another recipe

Here's another one from the same article. This one takes more ingredients, so it might be longer til I make it.

Picnic Oven-Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup(s) buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon(s) Dijon mustard
• 2 clove(s) garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon(s) hot sauce, such as Tabasco
• 2 3/4 pound(s) chicken legs, skin removed, fat trimmed
• 1/2 cup(s) whole-wheat flour
• 2 tablespoon(s) sesame seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) paprika
• 1 teaspoon(s) dried thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon(s) baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon(s) salt, or to taste
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• Olive oil cooking spray

Directions:
1. Whisk buttermilk, mustard, garlic and hot sauce in a shallow glass dish until well blended. Add chicken and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1/2 hour or for up to 8 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set a wire rack on the baking sheet and coat it with cooking spray.
3. Whisk flour, sesame seeds, paprika, thyme, baking powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Place the flour mixture in a paper bag or large sealable plastic bag. Shaking off excess marinade, place one or two pieces of chicken at a time in the bag and shake to coat. Shake off excess flour and place chicken on the prepared rack. (Discard any leftover flour mixture and marinade.) Spray chicken pieces with cooking spray.
4. Bake the chicken until golden brown and no longer pink in the center, 40 to 50 minutes.

feed me!

I found this recipe on an MSN article...I'm posting it because I don't know how long they keep those articles up, and this sounds delicious.

Spaghetti Carbonara Pie

Ingredients:
12 ounces spaghetti
6 slices (diced) bacon
1 container (15 0z-part skim) ricotta cheese (not a fan of ricotta...any suggestions of a substitute?)
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
2 large eggs, plus 1 yolk
1 pinch each pepper and nutmeg
2 cups milk

Directions:
1. Cook spaghetti as label directs; drain.
2. In skillet, cook 6 slices diced bacon over medium heat until browned. Drain on paper towels.
3. In blender, mix ricotta cheese, Pecorino Romano cheese, eggs, pepper, nutmeg and ½ cup milk.
4. In saucepan, combine pasta, ricotta mixture, bacon and 1 ½ cups milk; stir. Spoon into 2½-quart baking dish. Bake at 375ºF for 35 to 40 minutes, until nearly set and golden around edges. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

Oh yeah...and I went to the activity center today to workout again. Go me! I'm liking this being motivated thing...

my second nose

Yesterday I woke up with another head...oh wait, it was just a gigantic zit. In the most painful spot on one's face... under the eye, a little to the side of the nose. I believe that is the worst place to get them because it is very sore there. And today it's even bigger. Grrrrr..... Jake has been trying to tell me that it's not that bad and I look pretty anyway. I'm not convinced. Sigh.

I took him out to Si Senor for dinner tonight because he'd never eaten there. We both had chile rellenos, chips and 4 different kinds of salsa, and sopaipillas with honey. Yum! I found out last night that he has never had Wendy's nuggets. I was shocked. He didn't understand why it was a big deal, and I told him because, 1) Wendy's nuggets are so delicious, and 2) We've been together a year and a half and I just never noticed that he's never had them. We have gone to Wendy's a lot together, and we've had McNuggets together, but I just failed to realize through all of that that he never ordered any, or stolen one of my Wendy's nuggets. So that's the next thing on my list of ways to change Jake (haha, I'm just kidding about that list :), buy him some Wendy's nuggets and force feed them to him. It's not that he has never wanted to have some, it's just that he has never gotten around to it.

This week has absolutely flown by. Yeah I still have tomorrow, but it literally seems like yesterday that I was complaining about the weekend being over. Hooray for fast weeks! And I pretty much have a job for the summer in Los Alamos! I'm going to be working for the YMCA summer camp like I did three years ago, because there's a new childcare director (seemingly way better than the one I worked for), and now they are offering full-time counselor positions, so I won't have to get another job for the afternoons! I'm really excited. She never actually told me "You're hired," but she found me on facebook a couple days after I talked to her on the phone and messaged me, saying she was "really excited to get me on board" and "has heard great things about me", and asked what position I would be interested in. So I'm going to go in and talk to her when I'm home for spring break, so we can work out paperwork and she can interview me in person and all that jazz.

Happy Ash Wednesday!

I was good and went to an Ash Wednesday service at 4 today, even though there wasn't anyone to shove me along! I like going to church (usually) but it's harder to go if there is no one to go with.

