away do on her first day back? Retail therapy! In the form of grocery shopping, because I was craving home-cooked food after a week and a half of meals out. I decided to mix things up a bit, and hit the local co-op-ish grocery store instead of the chain natural foods store. It was decidedly more expensive, but it was nice to be somewhere new.

The goods!

Here's what I left with (cost around $40):

1 bunch asparagus
1 large zucchini
1 avocado
1 lb package Small Planet firm tofu
1 package alphabet soup mix (looks delicious!)
1 bottle agave nectar (heard so much about this, just had to try it!)
6 frozen vegetarian tamales
1 box Amy's Alfredo and Shells
1 box Lundberg Parmesan Risotto
2 pounds quinoa

I'm looking forward to planning this week's meals today with these goods in mind... it's nice to finally be cooking for myself again!

Wedding Wednesdays - Episode 2

2009-04-22T07:05:00.000-07:00

Location, location, location...

The problem with marrying someone that you meet at college is that your allegiances are to three different places - your hometown, his hometown, and the college town you actually met in (assuming that these are three different places, at least, as they are in my case). So the question is this: where's the best place to tie the knot?

Our choices as we started considering locations were these: Spokane (the college town), Seattle (my hometown), or Portland (his hometown). There are positives for each - yes, even Spokane - and it was a lot harder to make a choice than I thought.

Spokane was originally at the top of my list because of the history of our relationship here. We had our first date here (well, every date really), we chose to stay here after college, and there are so many important places here for both of us that it pretty much made sense.

St. Aloysius Church on the edge of Gonzaga's campus is a beautiful place to get married, as I remember seeing couple after couple have ceremonies here during my undergraduate years.

Arbor Crest Winery is another popular location, and with awesome views and lovely landscaping and buildings (also can't forget the important red wine!) that make for fabulous pictures and a picturesque ceremony backdrop.

But I AM from Seattle, and considering how much larger it is than Spokane (and the fact that no one from either of our families lives in Spokane), as well as it's location along the Puget Sound, it has some ideal locations as well.

The grotto at St. Edward's State Park is something I ran by several times a week during cross country practice and to this day consider a perfect location for a small, intimate ceremony. Plus, pictures along the Lake Washington shoreline would be so gorgeous!

In fact, I think the only place I could see myself getting married in Seattle is at St. Ed's. If you're having a small wedding in the Seattle area, I recommend checking it out. Plus state parks are relatively cheap to rent - compared to other locations.

But alas, I do love Matt, and he had his heart set on having the wedding in Portland. So despite the lovely locations that I could imagine (but wasn't particularly set on) in Seattle and Spokane, it will be a Portland, Oregon wedding for us! This poses several problems - I am not from Portland and don't even know where to BEGIN with anything for a Portland wedding. Additionally, Matt is a boy, and hasn't exactly been scouting possible ceremony locations these last few years. And finally, seeing as Portland is 6 hours away, it's going to be difficult to see things in person or meet with people, you know?

But there are several positives: Matt's mom has already been incredibly helpful at finding out about places and people, and filling us in on all the details. In fact, I have a book on Portland weddings waiting for me at home that she sent earlier this week. Portland is also much closer to Seattle than Spokane, so it'll be easier for my family to get there - and the majority of Matt's family lives in Portland, so that's a plus. And let's be honest, Portland's got some pretty sweet places to have a wedding!

The Portland Art Museum is so beautiful, and there's something so elegant about getting married among the works of great artists. Plus it's centrally located!

The Classical Chinese Gardens in the middle of Portland would also be a fantastic choice - just imagine all of your guests watching you say your vows on that bridge! Their restrictions are a little crazy (no dark flowers or red wine? Booooo) but the scenery could definitely be worth it!

And then there's Hotel Oregon, a McMenamins property, in McMinnville that Matt has mentioned several times. It looks beautiful, and it's in the heart of wine country. Yes please!

We'll be heading down to Oregon sometime in the beginning of May to visit a selection of venues that we determine are "finalists" for the location in the next few weeks - but in the mean time, I'm totally open to suggestions! If you got married in Portland, or have been to a beautiful wedding in Portland, let me know where it was and if you'd recommend it. And don't forget to check back for another Wedding Wednesday next week - who knows what we'll have decided by then!

Texas Blogging

2009-04-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

I've been out of town and away from the blog world since Friday, and boy does it feel like a long time! First we went to Coachella in Indio, California, and then it was off to the wonderful state of Texas on business!

