Date Night

Date night with SB tonight.  Started with

Then we went and had dinner.

Got some Chicken Pot Pie at the Rusty Moose, sadly it wasn't delish...the moose jumping out of the bowl, pretty cute.

FIrst Time

Today was the first time I did some hiking in Spokane. My friend SB asked if I wanted to go and I said, "Yes!" We headed out to Big Rock in the SpokaneValley.  It was a pretty warm day, so I was glad that we brought water.  It was a 2.5 mile hike round trip and was very well marked.

The rock to the right of the tree int he middle was where we were hiking to.

Getting closer to the rock.

The view along the way.

Closer.

On the top, well not really. The only way you could get to the top of the rock (pictured above) you have to have rock climbing gear.  To the right of that mountain, there were more rocks but this time you could climb them, so I did.

The view from the top.

Pool Time

So glad that the weather is working out in my favor and I've been able to spend daily time with my best friend and some good books!

I'm gonna miss this pool!

Polka Dot Painting

When I was over in Spokane, I finally got the opportunity to go and do some painting of pottery at Polka Dot Pottery. SB and I had a great time catching up on each other's lives and trying to make beautiful works of art.
My first piece was created quickly. I really was looking for a new soap holder, but couldn't find one I liked, so I thought I could paint one. I'm pretty impressed on how well it turned out and how close it is to my shower curtain. What do you think?

The second piece on the other hand was painted multiple times and washed off multiple times, but in the end I'm super happy with it. I really wanted something fall for my door and now I finally have it.

"B" Night Addendum

So during "B" night, one of the activities we had wanted to partake in was Beer Pong. but the only Beer Pong we could find was in Yelm and there was no way that I was driving out there to play. As luck would have it though, Puerta Vallarta in Federal Way offers it on Wednesday night, so we resumed "B" night last night.We showed up during what I thought was going to be earylish, only to find Michael G already warming up. He explained the rules to us and then let us play with him and a friend. When we were warming up, we only played with water, so that we wouldn't get too drunk too fast! Cassie was a pretty good shot and she and Michael ended up winning. Boo!

Once everyone else started showing up, we were placed on the board playing our first team it was Lickalottapuss vs. us the Ball Bombers. We didn't do to well and were done almost as quickly as we had started. The second game vs. the G-unit went a little longer but still ended the same way. We were then 0-2 (Boo!) The night got better though as we continued to play, we seemed to hit our groove (just like Stella) and began winning. (Supposedly it gets easier the more you drink!) We ended up going on a 4-0 winning streak ending the night at 4-2. Yes, please add another "W" in my win column for the week. It gets better though-we ended up coming in 2nd place after never ever playing this game before in our lives. Yeee Haw!!!

We will have to for sure go back and try this again and maybe next time we'll play with beer instead of water!

New Years Eve

Traditions...it seems that everyone has them for this time of year. My New Years Eve tradition is slowly evolving as I get older (as it should.) When I was a kid, it was usually spent with family everyone hanging out and playing games, toasting the New Year in with sparkling cider, then heading outside to watch the fireworks. During high school it changed a little, we would hang out with my uncle and aunt and we would pray the New Year in. And as I get older my traditions continue to change. Now there are multiple parties to attend (because all my different friend groups are throwing them), family functions to make appearances at (my uncle and aunt are still praying), as well as a need to figure out what kind of tradition I want to start for me to bring in the new year.

So I thought one year with my hula family, one year with my friends, one year with the family would be a good tradition to start...then I missed a year with my hula family, I was sick for two New Years and spent them at home, so really right now I have no tradition. But I guess I could count this year, 2008, as my friends year (although last year, 2007, was a friends year too ) and get back on my rotation.

This year, the plan was to head downtown for a little grooving, dancing, and a midnight kiss at Tiki Bob's in Seattle. We met up at my house before we went out to share in a little pre-funk and food. I made a bunch of little pupus and a bucket-0-drinks and waited and waited and waited...No one was coming, so I decided I would take a sad picture of myself with my drink, my food, and a super sad face. Just as I was going to pick up my camera the doorbell rang and it was my first guest. RATS! Spoiled! I took the picture anyway!
(That's my super cute apron, I wore as to not get my cute shirt dirty.)

We all shared in a drink, set goals for a midnight kiss, and then headed downtown for a night for fun. When we got there at about 10 the place was already bump-in (so there were people dancing and drinking-it wasn't full yet, but you could tell there was a party atmosphere) We decided to head next door for a quick cheap drink and then come back and join the festivities. We made our way next door and I spotted a nice young gentleman. He was all spiffed up and wearing a tie even. We had our drinks (I only had 1, so if your counting that's 2 so far) and then went back to Tiki's. We got another drink (up to 3) and then headed out to the dance floor. We danced and danced and danced. The music was really good and the dance floor was starting to fill up.