I didn't give up anything...yet...the past three years I've given up meat, which wasn't too hard. I was thinking of doing that again, but eh. Plus, when I got back today I heated up last night's leftover pasta with meat sauce for lunch...I forgot it was AW. So I already blew it if I decide that.

Then I thought of coffee....but....well, I just love coffee. I love Jesus more, but I don't know if I can do it!!! Plus I still have three Starbucks gift cards to spend...hehehehe ;-) Actually the real reason I have not given up anything is that I kinda want to try something new. Instead of giving up something, maybe start doing more things, like exercising more (I had a good start on Sunday), trying to be more patient, worship more, read my Bible more (and not just for my literature class), and try to love people more without getting so impatient, frustrated, or annoyed with them. And this includes everyone. I actually consider myself very patient compared to many people I know, but sometimes my patience is pushed too far. So I will strive to be more Jesus-like.

God bless!

Costa Rica and The Shack

First of all, the reason I went apartment hunting for so long yesterday was that I was in a terrible mood. For a few reasons, but mostly it was just one of those days, and I was a bit on the grumpy side. So I left my apartment because I needed to get out and do something, so I drove around for about two hours to find apartments I knew of and others I just ran into. Most of them were sketchy so I just kept driving, but stopped at two not including the ones I fell in love with, and no one was in the leasing office for either of them, so I might go back sometime. At first I couldn't find much more so I gave up and started heading home, then realized I was near the animal shelter...what better way to cure a sour mood than to play with puppies and kitties?! I left the shelter less grumpy, but a little more sad because I want a dog so ridiculously much. I would be able to afford one now...if it never got sick or hurt...but that is inevitable and I can't predict if a dog will be sick even if it appears healthy. So after that I ran into the street that these other apartments are on, by accident, and stopped by to inquire about living there in the fall. I left there in love and excited because I think I have found (temporary) home. I really hope it works out.
Anyway, it was good to get out and drive around the city for a couple hours. It was cloudy and cool all afternoon so I opened my windows a couple inches to let in fresh air. And my car has awesome gas mileage so the gas gauge barely went down.

Now, Costa Rica. This woman came and spoke to our Spanish class a couple weeks ago (she was Spanish and I understood almost everything she said!!) about a program compatible w/ NMSU in which you go and study Spanish for however many weeks you want, whatever part of the year you want. The classes are intensive and small (about 4 or 5 people per class) and you have the option of staying on one of the three campuses or with a host family. It's not particularly expensive (I'm thinking I'd go for three weeks) considering what's included (except not the plane ticket...). Since I want to minor in Spanish, and may not have enough time to do so if I want to graduate May of 2010, this might be a great opportunity. Nothing's for sure yet, just something to think about.

One last thing (man I've been posting long blogs lately). I am reading a book called The Shack, by William P. Young. I'm borrowing it from my mom, who got it as a Christmas gift from my dad's mom. It's a really good book and may change the way you "see" God, and I'm sure some people don't like that, and others do. It's totally not what I expected, the twist in the middle really caught me off guard from the beginning appearance. Anyway, so far it's really making me think. I can't imagine what the end of the book will be like. My mom said it's very interesting and deep, and your thoughts on it really depend on how you look at it. So once I finish the book I'm sure I'll be posting many more thoughts on it. Maybe you should give this book a go?

I found one!

I finally found an apartment that I'm actually excited about! They're clean, in a quiet neighborhood, the staff was extremely friendly, helpful and professional (total opposite of where I'm living now), and a little cheaper than the apartments I've found close to campus. The floor plan is comfortable to me (I'm really weird...I'm very particular about floor plans, because some make me uncomfortable...no joke), and just the right size for just me, the neighborhood seems quiet and fairly safe. One of the managers (who is my age) actually had a class with me last semester, so that made it even better because we knew each other. I really hope this one works out!
A couple drawbacks:
-It's far from school. I'd have to hit the interstate to go to school and back, and it would take more for me to go out and visit people, and I'd have to pay more for gas than I am this year. BUT Shanda lived far from campus before we lived together, and that was one of the least of her complaints. And maybe being far from campus will mean less parties going on around me. And my car has superb gas mileage.
-I won't know if I can get one til mid-to-late summer. However, the girl helping me (former classmate) got my name and phone number and put me in the computer so they knew I'd want one, and they'll give me a call when they know what they will have for me. I didn't even have to apply to be put on this informal waiting list.

