Shade of my Heart: January 2009

Saturday, January 31, 2009

My Bucket List

The Bucket List

Things you have done during your lifetime.

(Feel free to play along... I got this from my friend Angel's blog!)

Gone on a blind date

Skipped school

Watched someone die

Been to Canada

Been to Mexico

Been to Florida

Been to Hawaii

Been on a plane

Been lost

Gone to Washington , DC

Swam in the ocean

Cried yourself to sleep

Played cops and robbers

Recently colored with crayons

Sang Karaoke

Paid for a meal with coins only

Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch

Done something you told yourself you wouldn't

Made prank phone calls

Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans

Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose

Caught a snowflake on your tongue

Danced in the rain

Written a letter to Santa Claus

Been kissed under the mistletoe

Watched the sunrise with someone

Blown bubbles

Gone ice-skating

Gone to the movies

Been deep sea fishing

Driven across the United States alone

Been in a hot air balloon

Been sky diving

Gone snowmobiling

gone jet skiing

Lived in more than one country

Laid outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets

Seen a falling star and made a wish

Enjoyed the beauty of Ole Faithful Geyser

Walked on a Glacier

Sewn a quilt

Seen the Statue of Liberty

Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle

Been on a cruise

Traveled by train

Traveled by motorcycle

Been horse back riding

Ridden on a San Francisco Trolley

Been to Disneyland or Disney World

Truly believe in the power of prayer

Been to the top of an active volcano and seen hot lava

Been in a rain forest

Seen whales in the ocean

Been to Niagara Falls

Ridden on an elephant

Swam with dolphins

And 26 questions....

1. Any nickname: Trace, Trey, Scout, Mommy

2. Mother's name? Susan

3. Favorite drink? Sweet Tea

4. Body piercings? Yes

5. How much do you love your job? Love it!

6. Birthplace? Ft. Hood, TX

7. Favorite vacation spot? Mountains with snow

8. Ever been to Africa ? Not yet

9. Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? Yes

10. Ever been on TV? yes

11. Ever steal any traffic signs? yes

12. Ever been in a car accident? yes

13. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door

14. Can you drive a standard shift car? yes

15. Favorite pie? Chocolate

16. Favorite number: 12

7.Favorite movie(s): Ever After, While you were sleeping... lots of others

18. Favorite holiday? Christmas

19. Favorite dessert? Anything chocolate or Cherry Cobbler!

20. Favorite food? Anything with corn

21.Favorite day of the week? Sunday

22 Favorite brand of body soap? Anything Bath & Body Works (vanilla scented especially)

23.Favorite toothpaste? Colgate

24.Favorite smell? Cinnamon

25. How do you relax? Stamp

26. How do you see yourself in 10 years? Still in the miltary, hopefully getting close to retirement... living somewhere we haven't lived yet.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Photo Challenge

I have been tagged by my friend Angel to do a Photo Challenge.

You are supposed to go the 6th folder in your picutres location

and chose the 6th picture in that folder.

For me, it happened to be my "Crafts" folder and the sixth picture is a Baby Shower

Cake I made for twins. This was such a fun cake to make! Long and tedius, but fun!

I'm just glad I had to make the cake and not raise the twins!

Now, I'm supposed to tag 5 people to play along, but seeing as how I only have 4 people on my blog and 2 of them are to the same person and SHE tagged me, I can only tag 2..

Elaine and Michele.. you are tagged. Play along if you want and let me know if you do!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Things I have/have not done

I saw this on my friend Angel's Blog and thought I would play along...

new things to add to MY "Bucket List."

The ones I have done are in BOLD.

Play along if you like, but be sure to let me know in a comment so I can see YOUR list!

1. Started your own blog.

2. Slept under the stars.

3. Played in a band.

4. Visited Hawaii.

5. Watched a meteor shower.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

7. Been to Disneyland.

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis.

10. Sang a solo.

11. Bungee jumped.

12. Visited Paris.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.

15. Adopted a child.

16. Had food poisoning.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

18. Grown your own vegetables.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.

20. Slept on an overnight train.

21. Had a pillow fight.

22. Hitch hiked.

23. Taken a sick day when you're not sick.

24. Builta snow fort.

25. Held a lamb.

26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a marathon.

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.

29. Seen a total eclipse.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.

31. Hit a home run.

32. Been on a cruise.

33. Seen Niagra Falls in person.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.

35. Seen an Amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language.

37.Had enough money to truly be satisfied

38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person.

39. Gone rock climbing.

40. Seen Michelangelo's David.

41. Sung karaoke.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance.

47. Had your portrait painted.

48. Gone deep sea fishing.

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.

52. Kissed in the rain.

53. Played in the mud.

54. Gone to a drive-in theater.

55. Been in a movie.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China.

57. Started a business.-home based

58. Taken a martial arts class.-red belt!

59. Visited Russia.

60. Served in a soup kitchen.

61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.

62. Gone whale watching.

63. Gotten flowers for no reason.

64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma.

65. Gone sky diving.

66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp.

67. Bounced a check.

68. Flown in a helicopter.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.

71. Eaten caviar.

72. Pieced a quilt.

73. Stood in Times Square.

74. Toured the Everglades.

75. Been fired from a job.

76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.

77. Broken a bone.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.

80. Published a book. - in the works....

81. Been to the Vatican.

82. Bought a brand new car.

83. Walked in Jerusalem.

84. Had your picture in the paper.

85. Read the entire Bible.

86. Visited the White House.

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.

88. Had Chicken pox. x2

89. Saved someone's life.

90. Sat on a jury.

91. Met someone famous. Ronald Reagan kissed my cheek!

92. Joined a book club.

93. Lost a loved one.

94. Had a baby. x4

95. Seen the Alamo in person.

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a lawsuit.

