On the Ledo Deck

A couple of weeks ago we ventured away from our usual Thirsty Thursday activity; no pho or local Cheers this particular day.

We ventured to Elliott Bay Brewhouse and Pub in Burien.

We were 6 strong, 3 male and 3 female. Oh and Spanky too! The girls took the waiter's recommendation of the wine. We were not disappointed.

The boys.

One of the biggest hummus appetizers any of us had ever seen.

The competition, as is usually the case, became fierce complete with chest bumps and distractions as we played shuffleboard.

I brought home the win for us (Fiwa and me) in the final game of the night.

Stop by and say hi to Ryan. I'm pretty sure he'll take care of you the way he took care of us.

Tonight's Thirsty Thursday will find us doing something different too. We're going to a local comedy competition! I hope I don't get to laughing so hard I start to hacking; persnickety cough.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Happy Day

I'm going to let you in on a little secret.

Right this moment I am not wearing a single stitch of green.

Nope, not even one.

Nor did I send out cards this year.

Please consider this my official Happy St. Patricks Day greeting to you and yours.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Hide 'Em

I scored these sunglasses a few weeks ago for less than $3.00 on a whim while visiting Fiwa and running errands with Lala.

They are great for hiding tired eyes and rocking bed head hair.

Someone, whom shall remain nameless, referred to me as a nerd Friday night after he found out I was doing a game night in.

I like games - board and card games that is. I don't care much for gaming systems games but I do enjoy time in arcades, Dave and Busters, etc..

Anywho, Friday night part of the pack and I played Apples to Apples, Scattegories, and Spades.

Some of the peeps didn't realize how deep my competitive nature runs until the end of the night, or shall I say morning, considering my head didn't hit my pillow until near 5:00 AM.

I lost in both Apples to Apples and Scattegories but brought home the win with Caleb in Spades. {insert chair dance}

Early morning alarms + lack of sleep + age = need for the glasses.

I sent the above picture to my friend who called me a nerd with the caption "Nerd this!" Saturday morning.

He retracted the statement.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Weekly Challenge #124

More often than not we fail to take care of the easiest of the easy maintenance on our vehicles.

How are your windshield wipers holding up?

Is it time to replace them perhaps?

This week I challenge you to do so if needed.

You'll be glad you did when the heavy spring rains pour down on you.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Weekend Plans

This picture has nothing to do with my weekend plans. However, it is one of my favorites.

It is of my mom and was taken at the Picasso museum in France.

I think I've mentioned before I am a first generation American. My mom is from France and my father Canada.

I may start to get serious about researching my genealogical history since I don't know much of it.

The parts I am aware of intrigue me. I hang on to the details with all my heart.

I believe it's important to know where you are from in order to know who you are.

With that being said, I know I am a social creature by nature and my weekend plans indicate as much.

Tonight is game night at Pamela's with some of the pack.

Tomorrow morning I'll be doing a little bit of shopping with Patricia. Saturday afternoon is checking into something that may be a part of my immediate future, a lifestyle change by choice.

Saturday night there are two parties to attend.

Sunday day, for the time being, is wide open followed by Sunday dinner at my place with some of the pack. Maybe during the downtime Sunday I can do a week's worth of blogs and stop by some of my favorite blogging friends' places too to catch up.

Whatcha' got going on in your world?

I hope it is full of Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Weekly Challenge #123

By definition (according to dictionary.com) create is a verb and means "to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve".

It also means "to evolve from one's own thought or imagination"and "to cause to happen, bring about; arrange as by intention or design".

Pretty deep for 6 letter word.

This week I challenge you to create.

Create your own reality.

Create your own being.

Take a few minutes from the day to genuinely reflect on what matters most to you.

If you're allowing others to dictate your life's choices, create a change that will put you back in control of the pieces of life that make you happy, that allow you to feel content, and at peace.

Create the joy you desire and deserve.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

NOTE: Photo courtesy of this flickr user's account.

Weekly Challenge #122

When is the last time you cleaned your makeup brush or replaced an old one?

Can't recall?

Yeah, I was unable to remember too.

Make this the week you show your makeup brushes some love. Or if you don't use brushes replace whatever your applicator choice may be.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Current State of Being

Sinus pressure.

Pounding headache.

Can't breathe.

Feeling totally off of my game.

Get better vibes, energy, and love greatly appreciated.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

OTRA

Y'all send the vibes.

I'm heading out for a quick one.