Houston, to be exact!

Sorry for my absence, both in the blogosphere and in the posts of this blog. :D My life will be back to normal soon, and normal posting will resume again, too. In the meantime, check out the links at the side for some awesome blogs to keep you entertained.

Thanks for being patient!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-04-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

This week isn't going to be super interesting, mostly because Matt and I will be taking off for the weekend - so no meals Friday through Sunday, and we're keeping it pretty simple for the rest of the week. I'll also be on a business trip for the majority of next week, so no cooking adventures for a little while! As always, check out Org Junkie's website for more menu planners!

Monday: Dinner out with my mom (probably at Mizuna or the Steelhead)

Tuesday (class night): Grilled cheese and Amy's soup (minestrone, to be exact)

Wednesday: Tofu and veggie curry with brown rice, made with this delicious business:

Thursday: Stir fry to clean out the fridge, and leftovers

Friday-Sunday: Vacation!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter everyone!

I'm off to celebrate the holiday with Rachel and her family and some of our friends! We'll be having some delicious cookies and some cauliflower mac, and whatever delicious treats Rachel's family comes up with. Yum!

Hope you all get to spend the holiday with your loved ones and enjoy the beginning of Spring!

Project 16: The Balcony

2009-04-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

Now that Spring is officially here, I'm starting to notice how much our balcony is... lacking. There are some pots of flowers out there, getting ready to bloom. And there's a little charcoal-powered barbecue that we've used twice in the past week. But seating? Not so much (unless an old rolling office chair counts). And until the flowers bloom, it's not much to look at either. Oh, and no decorative lighting - or any lighting at all, for that matter.

So what does one do with a balcony on a budget? I've been scouring Craigslist for some decent outdoor furniture, and checking out the yard sales and garage sales for some cheap outdoor lights, but haven't really found anything yet. I'm also not really sure what it is I want - although I do love this picture and wish I could turn it into my balcony somehow:

I'm trying to channel this look, though I don't quite have the canal to help me out!

Soft lighting, paper lanterns, and visual attractiveness. YES PLEASE. So my goal is to have a usable, appealing balcony that I can have people over to sit on by the end of the week. Check back later for an update!

It feels like Spring!

2009-04-09T10:11:00.001-07:00

Today I woke up and I really felt like it was Spring outside! I mean, look at this weather:

This has Inland Northwest Spring written all over it!

Other indicators of Spring's official arrival seemed to be everywhere today. Like my flowers that I planted a few weeks ago - they looked so good this morning!

They're getting ready to bloom!

And there's nothing like a little barbeque in the Springtime, right? Well, getting ready for work this morning was a little too early for a barbeque, but it was nice to see a little reminder of recent grilling.

I can practically taste the veggie burgers now!

And finally, nothing says Spring like the addition of a little color to your wardrobe. Mine just so happens to be in the form of a light yellow trench coat!

Nothing says Spring like sunshine yellow coats!

I hope you're all enjoying the many signs of Spring as well, today. Gotta love this change of the seasons!

Wedding Wednesdays - Episode 1!

2009-04-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

Wedding Wednesdays is a new weekly post that I'm going to be doing as Matt and I plan the wedding of our dreams! I totally stole this idea from Life of a Busy Wife, where Kaitlin posts photos and memories of her wedding on Wednesdays, but I'll be posting planning progress updates and things I find out as I go! Enjoy!

It's been 11 days since I got engaged (but really, who's counting?) and I already feel like I'm slacking off on this whole planning thing. No date, no location, nothing. One thing I do have, though, is a crap ton of magazines! I went to the locally-owned bookstore thinking I'd just pick up the new issues of the wedding magazines to peruse, and came back with no less than 6 - and that was only half of them!

Cakes and To-Do lists... so many pages, so little time!

The nice thing about all of these magazines is that each one seems to have a different focus. The Real Simple magazine up there, for example, focuses on checklists and etiquette, while the one next to it has lots of eye candy (dresses and cakes primarily). The Knot, down there on the left, has hundreds of pages of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen, and Brides has a huge section about destination weddings and honeymoon locations.

So many magazines with so many dresses!

