A Long Overdue Long Weekend

Snoqualmie Falls
Originally uploaded by Aspenchick.

This weekend was wonderful. Long, full of fun experiences, and definitely long overdue. To recap...

Friday...
Had lunch with Heather & Elaine at the Thai place on Queen Anne. Yummy food, and we got to sit outside (much to the chagrin of the host).

Saturday...
Went for a walk w/ Michael around Volunteer Park, up to the top of the resivoir, and through the conservatory. Had lunch at Julia's on Capitol Hill...yummy (lemon zest and poppy seed pancakes). Went to the movie Monster-in-Law w/ Michael, my dad and Cindy. Got home, Michael & I walked over to Heather's and hung out w/ her and Jay.

Sunday...
Drove to Twede's Diner in North Bend which is where they used to film the cafe scenes for Twin Peaks. Saw a sign for Snoqualmie Falls so we drove there and got to see the falls which was fun. Drove home, took a nap, woke up and went to the movie Madagascar w/Michael.

Monday...
Relaxed, got some things done around the house and then we drove up to dads house for a barbeque with the family which was fun. Came home, relaxed and enjoyed the last few hours of the long weekend.

All in all...a FABULOUS weekend!

Engaged!!!!!!!!!!

Finally! After lots of waiting and speculation, I'm happy to announce that Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are engaged!! Seriously, how long did they keep that romance under wraps?

What? Did you think I was engaged?

I Pimped My Ride

I Pimped My Ride
Originally uploaded by Aspenchick.

2005 Ford Escape XLT with the Offroad Package...SWEET!

6 a.m.

I got up an hour early today to drive into the ghetto of Seattle to pick up cakes for work from a really good bakery...am I nuts?

Strawberries

They are in-season right now, ripe and SO good. But what to do when your boyfriend brings home 3 times as many as you could ever possibly eat? (although a very sweet gesture) Search through your cookbook until you find something yummy you can make with them. Last night I made the following which I had never even heard of and it was FANTASTIC!!

Strawberry Bread

3 cups All-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 cup Vegetable oil
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
4 Eggs -- beaten
1 cup mashed strawberries
1 1/4 cups Chopped pecans (optional)

Mix together flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon and baking soda.

In seperate bowl mix beaten eggs, oil and mashed strawberries.

Fold together until just blended.

Place into greased loaf pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until toothpic comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack, slice and enjoy!

(Makes 2 loaves, can easily be halved)

Star Wars

My Brother
Originally uploaded by Aspenchick.

Every man in my life is going crazy about the new star wars movie opening up. The last one that was released, my brother took the day off from work to see it. This time, I'm sure he'll do the same thing. Michael is talking about catching it "just to get it over with". Right. You can't keep your geek love for the movie contained until even the weekend.

The pic is of my brother...he's 30, but I'm pretty sure I have similar pic of him in the same type of getup when he was 3. Once a geek, always a geek.

Gotta love them.

I've got a crush

On who you ask?

On my boyfriend.

Could he be any more wonderful?

I don't think so.

Last night he came home a little early because he was sick, and when I went into the living room to greet him, he was standing there with chocolate and pink roses. He's the one that's sick, and he stopped to buy me flowers and candy?

I LOVE HIM!

Happy Birthday to...

ANDY!

I wish I could be in MSP to celebrate with you.

I hope you have a fantastic day and get

everything you want and deserve. I can't believe we've been

friends for 9 years already...I'm so lucky to have

you as my friend,

thank you for always listening to me, even when I'm whining,

calling me on my crap and telling me like it is.

Happy 27th!!

A Wednesday present

americanapparel
Originally uploaded by Aspenchick.

Michael had told me they finally opened an American Apparel store in Seattle. I had asked him a couple of weeks ago to stop in there and tell me what he thought of their stuff since it is on their way home. I have heard from people that they have great things and that the prices are decent.

The clothing is made in LA, without the use of children making 5 cents an hour to do the work...SWEATSHOP FREE!

So last night Michael came home and said "Happy Wednesday" and handed me a bag from American Apparel with a pink t-shirt that he had bought on his way home. What a guy!

New CD's

Purchased today at Best Buy:

Keith Urban - Be Here
Weezer - Make Believe
Lifehouse - Lifehouse

The hunt for goose down

First off, thank you to Elaine for your huge amount of patience as I searched for four hours on Saturday to find a new down comforter. It all started Saturday morning as I stripped the bed in order to wash it. I looked at my old raggy down comforter and thought...gross! I know there is a cover over it, but it is no longer pristinely white, but had become discolored and ratty looking over the past 10 years.

I called Elaine and she agreed to go shopping with my; however, I don't think she knew what she was getting in for. We went to Macy's, JcPenney's, Ross, Target, T.J. Maxx, Costco and Bed Bath and Beyond. And later that night I went to Fred Meyer...and still didn't have a comforter.

So today looking for a good deal (in the spirit of Elaine), I went to overstock.com. I found a much nicer comforter than any I had looked at in the stores in the same price range, but finally settled on one that was 78% off, plus I got a 12% discount for being a new customer, as well as $2.00 shipping...what a deal! And Elaine...it cost me over $20 less than the one at Macy's...how's that!

I Heart Mom

Happy Mother's Day Mom!!

I hope you had a wonderful day, you deserve it!!!

How not to break up...

Dear any man that is thinking of breaking up with their girlfriend:

DO NOT
-Leave the message on her answering machine
-Tell her friends first
-Write her an e-mail (you daft prick)
-Put it on a post-it

YOU SHOULD
-Be a man and have an adult conversation with her, because for all that is holy, SHE DESERVES THAT.

Muffascrumptious

Our wonderful and HILARIOUS receptionist never fails to make me laugh until I nearly pee my pants. Yes, I'm 26 years old and when I'm around her, there are times I think I might just lose control of my bladder.

Today I brought in some homemade blueberry muffins I made with soy milk because she can't eat any dairy. So she takes a huge bite, looks at me and goes, "mmm, these muffins are muffascrumptious".

Chatter

"When are you done with school?"
"December 1st."
"Hmm."
"Hmm, what?"
"Well how can I get you to Ann Arbor quicker?"
"Entice me."
"With what, a carrot?"
"How do you spell carrot? C-a-r-r-o-t or C-a-r-a-t?"
"Hmm.

The Game

Elaine and I had great seats to the Mariners / Angels game last night. We left during the ninth inning so we wouldn't be stuck in traffic. This morning one of my co-workers who was at the game told me I missed something great during the 9th inning. Of course I didn't believe him because I had watched for three hours without the M's scoring at all. But apparently one of his buddies got a ball and the guy next to him asked for it. So he said to the guy that he could have th ball, but only if he ran onfield, which the guy said he'd do. AND HE DID! He took that baseball, fell over the back of center field and charged onto the field and was finally tackled by five guys...sweet...but I wish I could have seen it!