I'll be back before you know I was gone but I still appreciate the vibes for the less than 48 hours I am away.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Lesson Learned

A few weekends ago after an eventful day of brunch (Southern Kitchen), a sly silver fox pickup (silver fox in my ear), many laughs (the pack), shopping at my local crack house (Impress Rubber Stamps), bubble blowing in traffic (me from the backseat), watching a chick flick (Dear John), a visit to the nail salon was in order.

Patricia decided to take her tips off and I'm usually always down for a manicure.

I decided I was going to bypass my normal pale pink selection since it wasn't in my purse and live on the edge. I wanted to go with a color I normally wouldn't select for my fingers.

My Private Jet by OPI was the selection of the day for me. Patricia's are the longer nails in a black polish.

As the week wore on I became used to looking down at my nails and seeing color.

Then it happened.

The chips started. They stared back at me. I increasingly became annoyed. I wanted to take the polish off.

I rolled with it.

I re-learned a lesson - only polish my nails in a dark color when I own the polish.

With that being said, I am continuing to sport the dark polish. Say hello to China Glaze's Evening Seduction.

After two coats it appears almost black until the light hits it.

I'm open to new colors. What are you wearing these days? Don't be shy. I'm ready.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Weekly Challenge #121

Do you recall the last time you wiped down the light switches in your home or your office?

If you don't remember - heck if even if you do - I challenge you to get busy cleaning them this week.

Hidden germs could be lurking.

Dust bunnies be gone.

Fingerprints a thing of the past.

Let's get to it.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Meeting Fun

This is what I will be feasting my eyes upon for the next 2.5 days.

Who says meetings can't be fun while being informative too?

It's how we do.

I'm looking forward to seeing who does what with the goodies.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all - fo sho!

For the Love of Kenny

I have been remiss in declaring my love of Kenny publicly lately.

I've convinced at least one co-worker to buy one and a few more are in the process of deciding. He loves his too and says he's doing more reading now that he has one than he was before.

I carry my Kindle 2 with me pretty much everywhere. Waiting or eating alone is a walk in the park when there is something available to read right at my fingertips

I failed to realize how much I've come to appreciate the slimness of Kenny.

I was soon reminded of this the other day when a book I had on reserve at the library was ready for pickup.

Behold the difference.

As the weight of the hardcover book rested on my chest the first night I read a few chapters I quickly arrived at the decision to return the book to the library and purchase the Kindle version from Amazon.

I continue to have mad love for the written page in the traditional book format. However, to carry 532 pages of the hardback book around with me isn't all that appealing to me.

Kenny kept me company as I ate dinner this evening. I read a quick article in Newsweek and then a little bit about the late Senator Edward Kennedy's experiences in boarding school.

Another great thing about Kenny is I could have been reading Jackie Collins' "Poor Little Bitch Girl" and no one would have been the wiser.

Had I decided I wanted to read my Lean Six Sigma book, an article in the February Reader's Digest, a chapter from "The Blind Side", or download today's USA Today or The Seattle Times I could have done so in a matter of seconds as I sat in Qdoba enjoying my naked chicken salad.

This evening, as I put the final touches on the bag for this week in travel, I give Kenny a kiss and a pat on my back for the purchase I have come to love.

Yes it is true the Kindle is an investment but for the way I live my life, it's well worth the spend.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Ribbon, Punches, and Glitter Oh My

I needed to bust a creative vibe and make some thank you cards Sunday night.

I went for a simple and quick design.

I also did one with a snowflake not represented here.

When all was said and done I added the skinny white ribbon on top of the silver ribbon to one of the butterfly cards.

I made 5 cards in less than 10 minutes, including the handwritten sentiment inside.

I love when projects come together in a split second like these did.

My next creative endeavor will be Friday night as I spend some QT with J-Lo and D's kids. One project will include foam and sparkles. The rest remains to be seen with endless possibilities.

Where has your creative energy taken you these days? Hopefully to a happy place like mine has.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Weekly Challenge #120

Do you have a pile of paper, magazines, mail, etc. in need of your attention?

How about a pile of anything you can refer to as a "hot spot"?

I know I do.

This week I challenge all of us to spend a little bit of time tackling the pile.

I'd like to say I will master mine but I know I will only be chipping away at it but slow and steady wins this race.

Peace, Love, Laughter, and Soul Y'all.

Game Night

A few weeks ago Ace and I journeyed over to see the friends we met one another through a few 4th of Julys ago.

We started the day watching a kid's soccer game and ended the day playing games.

It was a close game. At one point I was pretty sure Ace and Bryant beat me but I came through with the win via my selections of the letter I.

Here's to game nights in everywhere!

