If you're looking for Olson family updates, then visit our family blog, I Love You Same.

The rants and recipes found here are solely mine.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

In Gratitude

Thank you for
  • Longer days! When the sun isn't setting until 6:20, I feel like I survived winter!
  • A bubbling pot of roasted chicken soup simmering on the stove.
  • Truly good friends.
  • Giggling ten year old boys.
  • My mom's unconditional love.
  • Getting over the flu.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

In Gratitude

It's so easy to get caught up in the negativity of day to day life, so I'm trying to look at things more positively. To have a truly thankful heart is my goal. So, occasionally, I intend to post a few things I'm grateful for.

  • Glasses and contacts that make vision so clear for us.
  • A warm house when the windchills are well below zero.
  • A dog or two to cuddle.
  • Good neighbors.
  • Unlimited Simpsons DVD rentals from our library.

For these things, today, I am truly grateful. Thank You.

Monday, February 18, 2008

The Five

Sight

Snowed In Christina Bartolomeo
Three months after moving to Portland, Maine, for her husband Paul's job, Sophie begins worrying about her quiet life, her "safe" marriage and, particularly, Natalie, the snappy new assistant in her husband's office. Calls to her happily married sister, Delia, and her long-time friend, Marta, don't assuage her concerns, but Sophie, a freelance artist and proofreader with time on her hands, finds companionship by joining a local walking club. Great chick lit, I found this an easy read, with surprisingly clever insights. Since I'm feeling particularly snowed in this time of year, it's been a fun read!

Sound
Music previews on Amazon. I feel the need for some new tunes.

Scent
Baked potatoes. No zapped in the microwave, shriveled up spuds for this gal. If I can't do them the old fashioned way, I'd rather go without. Scrub, prick with a knife and bake 375 degrees for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Taste
Hostess 100 calorie chocolate cupcakes. I know, not homemade, and not healthy. But, oh so necessary. Sometimes I just want to grab some chocolate and although these are technically bite sized, it is just enough to fit those cravings. I always keep them in the freezer. I just like them better that way.

Touch
New hiking shoes. I've looked and looked and looked for new hiking shoes and I finally found them AND I got them at a bargain price. $39.99 Merrell hiking shoes. I've had Merrells in the past and I love them. These feel like I'm walking on air and they look cool too. So happy! They'll be great for hiking when we hit the Big Island!

My Celebrity Look-a-likes!

Saturday, February 2, 2008

A Big Bag of Flour...GONE

So, I'm not really one for bragging, but this is something I just have to shout about. As of yesterday's weigh in, I've lost 25.8 pounds. That's a huge, industrial size bag of flour, gone. Three gallons of milk gone. 25 bricks of butter, gone. That's a lot of flab gone. And in the process, I'm building and putting on muscle.

I'm so proud of this accomplishment. And it's motivating me to just keep on keepin' on!

Taking a little time to play with words, to play with food, and just to play!