Squat challenge

I've decided that I want to do a squat challenge this month. So I'm doing this one from the Popsugar website:

http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/30-Day-Squat-Challenge-30806625

It's 30 days, 5 types of squats, and by the end of the month we will be able to do 200 squats!

Who's in?!?

Anyone out there?

In my free time as a newly retiree, I've been working on organizing and decluttering my room. I have far too many things and am the worst at getting rid of things! I always worry that I will need something someday or keep things because they remind me of X, Y, or Z.

I have more cookbooks than I know what to do with. As one of my goals for this year, I have to cook at least one recipe of out every cookbook. Whichever books I don't use will be given away at the end of the year.

I have also realized that I have insane amounts of stationery. As in, I could write a letter every day of the year for the next 10 years and still have lots to spare. Hit me up if you want to be snail mail pen pals!! (but seriously. i love pen pals!)

So in an effort to share the stationery love, I've decided to do a giveaway! Comment on this post with 3 things that are on your summer bucket list!! I will send a fun package of stationery to 3 lucky commenters!! I'll plan on sending the packages out June 1st so comment before then for your chance to win!!

xoxo

10 Questions

Wow! It's been a LONG time. Life has been just nuts this year so far and there are some big changes coming up. Biggest one-I quit my job!!!!! Next Friday is my last day and I am so excited to have some time off to relax and rejuvenate. It's very much needed.

I saw this on my friend Heidi's blog and I decided to copy. Enjoy!

1.       Twitter or Facebook?

I have a twitter account but I rarely sign on. Out of the two I use Facebook more. But Instagram is my social media of choice.

2.       Morning person or night owl?

Totally a night owl. I get my second wind around 10pm and feel the need to start cleaning or organizing. Or looking up all the things on the internet. I wish I was a morning person but I’m just not.

3.       How do you drink coffee?

In ice cream form? I’m not a coffee drinker but I LOVE coffee flavored ice cream.

4.       It’s 9pm and you’ve got the house to yourself, what do you do?

Have a wild dance party! Haha. No-I am a scaredy cat and don’t love to be home alone at night. So I leave all the lights on and curl up in my bed with Netflix or a good book. Or take a long, lovely bath. Or make something fab in the kitchen and make a big mess.

5.       What’s on your nightstand right now?

Too many things. Books, water, snacks, stationery, lotion, candles, pens, recipe box. I have too much stuff.

6.       What smell do you love?

The smell after it rains, citrusy candles, fresh chocolate chip cookies, basil

7.       What smell do you hate?

Secondhand smoke (seriously, keep that crap to yourself)

8.       Other than your current home, where would you most like to live?

I’d love to live in New York again or Italy. I LOVE Italy.

9.       If you could eat only one nationality of food for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

Mexican-specifically tacos. There are so many things you can do with a taco. I’d be content eating tacos every day!

10.   When you were six years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I have no idea. Probably a teacher? I loved school and also loved playing school. Poor sister always had to be the student. Haha.

Weekend update: 11.2.2014

(I failed to take any pictures over the weekend. Boo.)

Friday

Friday was a fun evening! It was Halloween!!! Jen and Russ were in town so we did a double date with them! We went for Indian food at Himalayan Kitchen. So delish-it’s one of my favorites in Salt Lake. Then we walked over to Abravanel Hall (which was a bit further than I thought…ooops) and saw the Utah Symphony play! It was really cool-they played some fun Halloween-type songs and while they were playing they had Cirque du Soleil type performers perform! It was really fun and so cool to watch. I’m amazed at what people can do!

After the symphony, Jane, Jen and I had a sleepover which was lots of fun. It was great to all be together and to catch up!

Saturday

I started off Saturday the right way with a massage. I just love getting massages-I wish I could get them on a weekly basis!!

Saturday late morning/afternoon was spent crafting with Jane and Jen. It was Jen and I’s 5^th Annual Advent Calendar!!! We made these super cute fabric paper chain type things. Following tradition, I haven’t finished mine yet, but I think it’s going to turn out really cute.

Saturday night Jeremy and I had a lazy date night. It was so nice just to hang out and relax! We went to our favorite burger spot, Salt City Burger Co. Then we just went back to his place, got cozy, and caught up on Scandal. Perfect way to spend a Saturday evening!

Sunday

Sunday was Sunday. It was Jeremy’s brother’s birthday so instead of doing our usual Sunday breakfast, we went over to his parents’ house to celebrate with brother before he had to go to work.

Church was church. After church I came home and lounged for a bit. Then I made cupcakes for our Junior League unit meeting on Monday and made dinner. It was a lovely, loungy Sunday evening!!

Up Ahead…

…Junior league unit meetings, hopefully some workouts, Jeremy time, and our Favorite Things party this weekend! So excited!