I'm thinking I need to talk to the pack about setting one up soon.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Rock On

Some days after a long day in the salt mines an ice cold beer, the company of a co-worker and friend, and a chicken salad from The Rock hits the spot just right.

Round 1 above.

Round 2 below.

I am a blessed girl to have good people in my life.

People I care about and people that care for me.

People who let me be me.

People who get it, whatever it may be at that point in the day.

I hope you have some of the same as they make life sweet.

Sweet is good.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Weekly Challenge #119

Saturday as I sat in the backseat at a traffic light I laid my head on the seat and looked up.

Just for a moment or two and long enough for me to see a difference in the view I otherwise would have missed.

The bare tree branches looked totally different.

It got me thinking. We spend more time looking ahead, down, to the left, to the right but hardly do we look up.

What are we missing?

What might we see if we take a moment or two and let our eyes gaze on what lies above us?

This week I challenge you to look up at least once and take notice.

Peace and Love Peeps.

NOTE: photo courtesy of this Flickr user

Weekend Plans

A full weekend is planned in these parts. I am sure it will be filled with lots of laughter and love.



Friday night: An adjustment after work. Dinner in at my place with Mars. It has been a long time since we have caught up with each other. She asked for turkey burgers so turkey burgers it will be.


Saturday:

Grubbing at Southern Kitchen and going to see Dear John with Fiwa, Patricia, and possibly Laura.

Sunday:

Party at Dave's. I am pulling for the Saints in case you are wondering.

I might throw a manicure in there too.

How about you? What do you have planned?

Creative Storage

My hair accessories have been taking over some of my bathroom drawers.

I decided it was time to put them in their very own box.

Plus this gave me a chance to do a creative project.

I busted out the paint, the mod podge, and got to work.

Here is the inside of the box. The paint is a combination of metallic silver and metallic cream.

I did the lid on New Years Day at Fiwa's while she worked on her project, which was to decoupage a three ring binder.

Did you know it is harder to do a circle box than a square one?

Well, for me it is.

This is why it took me until three weeks later to finish the bottom of the box.

I am quite satisfied with the end result.

You might be asking where does this new box call home.

The bathroom of course!I am pretty proud of myself for picking tissue paper that matches perfectly with the towel/storage unit and with the craft store coupon the project cost about $4.00.

Score!

Peace and Love Peeps.

Weekly Challenge #118

How many of us have felt like that before?

I know I have.

In all seriousness I pose this question - when is the last time you backed up your computer files, your smart phone files, your music, your pictures, etc.?

It's been too long since I have done this in my personal life.

Professionally I back my files up on a monthly basis. There are times it is more frequent than this depending on how much love I am not giving to my laptop {think travel abuse}.

Having been one of those people who has lost everything from a tech malfunction on a few separate occasions I strongly encourage you to not let this opportunity pass without taking action.

Don't let yourself be caught without the files you love and need simply because you hadn't backed them up.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Happy Birthday Ace

Happy Birthday Ace!

If ya want to wish him a happy birthday you can do so here, on his somewhat active blog (like I have room to talk).

Last year's celebration included lots of laughs, good food, comedy, dancing in the streets, and gypsies. Oh how we can't forget the gypsy.

I wonder what this year has in store for us.

Whatever it is I am sure it will be more of the same and then some.

Love you Pookie. You're the boo to my bear. The ying to my yang. You're my everything. Ha!

Peace and Love Peeps.

You Can't See Me Right?

I couldn't resist taking this picture the other day.

The sun was shining. This doesn't happen too much this time of the year in these parts so when it does we flock to it like moths do to light.

Ms. Kitteh decided the best place to be was on the rug next to the Uggs I had been wearing earlier in the day.

Anytime I called out to her she would hunker down a little bit more.

I am convinced she was doing her best to hide.

For whatever reason she felt I couldn't see her. I didn't have the heart to burst her bubble but Princess, you weren't fooling me.

She stayed in this position until sunset. God love her.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Craving Satisfied

Tuesday I had a craving.

I had packed a salad for lunch but my body was screaming - SUSHI, SUSHI, SUSHI.

I asked a co-worker if he brought lunch. His reply, "I only have chocolate milk."

You know what this meant right?

We bolted to one of our local sushi joints.

Even after a few times of a tad too much wasabi when I dipped, I left a satisifed woman.

YUM!

Thanks J-Lo for indulging right along with me.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Carpe Diem

Sometimes you just need to embrace the craziness that lies in front of you.

Who gives a flying flip what anyone else may think?

Not me obviously.

My wish is for all of us to march to the beat of our own drum, as long as it is not illegal or harmful to yourself or others.

