Not Eating Out

Well, my monthly challenge of not eating out has been a little bit challenging at times. On Sunday, Justin and I took a drive around town to Sears first for a weed-wacker to no avail, then drove around looking at trucks. There were many times that eating out would have been so nice while we were out, but we resisted. Well, I resisted, Justin kept trying to get me to spend my birthday money on Chinese food, a donair or fast food.

We got home wanting something greasy so Justin made us frybread tacos. Yum!

All For A Bag Of Doritos

Friday night Corey and Nicole came over. We started of sitting downstairs watching Drivers, Drive-Ins and Dives. Then, we sat upstairs for a bit. All of a sudden Corey mentions a craving for a bag of Triple Heat Dorito chips that we bought when we went to Vegas back in November. I remembered that it was in Shelby that we bought them, on our way to Great Falls to catch the flight the next morning. Corey and Justin got this crazy look in their eyes and said we should drive down to Shelby right then and there; it was about ten o'clock. Justin turned to me to explain and try to convince me what a good idea this was, but I wasn't giving in. He said I was all ready to go, but I said I would want to wear yoga pants since they would be comfier than jeans. Then he mentioned that I could have a corn dog, that made my ears perk up. When Nicole was asked if she wanted to go, she said that she was game, then turned to me and said that I could take pictures. I looked at the three of them, pushed my chair back and said, "I guess I better go change my pants then," and started getting ready.

We left our house, and headed to Corey and Nicole's since they needed to grab their passports. Justin and I were sitting in their car waiting for them, when Justin said that spontaneity was good for my health, and since I never do anything like this, I could use a good dose! When we got to the US border, the gaurd asked what the purpose of our trip was. He couldn't believe his ears when Corey said that we were heading to Shelby to get a bag of Doritos. The bordergaurd looked at him, and said "well, if that doesn't warrent a search, I don't know what does." But after our ordeal with getting searched when we crossed the border on our Vegas trip, none of us are scared to get searched, and I think the gaurd could tell that we had nothing to hide, and it would be a waste of his time, so he let us continue on our journey.

We were in the gas station store for about half an hour, but look at all out loot!

And, although they didn't have the Doritos that Corey wanted, I did get my corn dog, and did take a multitude of photos!

Oh The Birthday

It started off by me waking up while Justin was in the shower. I lept out of bed, made it, then got back ontop of the covers and laid there in a ball waiting for Justin to come out of the shower. He knew what I was up to though (surprised? No, he's getting more clever!), and peaked around to see my face - eyes wide open, and a big grin on my face. He started singing to me, then asked if I felt older (I'm a year and a half older than he is - he told me so), and asked if I felt any smarter!

At about 10:20 this morning, my package arrived at work from Brittany and Sheldon. (DHL had left a notice at home on Monday, and I called to have it re-routed to work.) I was originally going to open it tonight, but thought it would be nice to have a little treat in the morning. I started to think that whatever was in there would make me cry, so when Mike (my boss) went outside for a smoke I took the opportunity. I set my camera up, and got to work opening it up. When I cut into it, I cut the wrapping paper. I had not been expecting it to be a wrapped present, and that surprised reaction is in the first photo.

Now, let me explain my gift. I am afraid of gnomes. At the wedding, someone (although I do think it is from the Nixon/Powell household), wrapped up a gnome and gave it to us, no card or explaination. Needless to say I screamed and cried. While we were gone for our honeymoon, I left the gnome on the front steps in hopes that someone would give him a more loving home than the one I could provide for him. When we got home, it took me a few days to realize he was gone. A couple weeks before Brittany and Sheldon came down for Nicole and Corey's wedding reception, it occured to me that they could have taken it (they were in Taber for Corn Fest, and dropped off a disc of pictures from the wedding) while we were away honeymooning. Then, when they were leaving our house on Sunday (after the Pearse's reception), there was Mr. Gnome, sitting proudly on the front steps! Aurgh.

And, my fear of gnomes started earlier than that. My uncles ex-wife painted up some gnomes that were left at my parents rental house (I was renting the basement), and placed them up against one of the windows; the part of this story that makes it worse is they had fake "blood" dripping off their "fangs." Yea, I was not too impressed. Now that you understand the fear, take a look at what Brittany and Sheldon sent me:

It really is a great present! And I cried and laughed when I realized what it was!

When I got home, Justin came straight up from the basement and greeted me at the door. I wanted to change out of my work pants, so I went upstairs and started getting ready. He followed me up with the little bag that was on the counter (I saw it, but I like to play hard to get!), and put it on the bed in front of me. I opened up the card, and he wrote "I hope you have a good birthdaty even if you are an old bugger." Yeah, he'll always rub it in!

Then we headed over to my parents place for supper (When I told my mum about not eating out this month - although I was okay with it for my birthday - she suggested she could make supper for us; she slaved away for a few hours and made sweet and sour pork with green peppers, onions and pineapple. Very yummy.), and cake.

Then it was time to open up their cards and presents. Bradley made me a disc of video from my ninth birthday. That's pretty darn cool to be able to show that to Justin my young self, so he can understand more of my craziness! I sat and thought for awhile with the card and disc in my hand for a bit, trying to decide which birthday that was; it's one in Ignace in the basement (before it was finished) with a bunch of friends from school. Plus there's some video from the spring and summer from that year, 1994. I can't wait to watch it. My dad and mum had separate cards to give me; my dad's cards always make me smile, they are a gift that I charish so much. Earlier in the week, I found one from Christmas that I re-read, which in turn made me cry. I called him just to tell him I love him - he's the best! Then I opened my present, a bath mat that goes on the bottom of the tub that shoots streams of air up - basically it gives you a jet bath! (I knew I was getting this, but they surprised me with a frame for my journeyman ticket - which my mum keeps asking me if I actually got. Thankfully Justin was there this time when she asked, and he backed me up - I was starting to question my memory!)