A few more positive things (besides above):
-New-ish, nice -looking with brick buildings, and nice layouts
-Only have to pay electricity, cable and internet
-Best of all, THE WALLS AND FLOORS ARE SOUND-PROOF!!! One of the biggest reasons I don't like the Grove is that I can hear the girl in the apartment next to mine talking when I'm lying in bed, and the neighbors above stomp around like elephants and make the doors rattle, and the people below have a new sound system that makes the floor vibrate and...Okay, not complaining. I've done that. Now I will praise the newfound apartments

I was talking to a family friend on Facebook chat a while ago, telling her about my apartment woes of a roommate with severe OCD tendencies and our constant, silent power struggle. She had the same experience when she was single and living w/a roommate, and told me she loved living alone after that. She got me really excited to have my own little place. No toes to step on, no compromises have to be made...I will be in control of my space...ME!!
I'm going to take my mom to see them in a couple weeks (if there's a one-bedroom open still) cuz she is coming down here again.

Pray that I can live there!!!

runner's high

This weekend has been good. Yesterday Jake and I hung out til about 1 in the afternoon. He made me a late breakfast: soft-boiled eggs with toast. I didn't know how to soft-boil eggs, and had never had them, so he decided it was time. He can't fry eggs, so we decided that I'll be the designated egg-fryer and he'll be the egg-boiler. It was yummy. Then I got my homework done and did less productive things, like testing all my markers so I could throw away the dry ones (I have a life, I promise). Then I walked around the apartment complex twice when it was getting dark because I had been inside all day, and took a bath!!! I haven't taken one in a long time. I used Bath & Body Works wild honeysuckle bubble bath. Mmmm. Then I watched White Oleander on YouTube cuz I'd read the book and knew that it was on TV once. Jake came over again and we watched Seinfeld and made lots of taquitos and ate those with salsa. Then Jake went and knocked my downstairs neighbors' door and asked them to turn their sound system down, because we could feel the base pulsating in my floor. No fun! The guy was confused about why we would be bothered by that on a weekend, and "he would understand if it was on a weekday." Sorry dude, we don't party every night like you do. Even if we did, it would still be annoying to feel the dang base in every square foot of my apartment! Nonetheless, he turned it down even if we were old-fashioned losers who yell "Turn the damn music down you kids!" Just joking.

Today we both went to church and after Jake went home, I decided to go to the Activity Center on campus (finally) and utilize my student free membership. It felt so good! I haven't gone running in so long, and I was able to run an hour straight, most of the time going 4.6 miles per hour. Then I did 75 sit-ups on the ab ball. During the time I didn't feel like I was working myself too hard (it was adrenaline and I felt really good!), but I'm sure I'm going to feel it tomorrow! I treated myself to a small Keva Juice raspberry smoothie afterwards and my legs feel great. Soon I'll take a hot shower, heat up some leftover lasagna and watch the Oscars. Maybe I'll do some reading for my Ethnicity and Prejudice class. Well, hope your weekend was good! I'm going to sleep very well tonight.

it's friiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!

This week went by in a flash! Except the kiss off contest seems like way longer than a week ago...
I told Jake yesterday that he is not allowed to do any homework Friday (today) after his classes (because he always does, and he deserves a break...he's been working really hard this week) and I am forcing him to spend the whole afternoon and evening with me! We are going to Gordon's to get my watched adjusted again, and spending time and Barnes and Noble, and going to Wal-Mart, maybe watching a movie tonight...Okay I'm really picky when it comes to Barnes and Noble. I love that store and could spend a whole day in there, but when I get gift cards to there, I take FOREVER to spend them. I still have half of my gift card from Christmas 2007, and I got another one this past Christmas, so now I have two. My problem is that I am always finding new books that look great, but I worry that once I buy one or two, I'll find an even better one later. But that's life right? Haha jk. For some things I guess. But I'll try to at least use up my old gift card today. I did this on my facebook account (it's an epidemic that's been spreading around the network), so I thought I'd post it on here:

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I really hate the words “uber” and “chillaxing”
2. I enjoy writing essays (as long as I can get into the subject), and am rather good at it.
3. I freak out if my feet are dirty and during the summer when I wear flip-flops a lot, I’ll wash them more than once a day.
4. I can teach myself how to play violin parts from rock songs just by listening.
5. I hate vacuuming, but like sweeping.
6. My right hand is longer than my left hand
7. One of my dreams is to go to Giraffe Manor (a small hotel in Africa where giraffes live and stick their heads in the windows, and you can feed them and pet them!!!!)
8. I’ve only had one bloody nose, and I got it when I was backpacking through a river and lost my balance and smacked my nose on a rock. Fun times.
9. I’ve never had to go to the emergency room for myself, and have only been in one once for someone else (knock on wood)
10. I can’t concentrate or study if my room is messy or my bed isn’t made.
11. I get choked up seeing Discovery’s Planet Earth commercials/previews because they’re so beautiful. And I love Planet Earth (you should watch it if you never have)
12. I got in trouble in elementary school for telling everyone it was “Friday flip-up day”, where all the boys had to try to flip up the girls’ skirts and dresses (it was picture day), and many proceeded to attempt it. It’s because my sister told me...I believed anything she told me :-P
13. My legs bruise incredibly easily. At any given time I have at least 7 bruises on my legs. My record is fifteen bruises.
14. I’m pretty talented at picking up things with my feet, and I do it a lot.
15. I’d rather have my classes start early in the day and end early then start late and end late.
16. I think tumbleweeds are hilarious.
17. I think the sound of distant traffic at night is soothing.
18. I want to be an ethnographer and work for National Geographic, providing articles about indigenous tribes/fascinating cultures.
19. I’m becoming more and more like my mom and I’m glad.
20. I have 21 first cousins.
21. I could whistle when I was 8 months old. I guess it was a premature talent, because I lost it after a few years, and re-learned just a few years ago.
22. I like reading the advice columns in newspapers to judge whether the readers could’ve figured out their problems on their own or if they’re legitimate.
23. I’m not a fan of math in general, but like long formulas and plugging in numbers and taking them step-by-step to find answers.
24. I still have the scar from my very first chicken pox (pock?) on my stomach.
25. I love having garage sales, especially when they start early in the morning!

I'll probably post more random facts occasionally.

Kiss-Off contest

I totally forgot to blog about this! A couple weeks ago Jake and I noticed this sign in the student union advertising a Kiss-Off contest on February 13, in which you could win an 8 GB iPod Touch. We were curious, so we went to the website it had given. The contest was that couples had to hold an iPod touch between their mouths without dropping it, and the couple to do so the longest wins two iPod touches. So we decided to sign up, even though our chances of getting in were low, as only 8 couples would be drawn out of all who signed up. Lo and behold, out of 150 couples, we drew! I was actually very hesitant because I am normally shy about these things...I wouldn't want a bunch of people watching me holding an iPod over a table with my boyfriend! The only reason I agreed to sign up is that Jake really wanted to and I didn't think we'd draw for it.

So the day before Valentine's Day came, I was worried about making us lose right away because I'd been coughing so much from my cold. Here were the rules: All couples had to face each other across a long table, lean over the table without touching it or leaning on it at all, and hold the iPod (still in the case) between our lower lips and chin. The bad thing was that someone else not in the contest had to put it between our mouths, which made it a bad start because ours was slanted and leaning to one side already.

Anyway, the contest began and they started playing silly wild music to try to get us to laugh (Benny Benazzi's "Satisfaction", "Kiss Me" by...I don't know). Anyway, one couple dropped theirs about 4 minutes in, and Jake and I dropped ours about 5 minutes into the contest, just cuz it was leaning so much and off balance. Oh well. The couple who won lasted about 17 minutes!!! The girl was from Los Alamos, so we cheered for them. It was fun, nonetheless :) It got me out of my comfort zone and made me do something crazy-ish in front of onlookers. I'm still hesitant sometimes to kiss Jake in public! And while this wasn't kissing, it was pretty darn close.

We're going to try to get in again next year, even though our chances will be low again.

People were taking photos during this contest :-) Here's Jake and I!

And the setup...

