Month: February 2012

Chunky Dunker’s Night!

Chunky Dunker’s Night!

Good evening! I can’t believe that it has been a week since I last posted! I have been happily busy with a new online class that I have been taking for the past couple of weeks, but more on that with a different post. Tonight 

Chunky Dunker’s Night!

Chunky Dunker’s Night!

Good evening! It is that time of week again, Chunky Dunkers!! WHOO! HOO!!! Chunky Dunkers is a group of friends who get together every week to cheer each other on as we all work towards our own personal health and fitness goals. Some of us 

Having a Good Night!

Having a Good Night!

Good evening!

After a slight snafu this morning, I have had a pretty good day, and am planning on having a pretty good evening too!!

Ok, so to start with this morning…I had jury duty, which isn’t so bad, but forgetting that I had jury duty and going to work first, well, that not so much! Yep, that is what I did! I got to work early, ready for a good day, when I looked up and realized Oh EM GEE!! I HAVE JURY DUTY IN 5 minutes!!! AAACK!!! 😉

So off I went, over to the courthouse as fast I could, all the while hoping they weren’t going to put out some kind of bench warrant for my arrest or something – ok, so I have literally NO EXPERIENCE with jury duty before, and I might have watched one too many Matlock’s!! 😉

Anyway, I got there, only about 5 minuted late, got checked in and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and then when I thought I couldn’t wait any more, they started dismissing people, with kind of a lottery system. Well, let’s just say, I didn’t win that lottery! I got to wait some more! Finally a judge came out and said that the case the last of us were waiting for was at last dismissed and we were aloud to leave. YEAH!! 😉

Oh, and before I forget, I have to say a great big thank you to my sweetie!! All of the parking around the courthouse is only 2 hour parking, and I was worried I was going to get a ticket while doing my civic duty!! So, I placed a frantic call and he took time out of his busy day to come and get my car for me!! Thank you, Honey!! I know I owe you biiiiiig time!!! 😉

So after getting dismissed from jury duty, going back to work, and finally getting home this evening, I am seriously planning on having a great night!!

When I checked the mail this morning, I found a package inside – what a pleasant surprise!! Inside I found some treasures from my sissy, Alex!!! Thank you, Sis!! 😉

I had some dinner, one of my baked stuffed bell peppers from yesterday, and a slice of fresh baked French bread. Ok, so I realize it looks a lot scarier in this pic than it actually looked, but trust me on this, it is soooooo DELICIOUS!

Then I am going to work on some of my to-do list for this evening, namely my financial tracker!! I am trying really hard to stay on top of that!! How am I ever going to get wealthy if I don’t know where my wealth is going?? I’m just sayin’!!

Anyway, I may do a little more crocheting on my scarf. It is still pretty cold here in Oregon, even for February so, I am sure I could have a couple of weeks use out of it before the sun decided to make an appearance!! 😉

Finally, I might curl up with my girls and have a nice, quiet evening with the new Blick Studio artist catalog that came in the mail today! Yes, I realize that might sound a little sad, but I am telling you, there is a whole group of people out there that will TOTALLY relate to my love of all things art supplies!! 😉

So, there you have it, my night wrapped up in a pretty little package!!!

Here’s to a FABULOUS evening!! ;-)

“If you want to have a different life, you have to live differently!”

 

A Random Monday!

A Random Monday!

Good evening! I am home! YEAH!!! You know, I thought my life was pretty regimented before, but it is even more now! Who knew that was even possible!?!??? 😉 Just a warning, I can tell that tonight’s post is just going to be a jumble 

My First Visit to Benihanas!

My First Visit to Benihanas!

Good evening! Today my sweetie and I got the opportunity to go up to Beaverton and spend some time with our family from up north! We met up with my aunt Alice, my Aunt Flo, and her sweetie, Ryan!! I was sooooo excited, because I 

Chunky Dunker’s Night!

Chunky Dunker’s Night!

Good evening!

It is that time of week again, Chunky Dunkers!! WHOO! HOO!!! ;-)

Chunky Dunkers is a group of friends who get together every week to cheer each other on as we all work towards our own personal health and fitness goals. Some of us want to lose weight, some want to become more flexible, some of us would love to be able to run a mile, and some of us would just be happy if we could just reach our long-lost toes!! ;-)

The name Chunky Dunker’s came from my sweetie and my two youngest sisters joking that we don’t skinny dip, we chunky dunk, and after all of the laughter finally died down, we realized that that would be the perfect name for our newly created support group!! We have been going for about 8 months now (if not longer), and it is still a group that I get excited about meeting with every week.