As we were dancing the nice young man with the tie made his way to the dance floor I spotted him and thought, there he is my midnight kiss. We danced some more and then needed a drink to cool down. We, T and I, went up to the bar and ordered another drink for everyone. I had a soda. T stopped me before we went back and told me that time was getting close to midnight and if we, all of us girls, were going to get kissed we needed to step it up in finding someone. I looked at the clock and we had only 9 min. We went back to the dance floor and I couldn't find the guy with the tie. I was super sad, was I not going to make my goal! I then remembered there was someone else that I had had my eye on, but when I went to look for him, he, too, was nowhere in sight. What happened to all these guys, did they all have to go to the bathroom all of a sudden?!?!?!

Right, when I turned around, there was a different guy with a tie on and he wanted to dance, so I danced with him. The countdown started 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, I looked around and couldn't see the first guy with a tie or the other cute guy I thought I would dance with, 4, 3, 2, 1...I grabbed the guys face I was dancing with and kissed him. We ended up dancing together for the rest of the night. I never saw the cute guy again, but the first guy with the tie was friends with the guy I kissed, so he came around later.

We ended up shutting down the bar and then eating a much needed hotdog because the pupus were long gone. We all came back to my house, recapping the night the whole way home. Once we were here we decided that cheese quesadillas and a salami sandwhich would hit the spot. We ate and talked more, before both girls fell asleep on my couches and I headed to my own bed.

Weekend Review

This past weekend I was finally had a free weekend so a friend and I decided to have a girls weekend. I had full intentions of taking pictures throughout the whole thing, but only came up with a few. I must have been having too much fun. So here is my weekend in review with some pictures.

It all started with a little plan to go and visit the cousins in Portland for some shopping and par taking in adult beverages, but we ended up re-scheduling because they were going to be adults and take care of their responsibilities. So instead of going South, my friend Cassie and I decided to go North. After hours and hours of trying to find a place to stay, I made the right phone call and was set up with a room in little over 15 minutes at the La Conner Country Inn. Our plans were set: Shop the way up there, take in the "city", and shop the way home.

We started the morning with a little and then we were off. We stopped at Ross in Kirkland, where I picked up a hooded sweatshirt and a tank-top. Then continued on our way for lunch .

After lunch we hit the shops at Tulalip Outlet Mall, where I picked up another sweater. Hence a theme going on?

The place we stayed was super cute even though it wasn't on the water

and so were the two resturants we ate at. One for dinner, called Seeds, and one for breakfast.

They are both owned by the same people. Before we came home we did some window shopping in La Conner and then hit a couple more stores on the way back. By the time we were driving down I-5 we had both had enough shopping.

I had a wonderful time getting out of town and not having a schedule what so ever. I hope to do it again soon.

3 DAYS!

Only three more days, that is three more get-ups until we are officially on Winter Vacation. I am super excited and can't wait for some much needed rest and relaxation. I will be flying out to Spokane to spend my time, which for me means REAL relaxing. There won't be tons of things I can do around my house, just one more thing to do for school when we come back, and just one more place to go. It will be laid back and chill...well at least until my parents get there, then there will be more stuff doing and celebrating. Hopefully we'll make some spritz cookies *hint, hint* I thought I would make some goals to make sure I am taking time for me and not for all the other things I do.

1. Practice hula for 1/2 hour a day.


2. Read my new photography books.


3. Workout at least 4 times.


4. Go to morning mass every morning.
   
5. Start and finish Christmas Cards-the letter is already done.


6. Play with my neice.

I think I will start there. I will only be gone for 10 days and it already seems like a lot for me to be doing.

Dancing

When going out dancing make sure you:

• Go to an upstanding establishment, not one that has hot ladies up on the bar and a sea of men crowded around it. You will never get someone to dance with, let alone a drink.
• Wear something that will get attention and keep you cool, because you don't want to be hot as in temperature, but hot as in "hot mama".
• Dance with all the people that want to dance with you, you never know who will be good and who just wants to grind up against you.
• Leave your hands where they should be, because there are tons of people with cameras and video cameras waiting to catch something that might be inappropriate and you might become the next youtube star.
• Never leave without the people you came with. They are there to help you make good moral decisions and not let you fall into places you shouldn't be.
• Dance like no one is watching and pretty soon, everyone will be.
  
  
  

More Time Please

I realized this morning I needed two more days to do all the things I wanted to do in the "unplanned" weekend. I had a lot of fun, but had some things that I really should have been doing that I put off, not to say that I didn't accomplish anything, because I did, I just needed to do more.

• I needed more sleep.


• I needed to practice hula more.


• I needed to correct papers (although that might happen as I watch Norbit.)


• I needed to finish watching 10 Things I Hate About You.


• I needed to write my students name down for a project we were going to do tomorrow, but I guess that will have to wait to see if I get it done in the morning.
  

Although I didn't really need to do all these things, I for sure wanted to do them so this week would be smoother. Here is what I did:

• I went to Happy Hour Friday


• I bought my face lotion, I have been meaning to buy for weeks.


• I went grocery shopping.


• I cleaned my house


• I changed my bedding to the Fall bedding


• I put up all my Fall decorations


• I went to The Farm Girls Holiday with Becker and took a hay ride


• I went to dessert with Tami in Edmonds, which I hadn't been too in 9 years. The last time I went I was at a Day Camp in Lynnwood.


