Train Invites

Kacie J, my sisters BFF, designed the most amazing invitations for the shower we are throwing for her this month.  She was so excited about them, and so was I.  Kelly, as I mentioned earlier, is having Ryan's room decorated in trains... So Kace was definitely really excited about this.  I thought it was so sweet how enthusiastic and sweet she was about it.  I am really excited to throw this for Kel... I think she will really love it -- and it will only make her more excited about welcoming little baby Ryan into the world!

She...

Today, my mom and I were on our way home from a baby shower and she said she had to stop off and purchase a few gift certificates from Aaron Brothers.  I haven't ever actually entered this store, and to be honest, I was very pleasantly surprised.  This place had my favorite (Papyrus) and it even had a ton of fun books and notebooks.  I stumbled upon this book called "She..." by Kobi Yamada, and I definitely had to buy it.  Here's what the book cover looks like.  This is what it says on the front book panel... She affected all others around her.  "Quietly touching one heart, who in turn touched another.  Reaching out to ends further than she would ever know."  The book is filled with several different quotes and they trapped me.  So I want to share some of them with you.

"She Loved Life & It Loved Her Right Back." 

Celebrate her.

This one caught my eye so fast.  Its so true.  Loving life is half the battle.  Sometimes we are just given circumstances that really suck - but we our character isn't based off of the situations we are given, but rather by how we deal with them.  I think one thing I have really learned through this amazing life I've lived is just to play the hand I am dealt and do the best I can.  I feel really fortunate, and I think in return life is good to me.  What does it mean to you?  Does it brighten your spirits as much as it brightens mine?  It gives me one of the most amazing feelings in the world: Hope!

Flower Power

Lately, I have been feeling very rosy... it could be because things are really going well in my life lately. I have so much to be thankful for- great friends, great family, everyone is healthy, I am marrying the man I am most crazy about in the whole world... but it also has to do with one very exciting thing! I have all of the flowers picked out for my wedding day. Last week, my mom, my sister Kelly and I met with my wedding planner and a florist and picked out the most beautiful flowers we could find. The flowers were the one thing that I didn't want to go cheaply on, so I think the florist really loves us. We ended up with a very exciting set of flowers. Of course, we couldn't go with out the yellow roses, because those are my signature flower and my most favorite flower in the entire universe. We also had to spice things up a little bit: so we used calalillies, and a type of flower I dont know the name of, but it has little pearly things in the middle of it. We spent time designing every little detail: from the brides bunch, to the centerpieces for the tables in the reception room. I am so excited for it all... it helps me visualize the big day... which in the end makes it all so much more exciting!
The next step of the wedding planning comes with the bridesmaid dresses... and that is getting taken care of tomorrow. Me and a couple of the girls who can come are going shopping to see if we can find the perfect black dress.
And... I think I have decided that I want to do a 40's theme for the big day. This all modeled after my gorgeous bridesmaids will be wearing Audrey Hepburn style black dresses and pearls. This is all SO exciting!

Favorites...

I love In N Out!  I could eat it everyday... and the best thing on the menu isn't even on the Menu!  Its a grilled cheese, no onions, no tomatoes!  :)  The people at the In N Out in Elk Grove know when TLand I come in exactly what we are about to order.  What is your favorite 'fast food', or just food in general?  (btw, I don't consider In N Out 'fast food'... its a restaurant!) :)

I found this picture here

Today!

I am thankful for Today:

1.  The weather

2. People at work who are becoming my friends

3. The time I get to spend with TL & my dad the next two days.

4. The ocean - and getting to stare at it all day today.

5. Being a passenger in long car drives.

6. Comfy clothes and a warm fire.

7. Big hugs from people I haven't seen in a while.

I found this picture here

my swing

and then i found this picture.... this is at that park outside of west portal... tim took it.

Feels Like Today

Today is a cheerful one - the first day in a little while that we aren't seeing rain when we look out the window.  When I used to live in SF, if ever I had a bad day, I would stop by in the villas and swing on the swings.  Something about it frees my spirit.  The feeling of weightlessness, even for the split second it lasts, makes me feel completely whole.  My hair always gets slightly tangled -- a small price to pay.  I used to park in the villas for school and on my walk to my car, I always stopped at the swings- well- at least once a week.  It was a time where my thoughts lifted from me, just as I lifted into the air-- its like flying.  Tim and I have a favorite park just side of West Portal in the city.  When we first met, we would go over there and swing together.  It is one of my favorite memories with him.  Today is a free spirited, good mood, amazing feeling day- the type you always have after a good swing.

I found this picture here

Friend Visits!

I am so excited because one of my best friends & bridesmaids, Kelly, is coming to visit me on SUNDAY!  We are going to go dress shopping with my sisters and try to find the absolute perfect BM dress we can!  I wish all of the girls could come, but we are all so busy busy!  I cant wait to visit with her, and see her... it has been waaaay too long!  Yay!

ps. tare, i may be coming next week to the city... which means, i HAVE to see you!

Little Girl *Annie* Lesher

My (soon-to-be) mother-in-law, Cindy, just got a brand new little puppy!  And this is no Maximus & Zeus.  This is a little, fluffy, cuddly, havanese! Cindy is absolutely in love with her-- and lets get real, the puppy is being welcomed in to a very loving home.  She even has her very own bubblegum pink crate to sleep in at night!    