It's so strange to me that there are so many magazines devoted to one day of your life - I mean yes, it is one of the most important days of your life, and is probably the biggest choice you ever make in your life - but it's so... institutionalized. These magazines make me realize how much work this is all going to be if I do everything that everyone expects me to do, from the teeth whitening to the centerpieces to the bridal slip. And they've also made me realize how much I want to do this my (and Matt's) way, without paying so much attention to the rules and all that. Which is totally going to make me the girl at prom with the duct-tape dress, but whatever.

I will say, however, that Emily Post is going to get me through this thing, and that this is the best wedding-related purchase I've made so far: Emily Post's Wedding Planner. It's got time-lines, general etiquette rules, lists of questions to ask potential vendors, and pockets!

Emily Post still knows what's up!

This is going to be such an adventure, and I can't wait to really get my hands dirty in the planning process to make this day truly symbolic of the love Matt and I share: being with our friends and family, and basically having a super fun party - while I look fabulous, of course. And let's face it, that's basically the story of our relationship. :D

You know you're becoming a domestic goddess when...

2009-04-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

... you have someone over for dinner, and your guest and your fiance decide that they want some fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, and you disappear into the kitchen (okay, maybe not disappear, but you know) and emerge 20 minutes later with a heaping plate of cookies from scratch without breaking a sweat or having to run to the store for ingredients.

Yum!

Nothing says domestic goddess like a warm cookie baked with love. :D

Menu Plan Monday

2009-04-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

So I have to be completely honest -- I wrote last week's menu plan before Matt came back from his business trip and proposed, and we hardly stuck to it at all! There was too much celebratory what-not to cook! :D This week's got a lot of recycled stuff from last week as a result. As always, check out Org Junkie's website for more fabulous menu planners!

Monday: Curry with tofu and leftover veggies

Tuesday (class night and my birthday!): Probably dinner out after class - might even spin the wheel this year!

Wednesday: Wraps with falafel, goat cheese, and baby spinach

Thursday: Soup and grilled cheeses

Friday: Baked tofu (probably marinated in BBQ sauce) and Asparagus Parmesan

Saturday: Tom Kha Tofu soup from Vegetarian Times

Sunday: Leftovers

Lazy Sunday

2009-04-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

This week has been a whirl-wind - lots of people to see, phone calls to make, stress at work, a new quarter starting up at school - I feel like I haven't gotten a break yet! So much stuff happens sometimes that you just have to kick back and relax to remind yourself why you're putting up with The Crazy, and that time is usually Sunday afternoons for me.

You know that I'm crazy for those cupcakes cousin!

So what's on my agenda for my "Lazy Sunday"?

First up - LAUNDRY. I am in dire need of some clean socks.
Cleaning (the bathroom and the kitchen) and dishes.
I also need to go for a run - it looks like a beautiful day outside, so it's time to pull on that running skirt and hit the trails!
I have some work stuff that I have to get done before tomorrow... boooooooo.
I need to do some shopping - pick up the wedding scrapbook, figure out the food situation for the week, etc.
Rachel is back from Puerto Rico, so a neighborhood coffee date might be in order!
Matt and I need to celebrate my birthday (I know, right? Week of celebrations like whoa!) at one of Spokane's fine dining establishments.
I want to get a preliminary list of potential wedding venues figured out!

Wow, on second thought, this Sunday might not be so lazy after all! How are you all spending your Sundays and preparing for the week to come?

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

2009-04-02T20:25:00.001-07:00

Sorry this is a little late, but I was a little late getting home because I was getting toasted at the running club! Why was I getting toasted?

BECAUSE I'M GETTING MARRIED!

Matt and I got engaged at noon on Sunday, March 29th, and we couldn't be happier! We haven't set a date or decided on where, or basically made any decisions at all, but we're going to start discussing everything this weekend. I'm so excited I can't even tell you! I already own basically every bridal magazine out there!

These are on my dining room table right now!

So, in honor of my upcoming nuptials (and 100th post!) I'm going to be doing my first ever give-away! I'll have more details next week, but check back for details on the prize and how to enter. Alright, that's it for me tonight, I've got a wedding to plan!

Really, Spokane? REALLY??

2009-04-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

I would like to remind you all that today is April 2nd. And that today, I woke up to an inch of THIS covering my balcony, driveway, and street. THIS IS NOT OKAY SPOKANE. April is not the time for snow! Especially when we've already had so much snow this year!

I hate you.

It's been so hard to work today with this business going on outside. All I want to do is go pick up a big pile of Soulful Soups soup and head on home to curl up with a blanket and light a fire in the fire place. But alas, I already have a commitment to run outside with The Flying Irish Running Club, and they just sent me an email to rally the troops for the run today. *sigh* If only the weather would cooperate! Ever!

