I've fallen...

off the wagon...but I've been taking pics and will update soon...

May 10th-15th (Day 130-135)

May 10th

Day 130

Tonight I got to see a highly acclaimed documentary called "The Race to Nowhere".  It is about the high stress kids in school are under these days.  Between sports, schools trying to achieve higher test scores, and the desire to go to the 'right' college, these kids are enduring hours and hours of work after school.  Many kids aren't getting enough sleep and are succumbing to depression, anxiety, and plain ole not being able to be a 'kid'.  Being a teacher I tend to agree with this movie...I've run into similar frustrations that these parents are talking about when it comes to homework.  I teach Special Ed.  We have some students that literally just can't get their homework done...and some schools I've worked at have allowed accommodations for certain kids so that they just don't do homework.  Some schools I've worked in will not allow this...no matter what.  There's a fine line...and I don't agree with EVERYTHING in the movie...but I do think that there are more pressures on kids these days than in the past.  I don't think elementary age students should be thinking about college...and not just college but the desire to go to particular colleges.  I have friends that have not gone to college, gone to CSU's, UC's and Ivy league schools.  Now...in their adults lives...there is not a difference.  It's really what you put into your experience...and what you come out with...it's a personal decision.  Anyway...I recommend seeing the movie if it comes to an area around you...it's typically shown in small 'private' venues...hosted by parent groups etc.  Again...I agree with parts...but not everything.  I also think there was a bit of a mis-representation of the country as a whole...the majority of the schools discussed are from the Bay Area...and affluent areas of the Bay Area...there was one lower income school in Oakland...and maybe a couple others from out of state areas...but...most were from San Ramon, Layfayette, etc...not REALLY what the country as a whole looks like.  

http://www.racetonowhere.com/

May 11

Day 131

I had my yoga mat out for my P90X workout...looks like Katy likes to do Yoga :-)

May 12

Day 131

So I previously posted an orange and black baby hat I knit for my nieces...well...I didn't like the pointy top...which happens if you decrease too much at the end.  So I redid it and added this flower.  I posted it on facebook...and thanks to Kaysie suggesting I sell them I have now made 5 hats this weekend.  Two are for my nieces...but I redid them to have smaller flowers.  My bro-in-law HATES the flower thing...and I have to admit I'm not really a huge fan either...but I was just worried that when the babies wear their Giants onesies and these caps without a flower...they will simply look like boys...they need SOMETHING to make them girly.  Hopefully I'll be able to post the video I made to show you how I solved the problem to make everyone happy.  It took a few days of creative thinking...but I'm happy with the results.  So...this was the orginal...further down you'll see more. :-)

May 13

Day 133

Both hats done...one showing the 'big' flower...the other showing the 'small' flower..

May 14th

Day 134

The Patriots hat for my friend Jen.  

And this is how I modified my nieces hats...

Oh...and this is a random photo...but at least once a week I go to The Carlsbad Ranch Market for lunch...they have an amazing salad bar.  Seriously...puts every other salad bar I've ever been to to complete shame...including for you Salinas people...Della Rose Salad Shop...this is WAY WAY WAY better.  Seriously.  I couldn't resist on Saturday and stopped and got one for lunch...yum yum yumminess!  

Sorry it's sideways...my gallery shows it the right way...but every time I upload it here it comes out this way.  Lame. 

May 15th

Day 135

Same goes for the sideways thing here...weird.  These are the hats I made this weekend.  The first two are for my nieces with removable flowers.  The next two are for my friend Jen...one for her 2 year old and the other for her yet to be born baby girl.  And the last is for my other friend Jen's baby.  So fun!  So...anyone need baby hats? 

Day 128 & 129

May 8th-Day 128

Happy Mothers Day

I wasn't able to spend the day with my family so I spent the day with my friend Katie.  We shopped and had lunch...we attempted to see a movie but obviously the movie gods just don't want me to see a movie (see previous post about the theater being torn down) because this time the theater has been closed...permanently.  I continued to do my P90X workout and started to make Giants beanies for my nieces.  Seeing that they are in SF still and will be for a few more weeks I decided it was time they show a little love.  

 The beanie...but I think it's too small...I'm making more bigger...

How I track my P90X workouts.  I get to move the 'post-it' after my workout...it's rewarding somehow. 

May 9th-Day 129

I work with very generous people.  My co-workers ask me almost daily about my nieces.  They want to see pictures and love to celebrate their gains.  One of my co-workers, Pat Slattery, actually bought Michelle and Brandon presents.  She told me about about these about a week or two ago and this morning came in with two of them.  One for Brandon and one for Michelle.  She bought them each a 'Knork'...what's a 'Knork' you ask?  A 'Knork' is a utensil that is a fork and knife combined (think 'spork') so that they can each hold a baby and still cut and eat their own food.  Hilarious and functional at the same time.  And really...it doesn't really matter what the 'gift' was...but the fact that a co-worker that has NEVER met Michelle or Brandon...thought to buy them a present is truly amazing.  

The last few days I've had a 'hankering' to make bread.  I think it's because my Rosemary was looking pretty nice outside.  So...alas...after work today...bread I made!  Rosemary Bread.  YUM!