Diaper Cake

My sister is having a little baby boy (RYAN) and his due date is April 26th, 2009.  In honor of bringing baby Ryan into this world, my sister Juju, Kelly's BFF Kacie, and I are throwing her a BABY SHOWER!  We are going to have it all:

around 60 people

trains, planes, and automobiles

diapers

blue stemware

cake

mommy to be memorabilia

and of course, my favorite.......

the diaper CAKE!

I have accepted the honor of making this adorable diaper cake, and I am hoping to make it the biggest, best, boyish diaper cake ever!  Let me know if you have any ideas!  My sisters theme is trains, so obviously, this masterpiece must include some trains!

I obviously love this cake--- I mean Zebra, on a diaper cake? How stinking cute!

I found these sample diaper cakes here

and a Burt's Bees CAKE?  Way cute.  This website has so many cute new ideas!  I wish I thought of them myself!

 

The Academy Forgot One Thing......

Hello!?  SEX AND THE CITY! 

In my own personal opinion SJP should have gotten best actress in a leading role, why?  Because she is FABULOUS.  SATC the movie was hardly even given a nod at last nights awards show.  The movie had everything, drama, romance, comedy!  Plus a reunion between the girls that won over millions of hearts in their series.  There was more hype about SATC than any other movie mentioned at the Oscars.  So, to SJP and the girls... you have my vote for an Oscar!

I got this picture from  http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/blsexandthecityposter.htm

Tim's 5 Secs of Fame?

Tim is convinced that this is his 5 seconds of fame... These are the weekend anchors at my job, and Tim came in to visit me at work yesterday-- and he made quite the hit with them.  So, today, they mentioned that he had come in... so exciting... :) Too bad its only Sacramento! 

levistrong

Photo by Ken Conley I am not usually a follower of cycling events... however, marrying the man I am marrying, I have begun to watch the events and get into them.  Tim and I went to the first set of time trials in Sacramento and watched Levi Leipheimer & Lance Armstrong on their first day.  It was actually kind of exciting to see them race.  Breaking News: Levi Leipheimer and his team 'Astana' have won the AMGEN: tour of California.  I have become quite the fan of Levi because I feel like he is one of those down-to-earth athletes who does not get the recognition he deserves.  He was really fun to watch this year- and for the 3rd year in a row, he won the overall race!  Did I mention this is only the third year the race has been going on?  Amazing!  As Lance Armstrong said-- this week it was about LEVISTRONG!

.today.

There is something capturing about this picture.  It belongs to Marry Ruffle.  Maybe its because it is dead resemblance of what I want to do with my hair for my wedding.  My best friend Kelly does a 'today' post in which she basically says the things she thinking or thankful for today.  So I am copying her.  (She knows its a form of flattery, of course)  So here is my list:

1. the weather: not only do we need the rain more than ever

there is something about it that makes me feel warm.

2. tim. his unconditional love

even when i act crazy.

3. the people in my professional field who remember me

4. the people at my work who respect me-- and think i am worthy.

5. puppies.  there is nothing that can be as therapeutic as a little, soft puppy kissing your face

6. my soon to be nephew - Ryan

7.  most importantly, my family--and friends who are like family.

8. the nap i took today.

it has been a frustrating past couple of days because i cant sleep at night

because i wake up at 3 for work.

9. im thankful for my job, because lots of people dont have one.

10. my sweatpants. they feel soo good.

i found the photo here (http://maryruffle.tumblr.com/post/79343427/source)

-picture perfect photography-

My wedding photographer is Ford Family Photography -- and they have some of the most amazing photographers in the business.  They have done quite a few of the weddings in my family, and not only do they capture the event through photographs, but they hold your hand and guide you through the entire day.  For my sisters wedding, they were there for everything, yet guests hardly noticed they were there.  The website to reach them is fordfamilyphotography.com.  I am going to try and get some of their images for posting.

doggie door depression

TL and I have been so excited about a brand new doggie door in our screen so the boys can go outside and play when they want to.  Zeus had no trouble -- he was flying in and out of that thing in no time.  He follows us inside and out.  Maximus, on the other hand, has hit a depression.  He is scared to death of the doggie door and refuses to go through it.  In this picture, Zeus is trying to talk him in to coming through.  Zeus is in the black collar inside the house, and Maximus is outside.  We've tried everything- treats, praise, Zeus showing him, ignoring him and making him figure it out for himself.  The poor little guy is really taking it hard!

Holy Carpet

Don't let these cute little faces fool you!  They are little carpet chewers - in fact, they managed to tear a 3 inch hole in our carpet.  And of course, they didn't do it in a discreet location, they put it right as you walk in the front door.  So TL and I have looked like we live in a trailer park house for the past 3 weeks or so.... and we don't want to put new carpet in yet, so we had a guy come out and fix it this morning.  It looks almost brand new (thankfully for Maximus & Zeus's sake).  So the moral of the story?  Never trust a 6 month old wiener... no matter how cute they are!!!

Running ... again!

It's been a while since my feet hit the pavement for a nice long run outside.  Even the gym just hasn't sounded like a good option for me.  Back in October, I ran my first half marathon.  It was easier than I expected it would be - but after I finished running wasn't really the best option for my right knee.  Wakeboarding has also taken a slight toll, but running is the worst thing for it.  So today - almost 4 months after I quit the sport I really enjoy to give my knee a rest - I am back.  I can't wait!

My most favorite part of running is the music I run too - so an Ipod playlist has been set up for this debut!