weekend

The family came in about 10:30 pm on Friday night, and we hung out a little bit before hitting the sack. I had spent the afternoon cleaning (not too much though, my psycho cleaning spree happened two weeks ago) and baking brownies. Jake and I had an agreement (or so I thought) not to go all-out or do anything spectacular for V-Day, so I told him earlier in the week that I would bake anything he wanted, just for him, and that would be my gift to him. "Dark chocolate brownies with pecans," said he, so I found a good recipe from the Hershey's website and whipped up those dark chocolate brownies with pecans, from scratch! Mighty delicious, might I add. So I put the best bunch of them on a plate with saran wrap along with a singing card with the song "My Guy", and what does he get me? A watch from Gordon's!!
I had mentioned a couple weeks earlier that I would like a watch sometime, and I swear I was not asking for one for V-day, nor did I expect him to get me one for this holiday. When I said that, he said something like, "Maybe someday, but it won't be anytime soon" which I was fine with (and expected). So a few days before V-day he told me he ordered something for me from Amazon and I was wondering what romantic thing could be from amazon? Then he made me close my eyes when I opened it because it was from Gordon's and he didn't want the box to give it away, so I first saw the watch, and loved it! (Even though I thought he had gotten me an amazon watch, since I didn't see the box) And he said, "We can go to Gordon's and get some links removed so it will fit" which was when I realized that my boyfriend is not a cheap Amazon-jewelery purchaser, which made me a little giddy :) He explained that he had told me he got something from Amazon to throw me off, and so that I definitely wouldn't expect something nice like this :) I love it because it's perfectly my style, simple but gorgeous to me, and because he picked it out himself! Now I feel like the cheapo, with my brownies. But he loves my brownies, so there.


It was fun having my family, we ate out a lot, we had a lasagna dinner here for V-day, went to a movie, went shopping, went to the eye doctor, etc. etc. I miss them lots now. Now I have a very full fridge because they were here. Mmm leftovers!

sick yet again...

Yesterday morning I woke up and felt a little cough or something coming on, and all day I kept coughing a little bit and my throat definitely did not feel normal, but it wasn't too bad until last night. I barely got any sleep because I was coughing so much, so I skipped my first class to get a little more snoozing in. Ugh. My chest hurts.

On a positive note, my family's coming tomorrow! All of them! They haven't been here (except Shanda) since I moved in last August and I'm excited for them to be here! I'm just praying that my upstairs neighbors won't be too obnoxious stomping around their apartment (but that's asking for a lot) and also that my downstairs neighbors won't blast their music two nights in a row til late hours, like they did last weekend. I don't know what we're doing for Valentine's day, Jake and I might end up eating dinner with my parents, which is actually fine with me. I'm not one of those boycotters of V-day, but it definitely isn't my favorite holiday. I wouldn't be depressed if it was banned.

I'm out for now. Going to try to take a nap before my next class. Have a good, non-sick day!

family phone calls

Tonight I talked to each one of my family members all within 45 minutes of each other, one right after the other. It doesn't happen very often that I talk to them all in one night...it was nice. First I talked to my sister and we talked about her wedding, my non-existent plans for living arrangements next year, her job. She was describing some of the details of her wedding that are being put together, like the invitations and the golf balls with her and Brian's picture on them, and I said something like "Aw how cute. I can't wait til I get married" (even though I can wait), and she proceeded to tell me that I'm not allowed to get married until at least a year after she is, because she wants at least a year of being labeled a newlywed, and once I'm engaged, the attention will be off her and she won't be a newlywed anymore. Fine by me! It was all in good humor, we shared a good sisterly giggle :) I'm glad I have a sister...it's a great bond. If you have a sister, you should read Chicken Soup for the Sister's Soul I or II (I've only read the second...I want the first). If I have a daughter I definitely want to give her a sister.
Then I talked to my mom and we talked about how the grey in her hair is starting to show again and she "needed to re-dye it", and then "maybe I should just face it and let it turn grey, but then I'll feel old" and I answered with "you're not required to let it grey yet" which is true. If she wants to keep her youthful hair, let her keep it! As long as she doesn't start getting plastic surgery to try to look 23, then I support my mommy :)

Then I talked to my dad, and we laughed about the ridiculous Grove management, and snorted at the unprofessionalism and unethical-ness of their tactics.
Then it was my silly little (yet bigger) brother, who told me about his achievement at scoring the lead role of Conrad, a rock star going off to war, in the spring musical, Bye Bye Birdie. I'm so proud of him. After he was injured early in the season and couldn't play football anymore, he didn't know what to do with himself, because all other sports were out of the question for the same reason. So he tried out as an emcee for Topper Revue (the talent show the high school holds each year) and made it! He was hilarious on stage. Now he's doing the musical!
Anyway, those were my conversations with my family tonight. Nothing spectacular, just glad I talked to them all. I miss them and can't wait to see them this weekend!

Candles

Here are two more candles I've made recently.