98. Owned a cell phone.

99. Been stung by a bee.

100. Read an entire book in one day.

OH CHAI GOODNESS!

Ok, the pun was terrible but the cookies make up for it!

I made some Chai cookies for Christmas,

but my recipie book got drenched and the pages stuck together and I lost the recipie.

As I was searching the web for it, I found this recipie instead.

It isn't close, but it's YUMMY!!!

This one called for oatmeal in the recipie...

They didn't quite plump up like the first picture I found,

but I am determined to try them again!

I used my WONDERFUL Chai mix from Green Bean's Coffee and WOW... yummy!!

If anyone has any Chai cookie recipes they would like to recommend,

I would LOVE to try them!!

Strawberry Planting

I found these cute Strawberry Plant terra cotta pot kits in the Target $1 section.

I am a sucker for cute things like this and with Valentine's Day coming up, I decided to buy some for the kids and I to plant. Riley LOVES strawberries and he's already determined he's going to eat them in the morning! I hope he's not too dissapointed when we have to wait a little longer!
I told the kids we would create a "Photo Blog Journal" and watch our plants grow...

so here goes.

Day 1

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Chai heaven

GREEN BEANS COFFEE

Honor First. Coffee Second.

I was taking the kids to dinner last night and decided to stop in and look at the new cafe.

I splurged and bought a Chai Smoothy. OH WOW!!! I'm a sucker for Spiced Chai and I am IN LOVE with this stuff!!! After drinking my smoothie in about 10 min, I was tempted to go back for a second, but decided on a can to take home! YUMMY!!!

Not only was the Chai awesome... but the Cafe was well worth it.

Green Beans Coffee is not just another Coffee house. It was started by two brothers who eventually opened one on an Army Base in Saudi Arabia. Since then, they have opened over 60 locations serving customers in Afghanistan, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Djibouti, Africa and the United States.

It's not just about coffee, though. A portion of annual proceeds to go two organizations that are dear to my heart.. as well as other military families.

Soldier's Angels

provides aide and comfort to members of the armed forces and their families.
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)

provides a wonderful support network for the surviving families of those who have died in service to America.

I've had experience with families who have benefited from both of these wonderful organizations and am proud to support Green Beans in their effort to bring a piece of home to our men and women serving all around the world.

Not to mention, give me an excuse to go and buy more Chai!!!!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Happy Birthday to my little man!

Brodie took this one of us!

He's getting so big!!

BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!

...this is what a birthday is all about!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Devine Design Bible Verse Challenge

My friend Angel over at Angelosity is part of an awesome group of women who do a monthly Challenge. This one is a little different, though. It includes a scripture. You can read about it here: Divine Design Bible Verse Challenge.

I have been watching Angel with awe at her designs each month waiting for the inspiration to hit me. I decided it was time! I'm joining the other "Scriputre Chicks" and am going to play along this year! This will be an awesome way to get back into the scriptures and give me something to look forward to each month.
I've decided to do a 6x6 album. I have one I've been looking for something to do with, and figured this is perfect. I am going to try and do "Proverbs to Live By." We'll see how it goes!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

I'm in (chocolate) heaven!!!!

I LOVE a bargain. Clearance sections are my best friend.

Now, when chocolate is involved, it's AMAZING!!!

Peppermint Bark is probably one of my favorite holiday treats. I usually don't buy it because it tends to run rather expensive. I look at it in the store, think, someday, and then walk away....usually without a glance back.

Imagine my JOY when I saw this box on the clearance section. 50% off!!

Harry London is a GOOD chocolate. It's one of those that usually doesn't have the price on the box because they KNOW if you knew how much it cost it would never make it to the check-out line. Once you get there and they have scanned it, it's too late to take it back, so you end up paying for it, thinking... what was SOOO expensive???

At 50% off, I was floored.... but not as much as I was when I got up to the checkout. Yes, I knew it would still feed a small country, but I hadn't rewarded myself in a long time and I was determined to enjoy EVERY bite once I got it home.

I drool as the lady at the register scans it, resisting the tempation to grab it from her hands, rip it open and eat it all right there before I even pay for it. However, when she took an ADDITIONAL 25% off, I couldn't believe. I didn't want to say, "are you sure that's right," for fear she would say she made a mistake and ADD to the price.

Needless to say, I walked away from that purchase with a smile on my face, drool dripping from my lips and more money in my pocket than I thought I would.

And here it is... can you imagine that it's still there??

I took each block and chopped it up and have done an incredible job limiting myself to ONE piece a day. I figure at this rate, I'll make it to next Christmas when I can find another box on sale!

Yeah right!!!

Friday, January 2, 2009

Happy New Year!!!

I hope this year finds you happy and healthy

and only good things come your way!!!

We spend New Years Day at my aunt's Ranch.

The kids got to see the horses, but only Colt and I were the only

ones to brave Warrior's saddle!

This is my cousin Jordan riding with Colt. It was great to see her, her parents, her brother and sister again! They moved from Texas to Maryland as we were leaving New York. Her brother, Cole, joined the Army this past year and graduated from Boot Camp not too long ago. It was great to see what a fine young man he has grown into. His dad is super proud that Cole followed in his footsteps. Although, we are a bit worried that Cole is excited about going to Air Assult school to jump out of perfectly good helicopters!!!

Colt looks so natural in the saddle! I think we have a cowboy in the making!

Get that boy some boots!!!

Riley was helping us peel potatoes and Brodie was "helping" Riley be safe on the stepstool. Isn't she a big help??? It was so cute, we had to take a picutre!