I try to post the Chunky Dunker’s post every Wednesday evening between 7 and 7:30, Pacific Coast time, and after I post, we “meet” in the comments section of this post where we can all share hints, tips, ideas, recipes, and encourage each other to keep on keepin’ on!

If you would like to join us, please feel free to do so by speaking up in the comments section, or feel free to be an anonymous reader – that is alright with us too!!

So, without further ado…

Tonight’s topic: Shaking Things Up in the Kitchen

I have been spending some time this evening on Pinterest, and looking at all of the different food recipes that people have posted. I am very inspired to get into my kitchen and start shaking up the ho-hum, and turn it into OH-YUM!!

(Do you see what I did just there??? LOL!) 😉

There are so many different kinds of meals out there that for some reason seemed to not be on my radar, until now that is!! I am going to take a few of these recipe ideas, and give them a shot. Even if they are a complete and utter failure, I will have flexed my bravery muscles, which will make it easier to keep my kitchen repertoire a little looser, funner, and a lot more varied!

When was the last time that you tried something new in the kitchen?? Tried a new recipe, bought a new and different fruit, vegetable, or other food item, or put things together in a way that you hadn’t before? Shaking things up this way in your food habits could get you out of cooking slump, and turn your everyday mundane cooking chore into a gift of untapped creativity.

My challenge to all of us this week is to do a little pre-planning and get into your kitchen and shake things up a bit!! Come back and tell me what you were able to come up with!! I LOVE hearing your stories!!!

I can’t wait to hear how all o f you have been doing! I will “see” you in the comments section!! GO CHUNKY DUNKERS!!!

Here’s to a FABULOUS evening!!! ;-)

“If you want to have a different life, you have to live differently!”

 

The Times They Are A-Changin’!

The Times They Are A-Changin’!

Good evening! My life is getting a little bit complicated. Ok, that might be an understatement.  I guess this is what happens when you are trying to live your life a little differently! You can’t turn your life’s ship without making some new waves!!! I 

Chunky Dunker’s Night!

Chunky Dunker’s Night!

Good evening! It is that time of week again, Chunky Dunkers!! WHOO! HOO!!! 😉 Chunky Dunkers is a group of friends who get together every week to cheer each other on as we all work towards our own personal health and fitness goals. Some of 

The Salem Oregon Train Station

The Salem Oregon Train Station

Good evening!

Yesterday, after work, I had some time and I decided I would make good use of it by going down to the Salem train station. It is one of my absolute favorite buildings in all of Salem, matter of fact, if it weren’t for the fact that it is right next to the train tracks, I could imagine myself and my sweetie converting this building into our home.

I did a little bit of reading this evening to see what I can find out about this building, and I discovered that not only is it on the National Historic Registry, but it is actually the third train station built in this location, the first two having burnt to the ground in both 1885, and 1917.

This building was actually built in 1918, and is one of only 5 of the original masonry buildings that still exist on the original Southern Pacific West Coast Line.

Although quite small on the inside, at least from where I was standing, there are some really beautiful architectural details on the inside of this building too. I especially loved the light fixtures, which there were two of, hanging from the high ceilings of the depot.

The outside isn’t too shabby either! There was a massive restoration project done by the Oregon Department of Transportation that was completed in 2000. The style of this building is called Beaux-Arts-style.

There are so many architectural details to see, that I walked around this building 3 times catching new elements with my eye and camera each time I circled the building.

It was such an amazingly sunny afternoon, and I was absolutely struck how vividly blue our normally grey sky was. It was quite breathtaking.

Another fun fact about this building is that Amtrak rents this building from the government for only $1 a year, in exchange for building and ground maintenance. Isn’t that amazing??? I think that is PHENOMENAL!! 😉

Here are some more of those great architectural details. I am absolutely in LOVE with these pillars, have been since I was a little girl, but it was only by taking these pictures that I was able to notice the detail at the top of these stately columns.

See what I mean? And I just adore the molding around the top of the building too. They don’t make buildings like this any longer!

These are the original light fixtures. They are ginormous! And although I don’t really show it well here, the arched windows are really quite astonishingly beautiful!

Here is some more detail at the base of the pillars.

Finally, here is one of the front corners of the building! I had so much fun investigating this lovely piece of Salem’s history.

I literally drive by this building every day, and I almost forget that it is even there. This experience has inspired me to make an effort to purposefully go out and find out what other great buildings from history are out there just waiting to be rediscovered!! Who knew history could be so fun!?? I can’t wait to see what I find next!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! ;-)

“If you want to have a different life, you have to live differently!”

Getting Back to Gettin’!

Getting Back to Gettin’!

Good evening! I know that I have been a little MIA for the past few days, and I was still close to not posting tonight either. I have had a very long, busy day, and am exhausted. I didn’t sleep very well last night, as