This is just a friendly reminder to check back tonight at 8pm for the big announcement! You'll be glad you came, I promise! 8pm Pacific Time!

See you tonight at 8!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

2009-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'll be making a big announcement on Thursday night, around 8pm (Pacific time). You should all check back on Thursday! It'll be great, I promise. :D See you then!

Biggest Loser Update

2009-03-31T22:03:00.001-07:00

I was watching Biggest Loser tonight (OMG, how AWESOME was Nicole's transformation? I hope she makes it to that size 8 she wants), and I realized that I never provided an update on the final results of MY biggest loser competition! The whole thing finished 3 weeks ago, and the results were veeeeery interesting!

*drum-roll please*

I lost 5.84% of my body weight and finished in 6th place overall. Not super impressive - my lowest point in the competition was not during the last week, so that was especially disappointing. BUT! All is not lost! RACHEL did amazing and finished in second place! It was pretty awesome to see how much she transformed in just 10 short weeks. You should all go congratulate her when you get a chance!

The whole competition was not a loss for me, despite not winning anything. It gave me a good reason to focus on fitness and overall health for a little while - something that I need to continue doing - and got me in pretty good shape again! For proof, here's a picture of me finishing a half-marathon earlier this month:

I don't know if you can see that, but it's a 1:45:20 time - only 20 seconds away from my PR from when I was 18!

We'll see how this whole thing continues in the next few months. I've decided to try some new things in the near future - one of which is exercise DVDs. The blogosphere has been blowing up with 30 Day Shred praise, I decided to purchase that first! It arrived yesterday, and I'm going to try it out later this week. I'm also looking into new fitness classes to try, and considering getting into dance classes again. So much to do, so little time!

Getting Rid of a DVD Collection

2009-03-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

DVDs got me through college - on my good days I popped in Legally Blonde and thought of all the things I could accomplish against the odds; on my bad days I'd pop in Legally Blonde and yell "EFF YOU!" at the TV when Elle got dumped, and then turned Warner down at the end. Let's face it: Elle Woods is responsible for my college degree. And for driving every one of my roommates/housemates crazy in the past 6 years. HA!

Well, now that I've been out of college for almost 2 years, and I've discovered the joy of watching movies on my iPod (or on the TV when Matt sets it up), I decided it was time to get rid of the DVD collection. And let's be honest, not many people want a collection of teen- and 80s-movies into their late (post college) 20s.

Well folks, I have to tell you - the power of eBay and Half.com are wondrous things when it comes to getting rid of DVDs. I started posting them on Half.com in February, and have less than 10 left! I've made $107.01 (minus shipping costs) on 27 DVDs - which is way better than the $1 average they go for at garage sales. I'll be putting that extra money towards some California clothes (YES!) and that extra space towards some more effective storage of other media items. The only downside is that it's kind of time consuming to mail off 27 DVDs individually - not for people who are super busy or out of town a lot!

I used Half.com to sell of text books in college, and I'm happy to report that it's pretty cost-effective to use for selling off unused or unwanted DVDs these days, too! Give it a shot if you've got some extras!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

I am so excited for Matt to be back so I can cook again! I mean, obviously I could cook for myself if I wanted to, but I have a hard time getting the energy up just for that. I'm lazy when I'm alone. :) Nothing too special this week, but I'm pretty excited for Monday's recipe. Check out Org Junkie's website for more menu-planners!

Monday: Honey and Orange Tofu, served over brown rice.

Tuesday: Quesadillas! I'll probably throw some bell peppers in mine, Matt can have some sausage or chicken in his.

Wednesday: Leftovers, or soup and grilled cheeses.

Thursday: Goat Cheese and Arugula over Penne with some wine on the side.

Friday: Stir-fry or curry with left-over veggies, served over brown rice.

Saturday: Appetizers for dinner! I'll make up some bruschetta with goat cheese and tomatoes, and some fresh guac or something.

Sunday: Leftovers. No cooking on Sundays!

Go Zags!

2009-03-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I live in Spokane, and that I moved here for college (and got stuck afterwards, for better or worse!). But as a proud Gonzaga alumnae, I am so ridiculously excited for the game tonight!

Josh Heytvelt is getting ready to PWN some Tarheels.