I got this jar of pear honey from a yummy jam/candy/etc. shop in Pagosa Springs called the Choke Cherry Tree. My family loves this little store. After using up the delicious honey, I reused the hexagonal jar and lid because it's cute and old-fashioned. Sadly I don't know how to make a pear honey scent, so I settled with wild honeysuckle (close...they both have the word "honey" in it... :)

This jar I actually got from Bath & Body Works, when I bought a candle scented "sweet cinnamon pumpkin." It was such an addicting aroma, I used the candle up very quickly. The one I made has black marbles at the bottom and is jasmine-scented. It's nice when the jars have lids, so the gel doesn't get too much dust in it when not being used.

friendly little neighborhood

So besides the facts that neither of the security gates have been fixed since I moved in last August (and in August they told me they'd be fixed the week after), the maintenance WILL NOT come fix things until you have gone to the office every two days for a month to complain, the management is awful, you NEVER get calls returned when you leave messages with the managers or front office, the floors are paper thin so my walls shudder and I hear ever step, every drawer-opening, every setting of backpacks on the floor from above...besides the facts that the staff spends tons of money throwing parties and movie nights but refuse to paint the rooms one color instead of two-toned splotches that were "close enough" to the original color to cover up wall marks, and that they never seem to get the correct room numbers for everyone, and that they portray themselves to be an amazing apartment complex for college kids, but they are cheap-O's who don't care about your well-being and only see you as a source of money...besides all these facts, I love it here.

(Insert sarcasm here)

Yesterday evening I got this friendly notice on my door:

"As of this date, our records indicate that there is still an unpaid balance due on your account for the current month. The total amount due is $0.27. Your current delinquent balance is due immediately in order to prevent your account from being charged any further late fees. If your account is not paid in full and current by the 17th of the month, the eviction and collections process will begin.
Sincerely, Grove Management"

Let me make a few things clear.
I paid on the first of the month exactly the amount I was told. I went to the office, she told me the amount I owed, I wrote a check for the exact amount.
Secondly, 27 cents? Really? For one, I don't even know how I happen to owe this enormous amount of money. And is 27 cents really a big deal? Are you (Grove management) going to go bankrupt if I don't pay my TWENTY-SEVEN CENTS IMMEDIATELY?!?!?!? How could you possibly threaten to evict me for not paying TWENTY-SEVEN CENTS?!?!?!?
Third, they don't take cash here. Period. So looks like I am going to have to write a check for 27 cents. Unless I can convince them to put it on my balance for next month, but that's doubtful.
I wrote a letter to the editor of the school newspaper (and it was published) about all the reasons why students should NOT move to the Grove, as the newspaper has been sporting a cute little advertisement for these apartments (full of lies nonetheless) and I hope many students considering moving here next year have read the letter and changed their minds. I hope people working at the Grove have read it as well.

I love it here. (Insert second, louder, sarcastic snort)

little hindu man

Meet little Hindu Man.

He stands barely over one inch tall and is the most adorable incense holder I have ever seen. He was part of my birthday gift from Jake. He took me too Ten Thousand Waves, an sweet spa in Santa Fe (in woods-y area, so it made it ever more relaxing) and we had our own private hot tub for an hour and a half! I loved it, I'd never been to a spa before. We went at night, so while we soaked in the wooden-bowl-type hot tub we were able to gaze up at pine tree branches and thousands of stars.
In the gift shop, while walking around in our robes and waiting for our turn in the tub, I came across this little guy. I don't even own any incense, and have never burned any myself, but I just had to have him. He was far too cute to leave behind for anyone else to claim. I was going to buy him myself, but Jake offered. It was my birthday, after all.

Don't you just love little Hindu Man?? Here's another angle of his precious profile.

I have had him for a month and a half and still don't have any incense, but he is just so cute. Maybe I'll come up with a better name for him, perhaps an Indian name, but Hindu man will have to do for now.

And here are the flowers Jake gave me a couple weeks ago, not quite in full bloom (more of those buds did bloom). Tragically, they are no longer...

Three blogs today? Now that's procrastination!

nail polish

Last week I had my finger and toenails painted light blue...the last time I had them blue was probably in middle school sometime. For several years I thought that blue nails were tacky and definitely just for middle schoolers. But I was thinking of bright blue.
Anyway, a couple weeks ago I wanted to paint my nails and realized that I have about five different shades of red and that's about it, so the next time I was at Wal-Mart I decided to look for new colors. I came across a light blue and at first skipped over it but went back, thinking that this particular blue wouldn't be so bad, a little more mature than bright tacky blue. So I bought that along with dark purple. I loved the blue on my nails, life is good. I needed a change from the selection of reds. Now my nails are the dark purple, and it's radical.