Go forth and live in the moment.

What do you have to lose?

If the answer is nothing, do it now. Carpe Diem.

Peace and Love Peeps. Peace and Love.

Weekly Challenge #117

This week I challenge you to execute a random act of kindness.

It is about you putting a little bit of love out there.

The action can be big or small.

It can cost money or not.

Just let it be something.

For instance, my RAK for today was jumping out of my car at a red light and closing the dude's gas tank door in front of me this morning.

He gave a wave of acknowledgement and smiled.

This took me all of 20 seconds. I didn't have to do this but I did because I could.

What can you do for someone else just because you can?

That's the challenge this week. Make something happen.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Endless Possibilities

Another New Years Day purchase.

It took me a few days to get used to the magnets on the fridge.

I don't like clutter in my space.

This looked like clutter to me for the first few days.

Then my love of words and endless possibilities kicked in.

Fiwa broke them in by selecting "always fluff behind her pink parts".

When I went out of town I left her with "we could soar together above the storm"

When I returned she had added "or not" below my selection and added "worship sky fluff like delicate summer sleep".

I'm interested to see what's next.

Feel free to make up your own combination when you're over.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Starts Black and White . . .

Isn't this set of stamps from Hero Arts delicious? It was a perfect selection for me to use when sending a little bit of love to two of my work peeps in the form of their very own chopsticks and carrying case.

After I stamped the images with black ink I whipped out my Le Plume markers and got to work.

I decided to put the girl image with a black matte on the orange cardstock for the Task Master.

Then I added two crystal jewel stickers for some bedazzled goodness for the flowered buttons to pop. Unfortunately the effect is not captured well in this picture at all. Trust me when I say the bling looked good and the orange cardstock matched the orange colored areas.

I left the boy image on white cardstock stamped direct to the paper for Ladies Man.

I then added a bit of bling in the form of a black crystal to the top of the hat instead of leaving it as is.

I love the possibilites stamping offers. Black, white, color, no color, bling, no bling, accents, no accents - whatever your creative mind desires!

The next project I need to complete is two thank you cards and possibly make some Valentine's Day cards too.

Hmmm, what will the creative energies decide to do?

Peace and Love Peeps.

Weekly Challenge #116

Are your tires inflated properly?

Is the tread worn too thin?

This week I challenge you to show your tires some love.

Make sure you're safe and getting the best possible mileage possible.

Peace and Love Peeps.

The Kid in Me

My elephant slippers were looking and feeling tore up from the floor up.

Fiwa and I scored these at JcPenney for an amazingly great price New Years Day.

She got just the piggies. I picked up a pair of each.

I love how the monkey is keeping it real with the look on its face.

Y'all don't be afraid or embarrassed to be in touch with your inner child.

Doing so keeps you young at heart.

With that being said, excuse me while I go color in my fairy coloring book.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Thank You

Thank you for your sacrifices.

Thank you for your service.

Thank your for your vision.

Thank you for paving the way.

Thank you.

Thank you.

THANK YOU.

That's My $2.18

Do you do coupons?

I do.

I especially use the ones at JoAnns and Michael's.

Which leads me to the story of the above picture.

I had a plethora of coupons the week of Christmas for JoAnns.

I asked the customer service desk associate if I could use multiple coupons at one time or did the purchases need to be rung up separately.

She said I could use all of them at the same time if desired.

I went about my business and picked up some ribbon and a few miscellaneous items.

I approach the register and the same associate who earlier entertained my question rings me up.

I handed her all of my coupons and she very loudly sighs.

I look at her. You know the look I am talking about right? Yeah, I gave her that look.

She proceeds to not use the 40% off coupon, which happened to be the first one I handed her.

I politely point this out.

She replies, "Does it really matter? It's only going to be like $2.00."

Um yes it matters.

You send me coupons for a reason. I use them.

I want my 40% off. I am entitled to my discount.

She processes the coupon and when all was said it done it was $2.18 from the 40% off.

The $2.18 was the cost of one of the spools of ribbon, tax included.

That's my $2.18 and free spool of ribbon.

Coupons.

Believe in them. Use them.

Get your $2.18.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Weekly Challenge #115

When is the last time you cleaned your front door, the back door, or a sliding glass door in your home?

It's been quite some time since I have done this so in an effort to make sure I do mine, I am challenging you to do yours.

Smudges, fingerprints, hand prints, etc. - join me in making them a thing of the past this week.

It shouldn't take more than five minutes.

We can spare that time right?

Right.

Peace and Love Peeps.