5/4-5/7...Day 124-127

5/4/11

Day 124

I got to meet up with one of my BFF's today...yay for Judi time!  Our plan was to grab dinner and see a girly movie...but lo and behold we arrived to see that the movie theater had been torn down!  Oops!  So...we shopped (got a super cute shirt, tube top, and dress!!), had our typical Sammy's dinner and then proceeded to get our toes done.  Far from the best salon we've ever been to but technically they got the job done...although when I got home I realized that they never even fully removed my former polish...I have a nice 'You don't know Jacques' spot on one toe...nice ladies. 

And yes...that is the beginning of a foot tan made by my Tom's!  Great!

5/5/11

125

Happy Cinco De Mayo. 

Not sure if I mentioned it here or not yet...but I've 're-started' my P90X workout program.  I love these workouts but have never gotten past week 3-4.  UGH.  So...take 579...goal: complete all 90 days!!  

This was Shoulders and Arms day...

5/6/11

Day 126

Yoga day...athough my yoga disk doesn't work...so I did X-Stretch instead.  Followed by Wii fit yoga and cardio...

5/7/11

Day 127

My strawberries are officially ready to eat. 

They were a bit tart though...and don't mind the odd shapes of them!  

5/2 &5/3 Day 123

5/2

Sleepy Katy

Katy cracks me up, when I go up north to my parents house she acts as if she HATES her crate.  She runs away and hides...but here...this is how I find her...

5/3

STRAWBERRIES

My strawberries are starting to turn red!!!!  I can't wait for them to be ready to eat!!!

I just realized that somewhere along the way I quit 'numbering' the posts...I'll try to figure that out :-)
I think I'm 123
nope...I'm sure today was 123 :-) 

4/30 & 5/1

4-30

March for Babies

Today was the March of Dimes/March for Babies walk.  It was great and I'm so glad I did it.  The walk itself was only 3 miles, but the great part was seeing so many inspiring stories about premature babies.  Of course there were the sad stories too.  Here are some pics from the day...

 Me, Judi, Frank...and Eli up above

 Eli in his awesome onesie!  As soon as he got there a team of NICU nurses saw him and took his picture!

The start line

 Judi and me walking

 Finish line

 KM for Kendall...my niece that was almost born at 31 week but held off till 35 weeks with the help of meds!

 JM for my nephew Jared...born at 31 weeks

5-1

An overall AMAZING day.

I loved everything about today!

I woke up to beautiful blue skies.  I didn't see a cloud all day!

I started the day by heading to Armstrong Garden Center to use my $50 Groupon.  I love the Groupons that are for actual $$.  By the time I left...used my Groupon and a $5 credit from earning 'points'...I paid $8!!! I got 3 big bags of soil, 4 plants, 3 big pots, and some organic insect repellent!  I spent the first half of the gardening.  Now my back patio isn't anything special...and I 'redo' it often!  Here are today's before pictures...

 This area is known as 'the potty spot'...my dogs have decided that this part of the patio is where they like to go potty.  I actually don't mind because they at least keep it in one area!  The 'fence' is all knocked around because Hurley doesn't always think it's necessary to 'go around'.

 

 My patio table.  It has become a gardening 'catch all'.  Really not a very useful table!

 One of the hated 'bouganvilla' trees plus weeds.  I hate bouganvilla.  Really really despise it!  Sure...it can be pretty, but those 2-3 inch thorns are killer!  And seriously, the branches seem to have crazy growth spurts and then, I swear they are alive, they grab you!  UGH!  I try to just keep it trimmed to 'death' but it doesn't work.  I've tried to tear it out but just can't do it myself.  Each time I work out here I try to use my 'clippers' to cut the trunk and I get a little further each time! 

 The pots from last year.  These used to have zucchini and tomatoes in them.  

I recently transferred my indoor seedlings into the pots out here.  But as you can see it needs sprucing.  

I obviously don't care about it being 'pretty'.  I've done flowers...but Hurley likes to eat plants so that just doesn't work.  Now I just care about making my veggies safe from potty areas and away from my plant eating dog!

Here are the after pics. 

 More re-potting and I moved things over a bit.  I LOVE using the shelves to hold my plants.  They keep them raised and so easy manage that way!

 The table.  Cleaned off and ready to eat off!

  Notice the 'fence' is somewhat straightened up...there is one diagonal one in the back...it's like that for a reason..I promise!  There is a drainage spot over in that corner that has cement around out it so I can't place the fence into that!  And...I like to keep the pot area as 'closed' off to the dogs as possible.  Katy likes to wiggle behind things and Hurley likes to just 'be a boy'.  Putting one sideways prevents them from going back there!

The pots all ready to go!  They have tomatoes, zucchini, and summer squash.  YUM!  Notice anything...like the lack of bouganvilla?!?!  I finally was able to cut all the way through the trunk!  Each time I've tried seems to have killed off some of the tree so I only had a little 'live' trunk to get through!  YAHOO!!!

After gardening I met up with my friend, Todd, down in La Jolla.  We had something to eat (I hadn't eaten ALL day and was starving!!!) and a margarita!  So refreshing on a hot day after doing yard work!  After eating we walked down to the grassy area over looking the ocean.  So beautiful and relaxing.  

Last but not least...this was a GREAT way to end the day!

It was officially announced that Osama Bin Laden was killed by the US military special forces.  I'm sure things aren't 'over' and it may get worse with retaliation, but...oh hells yeah!  Adios Osama!  Karma is a bitch isn't it!?!?!