This is the first time we've been in the Sweet Sixteen since 2006, and I intend to soak it up with the locals in festive style. I actually considered going to the game (in Memphis, Tennessee) for a little while earlier this week - it would have cost $1,000 and required flying to Seattle last night, then flying from Seattle to Nashville, TN, at 6am this morning, and then driving the 213 miles from Nashville to Memphis. I'm a committed fan, but that was too much even for me. I'm hoping watching it in a sports bar with hundreds of die-hard Zags fans will be just as good - and who knows, maybe ESPN will be filming or something (it's happened before!).

Get ready for a beat down, Hansbrough!

If you're looking for something to do tonight, it's going to be broadcast on CBS at 9:57pm Eastern/6:57pm Pacific, and it should be awesome. I'm going to go invest in a new Gonzaga sweatshirt just for the occasion.

P.S. In case you missed how Gonzaga got to the Sweet 16, watch this ridiculously awesome video of the last 30 seconds of the second round game against Western Kentucky.

Everyone has one chore that they hate...

2009-03-25T23:23:00.000-07:00

The house-woman in me is ashamed to admit this, but: I hate vacuuming. With a passion.

We don't get along.

There are several reasons I don't like vacuuming. First, it's extremely hard to multi-task while doing it. I can't work and vacuum. I can't email and vacuum. I can't even talk on the phone and vacuum. Which brings me to my second point. It's loud. You can't hold a conversation and vacuum. You can't hear the tv while you're vacuuming. I could be dying, and no one would ever know because the vacuum is running.

When the vacuum in The Brave Little Toaster runs over his cord and nearly dies? Heartbreaking. And terrifying.

Plus, there's so much that can go wrong with a vacuum. Vacuums are complicated machines that make me uncomfortable - is that noise that sounds like the world being sucked into a bag normal? I don't know, it's an eff-ing vacuum. Bags explode. Circuitry goes bad. Outlets catch fire. Cords get vacuumed over. Therefore, I don't vacuum.

For now, I'll let Matt handle the vacuuming. Or maybe look into getting a Roomba so I don't have to be home for it. :)

What Irresponsible Becca Would Do With a Tax Refund

2009-03-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

I got my tax refund at the end of last week, and the sweet, sweet government cash hit my bank account yesterday morning. Of course I'm doing the responsible thing and putting most of it towards my student loans, while the rest is going into savings/rainy day-funds. But it's just so much fun to play the "what if?" game and see what I could possibly use it for instead... so here goes:

If I were an irresponsible person, here's what I'd spend my $800 on (these are mutually exclusive):

Entrance and travel to the Maui Marathon. I've always wanted to run a full marathon, and I've always wanted to go to Hawai'i - wouldn't it be pretty cool to do both at the same time? Someday, island running and I will meet and fall in love...

Buy a killer outfit (or three for $800, let's be honest) for a trip to California I'll be taking in a little bit. I'm liking this look specifically (Adriana Lima - by ThinLizzy on Polyvore.com):

Hit the spa. With $800, I'd only have to pay a little over $120 to go to the spa three times and get the 5.5 hour package each time. That's 16.5 hours of services, yo. And I really love this spa - I went there about a month ago with a gift certificate from work, and enjoyed every second of it.

Register for Yoga Journal's Colorado Conference in September. I love yoga, and I've always wanted to learn more about it. Plus I've never been to Colorado, and there's a first time for everything!

Visit the Motherland for the first time ever. By Motherland I mean Sweden, of course! My sister is in Europe until June, and it'd be the perfect time to go. I could even stay on the farm with the relatives if I played my cards right.

Alright, I have to stop. I feel like I'm talking myself into all of these options... and that's not what I want at all. I do sense a trend though... all of my "irresponsible" choices center around trips of various sorts. I think this means I need to make an effort to travel more (cheaply, of course!). Guess it's something to consider as I plan - and budget - for the future!

Project 15: Ticket Storage

2009-03-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

Those who know me (and Matt... well, mostly Matt) in real life know that we go to a ton of concerts because we are music fanatics. Seriously, we go to anything and everything, from local shows to reunion tours to big name acts of the moment. And we have aaaalllll of the ticket stubs to prove it. They've been scattered all over the place for far, far too long, and I am thrilled to finally have a way to store them

The new storage solution with a random sampling of ticket stubs.