• I helped Betty sew on her machine and hand stich her chair packs


• I cooked fried lice, apple crisp, and guacamole


• I went to a baby shower.


• I hung out with the parents


• I shopped for a new recipe book.

Needless to say is was as busy of a weekend as it was a week. This past week kept me on my toes and I didn't get enough rest. I am making it to the gym, but my sleep is suffering! But not this week, this week I am going to be good and go to bed on time and eat healthy, so I can keep getting wonderful compliments. Thanks to all. Have a fun week. Can you believe it is already the end of September? It feels like we just started school.

Babysitting

I've been doing it since I was 12 and took a class from Campfire that gave me a certificate to do it. Last weekend I got the opportunity to watch my niece while my sister was off at work. My mom and dad helped to, basically they would hand her off to me after she was done eating so I could burp her and put her to sleep.
During the morning, I was sharing with my mom and dad about getting a pedicure and somehow painting my niece's nails came up. The only color I could find that my sister had was red, so we went to work. They turned out beautiful, but we figured that her mama wouldn't really like it, so we covered them up with socks and went about our day.
I didn't get to see my sister's face when she pulled off those socks, but I for sure got a phone call and a mention in her latest blog: Leialoha's Toes

Golf- Helpful Hints

(for girls only-don't know if it will work for boys)

1. Go to the driving range, choose a spot by a man that has a nice swing. Hit some balls and then take a break to watch him. Repeat as necessary. Pretty soon, they will notice you and give some unsolicited advice that will help your game.


2. While golfing with men (who know what they are doing), ask them what club you should use a couple of times, then most men will feel that the next time you are up to hit, you will want some unsolicited advice about your swing. Take the advice, it will help your game.


3. Go early to the course when the golf pros are bored and ready to talk. They will give some more unsolicited advice after you swing and hit your ball into a different fairway. The advice is sure to help your game.


4. Golf quickly to catch up with the older gentlemen that didn't realize you started your game, because you had such a poopy shot at the first hole. Then he will ask you to join him and you will be in for a nice round of golf. Don't ask for any advice from him, because he is just out for the fun of it, plus with all the other unsolicited advice your brain might explode trying to remember it all.

picture provided by flicker- regina s'

Reading

I have been doing some reading while I have been home and just finshed a book by Jane Green, one of my favorite authors, called Swapping Lives.Although I love Green's writing, I don't love this book. It took way too long to get into the book and too little a time in the meat of the story. I wish that it would have been better and I would have had something better to say, maybe when I read her next book I will.

The other reading I have been on-line in the form of a scrapbooking challenge. I found it whiel reading another note-worthy blogger and found this post and a new born baby girl. Emily- started a mini art journal challenge awhile ago that I thought would be a lot of fun to join, although I am over 30 weeks behind, I hope to make up for it some before school starts. I will be posting my challenges here and hope that you will enjoy them. I have two other friends that are joining me in this challenge, but I don't know quite yet how they will post their work. The first week was what are you proud of?

The second week challenge was what is powerful to you?

Golf Anyone?

This past weekend was the 5th Annual CCM Golf Scramble and BBQ. I usually only go over for the BBQ and leave the scrambling to the boys, but this year I thought I might try a little golf. Although I didn't play very well, I got some helpful hints from the men that Beth and I were paired up with. Before we all went out, some practiced hitting some balls, while I practiced my camera skills. Here is a succession of pictures that I animated.

All For A Good Cause

This past weekend Team Hula made it's first walk in great fashion at Tacoma's Relay For Life. We all had a wonderfully exhausting time. I was super sore by the time I left and had walked 8miles and some change, which added up to 32ish laps around the track. I had some great incentive in my walking partners as well as the bead necklace I was making. I wanted more and more beads. (That was how I kept track, because there was no other way I could have kept track.)
Our tent won last tent standing and second in tent decoration. Our bat-ton was in the running for winning, but I haven't found out if it won or not. We had the best food and the loudest people. It was a great time of telling stories and just hanging out with everyone. I had a great time.
I am hoping to have the pictures edited soon and up.
I stayed up for the full 24 hours and then came home to the first garage party of the season. It was a fun weekend although I didn't get any grades done today. I guess I will be working on them all week. Good deal for them not being due until next Tuesday and not this.

New Experinces

On Sunday, I got the opportunity to go shooting for the first time. I have never really liked guns and shooting has never interested me. But I was asked to go and I thought it might be fun, especially if I could add some friends to come with us. So we went shooting. We shot a 9mm glock and .45 caliber, if you know what they are, you are way ahead of me. The 9mm looks like a toy gun and the .45 looks like something out of some shooting. I didn't really care for the 9mm, because my bullets never hit the paper target, but the I was dead on (not literally) with the .45. I would have loved to take some shots in the range, but was unable to, so here are some outside with our protective gear on.We all went to dinner and then out to a Thunderbirds game. The Thunderbirds won, but there was only one fight and not enough action for me. I did enjoy getting to use my camera and my stock lens. All in all it was a great day, long but fun.