Temporary Layoff Day

Not all State Employees are required to take the mandatory furlough days, but I am one of the lucky ones. I am so thankful that I have a good job- but it doesn't make having to take a day off unpaid extremely easier to deal with. Most furlough days I stay home and clean house or pay bills.... Fortunately the government selected the days to make long weekends...which is a plus.

This month my friend Sandy from work who refuses for photos to be taken of herself, invited me to go to Tacoma to do some shopping. So we met and headed to the mall. I hadn't ever eaten in the Nordstrom's Cafe: it was overpriced and kind of blah, but whatever. At least I can now say I've eaten there. After shopping and lunch, I met up with my hubby and we headed to The Brick for dinner/drinks with his sister and the beloved Zabel's. We stayed way too long and spent way too much money, but had a fun evening.

Chris, Dom, Jenny, Mike, me, Taylor

Zabel and me

We were toasting over something serious...I think

I love the Zabels!

Ok, can we take the shots yet?!

Jenny and Mike

Who knows

Cute wives

Crazy wife

Scary Wife and poor Mike

To the Zabel's

My scary husband and poor Jenny!

Handsome hubbys

Cheers to being fabulous hubbys

Work those lips

My handsome hubby in his work clothes! haha

All of the photos of us trying to shots... we only had one! It just took that long to officially drink them!!!

Until next time Zabel's....I'm sure we can freak you out some more.

Under the weather

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, I think because the weather woman fibbed when she said it was going to be nice on Sunday. I was hoping to work in the garden since the only night I made it out this past week was Tuesday and I was only out for about an hour. The weather is supposed to be better this week so hopefully I can get a couple hours in after work.

Taylor and I did hit up the library yesterday so I could pick up some gardening books. I cracked one of them open, but realized I really just need to get the area cleaned out first before obsessing about what I'm going to plant. I think the books will be due before I finish actually preparing the garden area!

Another book I picked up however, was Jenny McCarthy's Life Laughs: The Naked Truth About Motherhood, Marriage, and Moving on The link will take you to Google Books where it gives some of the reading. HILARIOUS! I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to get my hands on her others. She is just so blunt and truthful! Sure the scenarios may not be relate able to everyone, but I'm sure she hits it right on the nose the majority of the time! I loved the story where she uses her slow cooker for the first time and doesn't realize til after her husband becomes ill that "Fast" (Which mine says "High") doesn't mean that dinner is prepared faster...although it does seem like the verbiage is a little backwards when it comes to our slow cookers.

So I guess until I can get out in the garden, I'll just have to do some relaxing and reading. The sun will hopefully come out tomorrow!.....

B.lack Swa.n

A co-worker of mine and I went to see B.lack Swa.n a couple of weeks ago after work. I thought it was really good, although a bit dark. Angel, the gal I went to see the film with, and I haven't hung out outside of work before, so due to some of the graphic nature of the movie, we were cracking up that it was sort of an awkward first date. haha But overall, it was a pretty good movie.

Here we are at The Rock  next to the movie theatre, grabbing dinner and Buckets before the show.

I can't wait for February's dinner and a movie!

Oops, I did it again: Gardening

I wouldn't have survived another extreme workout in the garden without some Black Eyed Peas and old school Britney. Perhaps my singing and dancing will kill the weeds and grass- whatever helps!

I spent quite a bit of time in the to-be garden today.  My hands are SO sore, not to mention my puny biceps! My back doesn't hurt as bad as yesterday. I think I figured out a way to put less strain on my back. (Not to mention the dance breaks helping me stretch out)

Again, it may not look like a lot, but I did more than my original goal! I love the end result. We'll be having fresh veggies and flowers in no time! (I know, I shouldn't get ahead of myself)

Me and my humps ready to go!

I wanted to remind you of what I saw when I reached the "to-be garden"

My results for the day!!

 I'm sure these aren't fun posts for others to read, but I wanted to document the transformation. Taylor got the bathroom all ready for me to come in and take a nice warm bath after I finished up. I'm still super sore, but it was a nice added touch to my successful day in the garden!

Me and my garden



Kari's Garden

When we bought our house, I was really excited to see that in the corner of our property, at one time, was a garden. Mrs. Wissler, former owner of our home, had a lovely, fenced garden and ALL of the neighbors have told us about how beautiful it was. She supposedly had more than one garden, but I can only see one place where she did.




The overgrown garden and the neighbors home


Anyway, last summer I didn't make time to get the area all cleaned up due to planning the wedding and being lazy. So, I've decided to start cleaning it up now. I know absolutely NOTHING about gardening, but I'm pretty sure I can't have tall grass and weeds in the way. So I'm starting there: Just cleaning up the area. I've been doing research, but I do get a little overwhelmed. I am not a huge fan of yard work...particularly because of the bugs. I'm a baby when it comes to critters...so hopefully this experience will help cure me of my phobia.



After running errands with my hubby yesterday, I layered on the clothes, put on my polka-dot yard work boots, brought out my ear muffs, pulled out the tools needed (and then some) turned on my iPod and started cleaning out the garden. The fence needs some work done to it, but Taylor did help me get the door fixed so I could at least open it. When I tried, I think I just broke it more! (Good thing I have a carpenter around)

The pictures won't look like much was done, but after almost 2 hours of cleaning out the mess, 6 wheelbarrows full of moss, grass, weeds and who knows what else (there was a water bottle full of a yellow liquid...) , my body ACHED. Today, it feels even worse! I'm obviously really out of shape! But I know that just a little here and there should get the job done in no time.

If anyone has any tips, ideas or blogs that would be helpful, please feel free to share!

BEFORE:

Standing in front of the door looking right, although there are several feet of garden space to the left



Inside of the door, view from the middle of entrance



I remembered I wanted to take a few pics. The door still was broke here, I had to squeeze through

I don't know what kind of trees these are, but I trimmed them back. I couldn't even walk through without being stabbed!

To the left of the entrance.

Front, left of entrance

Ridiculous trees (I didn't do much to that side)

Another photo to the right of the entrance

AFTER:

I could open the door!

Hopefully you can see how thick the overgrow is compared to what I cleared out

Right before I took my last  load, Taylor came in and broke up some more of the ground for me. He makes it look so easy!

I can actually walk in!

To the left of the gate door



I'm so proud! It doesn't look like much, but I worked my hiney off!



Me and my proud, tired self

The door closes AND can lock!

See you later garden: we'll be spending a lot of time together. I hope you can stand my singing voice

My body was so sore after I was done working, and still is today. I was happy I hadn't committed to a fancy dinner, cause I would have had to cancel. We had one of Taylor's favorites: sub sandwiches on french bread. Mine was tiny compared to Taylor's, yet I was stuffed from all the meat I put on it, not to mention all the bread. I love my husband so much. He helps me enjoy the little joys in life, like BIG, MEATY, sandwiches!

Taylor's sandwich vs. mine

Almost as big as his head!  (j/k)

It won't even fit in his mouth!

More bread than anything! haha Still delicious

LOVE

What a fabulous Saturday!!!