While visiting Portland (Oregon) a few weekends ago, we wandered into Powell's Books (which you absolutely must visit if you are ever in Portland because it is ridiculously awesome) and found the Ticket Stub Diary. It has a ton of pages, and three different sizes of sleeves that hold most standard ticket stubs. Awesome! I'm working on cataloging our tickets as we speak.

Project 14 - It's Springtime!

2009-03-24T07:51:00.001-07:00

Nothing says Spring like a bunch of flowers!

I'm really proud of myself, guys. These flowers here have been in my kitchen since Valentine's Day, and they're still alive and going strong! Obviously they've been replanted into my permanent pots that I have on my kitchen ledge, but I like to think they're doing so well because I've taken such good care of them. My black thumb might just be getting a little green!

Well, it better be, because I made an investment in some outdoor (exposed to the elements) flowers for spring time! My luck with outdoor flowers last year was great until it got hot - and I forgot to water them for a week - and they all died. But I have faith! I can do it this year!

I spent a good part of Sunday planting these babies.

We had gone to Costco on Sunday to stock up on some essentials (laundry detergent and toilet paper), and surprise! Costco had a great little garden section with tons of flowers, bulbs, and gardening supplies! I found the bag in the picture pretty quickly - I like pink, which definitely goes for flowers as well! - and thought that those blooms would look great on my balcony. 18 bulbs for $13, which is only a few dollars more than the plants in my kitchen! I planted all 18 in the two big pots shown there, and then also in 2 hanging baskets that I didn't take pictures of. Honestly, until the flowers bloom, the pictures just look like big pots of dirt that are completely uninteresting!

Anyway, you with green thumbs, check out Costco if you're looking for some bulbs to plant - the selection was great and the prices were amazing!

Tina Fey is Brilliant

2009-03-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

I love 30 Rock. I think that Tina Fey is hilarious, and now that I have a DVR, I can actually catch Liz Lemon's antics every week. And that usually has nothing to do with this blog, but...

Did anyone else watch the intro to last week's episode of 30 Rock and feel like they were staring at themselves in Tina Fey form? Seriously, just watch up until the opening credits. Liz Lemon goes to a new container store and buys all kinds of ridiculous things that are going to make her life fantastic and wonderful, and then it's not. It's the story of my life, and it makes me love Tina even more.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-15T22:14:00.000-07:00

Check out Org Junkie's website for more menu planners this week!

Monday (last Monday class night EVER): Grilled Cheese and Soup (probably Amy's Organic Lentil Soup)

Tuesday: Baked Polenta with Fresh Tomatoes and Parmesan and some steamed veggies

Wednesday: Fried Rice with some baked tofu (marinated in a little bit of whatever I've got lying around)

Thursday (last Thursday class night EVER): Ravioli from the freezer with some steamed veggies

Friday: Falafel wraps and (if I can get to the store) this baked eggplant recipe

Saturday: Dinner out or leftovers

Sunday: Spaghetti with steamed veggies and garlic bread

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've done one of these! And honestly, it's been a while since I've been both home for a week, and in a position to plan out my meals. Gotta love those out-of-state trips! As always, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu-planners and recipes!

Monday (class night): Vegetarian Chili

Tuesday: the couscous from this acorn squash recipe with some baked tofu (and sausage for Matt)

Wednesday: Burgers and spinach salad - veggie burgers for me, sausage or lamb/beef burgers for Matt!

Thursday (class night): Leftovers

Friday: Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

Saturday: Ravioli from the freezer with steamed veggies

Sunday: Leftovers, or take-out thai food

Back from my travels!

2009-03-07T19:25:00.001-08:00

This has been my closet for far too long!

I've spent the last 10 days or so either preparing to travel, traveling, or trying to recover from my travels. My first trip was to Portland to visit Matt's family and a few college friends, and it was so nice to be in a big city with a lot going on. I really love Portland and Seattle, and with airfare being as cheap as it has been on Southwest, you really can't beat it.

My second excursion (back to back with Portland) was to the city of Houston, Texas. I'd never been to Texas before, and had to go for work. And let me say, no offense Southern girls, but I so much prefer the pacific northwest! We stayed at the really interesting Hotel ZaZa, which had all kinds of strange decor and things going on. Our work kept us from doing fun stuff, though, so we didn't get to the rodeo or out at all other than to dinner around Rice University a few times. I also befriended a man named Charlie, who is the night manager of a bus management company for the bus that I left my (work) blackberry on basically as soon as I got to Houston. Epic fail.

Anyway, I'm back, significantly less stressed out, and will be posting regularly again!