And because of my lack of eating out this month, I had the best cake that I've had in a really long time (probably since the last time I ate one that my mum made). Doing these little goals, or challenges almost, lets me really appreciate the simpler things in life. Going to my parents for supper and cake felt like I was young again, it was a perfect birthday!

I Need A Break

As I said, I'm just really not in the mood to scrapbook lately. It happens this time of year, when the weather starts to change, you can feel warm temperatures and green grass in the air. And, when it rained a while ago (maybe a month ago), there was my favorite smell: the smell of rain hitting warm pavement - not a smell I expected to experience so early in the year. That smell is a summer smell for me; I remember dancing in the puddles on the street, coming back to the house soaking wet. It's a smell that makes me remember a more carefree time, the smell of long days, and warm nights. It's the perfect smell!

Justin headed up to High River to work Thursday night. He was supposed to come home Saturday, and when we called me at about the time he should be back, I thought he was just leaving the shop and would be home in a few minutes. When I asked him how he was, he said not so good, the job was running longer than expected from some changes that were made and he wouldn't be coming home until Sunday. We had planned on heading out to the farm Saturday night, and spending the night. But we had to cancel those plans, and didn't think we'd make it out at all, but before Justin left High River, he texted me to see if I still wanted to go - absolutely! So I called up Brent and let him know we'd be out there in a few hours.

We headed out, stopped for gas and were on our way to the farm. Everytime we are there, we seem to be so much more relaxed! It's the wide open spaces, the big sky, the prairies that you can see for miles; and most of the time I get so relaxed I end up having to have a nap, but not this time.

It's calving season. Lily (my cow) is going to calve this year, any time now. Brent is worried abour complications however (she's a heifer, and he's already lost a calf and the cow), which makes me worry too. I don't want to know if she has problems, it will be heartbreaking.

Dispite the snow, it was actually a pretty decent day out temperature wise. In town it was about 10 degrees. And not too much wind, which was kind of surprising!

Don't ask, but to me this is a sexy photo! Yes, rubber boots and jeans mean sex appeal out on the farm! (Especailly when one of my pant legs is rolled up, tucked into the boot and the other is down!)

I could really handle farm life on a permenant basis!

4 April Goals 2011

For the last couple weeks, I've been wanting March to be over and done with. I'm really ready for a new month to come, along with some new goals for myself. During the month, I wrote down every little goal idea that entered my brain on my calendar at work. That way, I had some to choose from, and some that I had given thought to, and knew that I wanted to accomplish them!

1. Read her book (again) and follow Flylady. It feels that I'm in this spring-cleaning mode right now. It started the night we got home from Mexico, when I decided to organize the entryway closet while I put our shoes away. It seems like the right thing to start now. And I'm hoping to carry this one on longer than just this month.

2. Cook at home every night, (basically just no eating out, this doesn't mean we can't go over to other peoples houses to enjoy thier meals). The one exception could be my birthday, but I already know that my mum is making me my cake rather than getting it from Dairy Queen like normal. Basically this will exclude everything not bought at a grocery store, and if it's not packed with me in my lunch/snacks then it's not getting eaten just because I want it! Most of the time, homecooked meals taste WAY better than anything you could order at a restaraunt; case in point is my aunt and uncles homemade wonton soup - SO much better than anything that can be purchased, theirs is beyond compare! (Photos are from Brittany and Sheldon's October 2010 trip, and from Justin's and my Easter 2008 trip.)

3. Follow the "cash only" way of life put forth by Gail Vaz Oxlade, and keep track of our spending for the month. I'm kind of curious to see just how much money we can save with not eating out at all, and this way I can have an idea.

4. Spend more time taking care of myself. I'm thinking something selfless just for me each day. Masks, pore strips, doing my hair, getting dressed up prettily, a nice glass of tea or hot chocolate (I'm thinking I need to start wearing more dresses!) - just doing something for me that I normally wouldn't do. (Photo taken during an attempt at doing yet another 365 day project of self portraits. This ways day seven, September 9, 2007.)

Now for March's update: 2/3 completed to what I see as successful. I did fantastic on keeping my diary for the month; 21/31 days - way more than I innitially thought I would actually get written up (okay, I guess 68% efficiency isn't the greatest - but it was the first time doing this in many, many years)! And, I'm pretty sure, everyone can tell that we had an amazing time in Mexico!

Some Handsomeness For You

Since last week I was sick, I didn't get my Monday Challenge posted - but I'm back at it again this week! Although, admittedly I am not in the mood to scrapbook lately. But with Justin out of town Thursday night, Friday and some of Saturday, this feeling could turn around for me! (I am just ready for spring to be here in full force, our trailer to return home from the states (it had a warranty repair that it was sent away for), camping to begin, suppers on our deck/back pad to start with our new patio set that we got for our wedding, supper and drinks outside at a restaraunt on their patio - basically all the things I look forward to during the cold/dark winter months!).

On your next layout: create a manly page.

Lowie is just the most handsome boy in my life right now, so it's him I chose to scrapbook - in all his manly glory! Basically for this layout, I just added a bunch of metal to it. Between the brads and the alphas, I think I added a big punch of manliness to this page. And the touch of rope-ish stuff doesn't hurt either!

Journaling says: When the laundry basket is empty Lowie loves to play in it. This time Justin put the blanket over top creating a hiding spot. Lowie loved this and laid in his tent.