Weekend update: 8.17.2014

**I still need to add picture but I haven't put them on my computer yet! Eeek!

Friday

Friday was a lovely low-key evening. We had a yummy dinner with Jeremy’s family. We tried to eat outside but the bees came and attacked us so we had to take it inside. Then we just hung out at his parent’s house. I saw a bunch of Jeremy’s baby photos which was so fun and we did an “I Spy” book together.  

Saturday

Saturday was lovely! Jeremy and I trekked down to Utah County to go hike to the Timpanogos caves! One of my 30 by 30 goals is to hike 30 miles and I’m doing rather poorly. The hike was fun but goodness gracious that thing is HARD! It’s not like it’s that far but it’s so so steep. And turns out I’m in awful hiking shape. Whoops.

The hike up made me wonder why on earth I chose hiking as one of my goals. But the caves at the top were worth it! It was really cool to go see inside and see all of the different rooms. It’s crazy to think how long it takes for those formations to form and grow. It was fun to walk around in the cave and explore!

After the hike back down and some souvenir shopping we stopped at JDawgs on the way back for lunch. Jeremy had never been before so it was fun to introduce him to one of my Provo favorites!!

Saturday afternoon I went to a bridal shower for my friend Kassidy.  It was held in a park and her friends that threw it did such a cute job decorating!! They decorated with succulents and old time-y looking books. Such a fun idea!  We even got to take a succulent home! Fingers crossed I don’t kill it….

After the bridal shower, Jeremy and I had planned to go to the Ferragosto festival that was being held in Sugarhouse. I was super excited for a fun Italian festival but sadly it turned out to be pretty lame. Boo. There wasn’t really much to see or do, and the food didn’t look that great. We were both rather disappointed. So instead we ended up getting pizza and watching Suits! Even though the festival was a bust, it was a fun, relaxing night!

Sunday

Sunday was a less than lovely day. I had the worst headache most of the day. Thankfully though, it was not a migraine. Basically I lounged around all day-trying anything and everything I could think of to get rid of the dumb thing. Drugs, more drugs, Epsom salt bath, Menthol rub on my temples, Coke and Advil. Anyone out there have any great headache remedies?! Send them my way please!!

It somewhat eased up in the evening so I crashed my parents Empty Nester dinner club and had dinner with them and then went to visit Jeremy for a minute. It’s so great having him live so close!!!

Up Ahead

The week should be a good one! Ladies Dinner Out, Junior League committee meeting, Jeremy time, gym time, and our work summer party!! YAY!

Some recipes for the weekend!

I always have a big, long list of recipes that I want to try. Anyone else out there do the same?!

Here are some fun ones I've added to the list this week:

• This cake sounds so delish!
• Casseroles are back in!
• In honor of National Rice Pudding day tomorrow
• I've been wanting to make popsicles all summer!
• YUM

Any recipes you've found you're dying to try?!

Weekend update: 8.3.2014

Friday

Friday was a lovely low-key evening. I am apparently 90 years old and decided to purchase a Happenings book. You know, those books full of coupons to random places?! So we picked a restaurant from there and went out to dinner. We went to Millcreek Bar and Grill. Kind of a random, empty place but the food was decent. After wards we worked on catching up on Scandal!! Does anyone watch that show?!? We’re hooked!

Saturday

Saturday morning I worked a volunteer shift at the Junior League Women Helping Women closet. It’s a great service provided to women entering the workforce. It’s essentially a store full of wear-to-work type clothes where women can come pick out outfits for interviewing or jobs, free of charge. I’m always reluctant to go on a Saturday morning, but in the end I’m always glad that I went. It makes me appreciate things that I generally take for granted.

Saturday afternoon I hung out with Jeremy and then we went to a wedding reception Saturday early evening. The reception was at these really cool gardens! It was fun to walk around and see all of the plants and trees. And of course it was fun to see the new bride and groom! After the reception we went to dinner. I finally won one week of our workout bet!! Hooray!! So my dinner pick was the Bohemian. It’s a great Czech/German/brewery type place and their food is AWESOME. I’ve discovered that the breweries around here generally have really fab food!

Afterwards we went home and watched Aladdin! After seeing the play on Broadway, we decided we need to have an Aladdin marathon and watch all 3 original movies! One down, two to go!

Sunday

Sunday morning I made a not-so-delicious breakfast. I was really craving lemon ricotta pancakes but the recipe I used was just not great. I will have to continue my quest for a good recipe!! Church was good. Sunday night we had family dinner and played Phase 10. Sadly I came in second place to Jeremy, who pretty much dominated the entire game. It was a great Sunday!

Up Ahead

The week should be a fun one! My cousin Chris from NYC is coming to visit, Allison and her fam will be in town, and Jeremy is moving!