Has reading become a past time?

We have numerous books in our house-- you know, those things that contain letters, words, stories, imagination, adventure? They sit on our looming bookshelf, lonely and dusty, peering at us as we are consumed by our nightly shows on the computer. With the lights off and the neon glow of the screen, our books are easily forgotten about. Even with our normal day-to-day, they are forgotten about. With the ease of wifi, computers and pretty much all technology, books have become displaced; put away in the dusty attics, left alone under beds, trashed and given to Goodwill. The world has seen the Amazon Kindle, no matter that it could potentially put printers out of business. Don't your eyes hurt from looking at that screen for so long?? And what happens when your battery dies? Your book is gone and you are left screaming with your hands to the heavens because you were at that one spot of the story where she....  With websites like Spark Notes, you don't even need to buy that book from the syllabus! Just read the notes online. Not only that, when was the last time someone genuinely encouraged you to read a book, and you actually read it?

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Exercises for a Walking Zombie

I've been sitting on my butt for the last four hours. No contact with the outside world, no water, one bathroom break and cold half-empty mug of coffee. Or is it half-full? It doesn't really matter at this point. All I know is that the microwave can't solve my fatigue and that the names on the papers in front of me are starting to blur.

It's the same story for everyone in this office. We sit here day after day, minimal window access, minimal light and way to many files and paperwork. Some people can snag a quick breath of fresh air whenever someone opens the door, but for the most part we sit in our stuffy cubicles, dust collecting on our own noses, zoning out when the computer starts to posess our brains and working for a mass of people who really don't give a shit. I am often quite surprised at the level of unhealthiness in my office. Sure it's a desk job, but come on people!!! Take a walk! Some people in my office can't even take a bathroom break without walking back to their desks short of breath and gripping tight the arms of their chairs as they try to sit down before they fall down. The level of obesity in my office is surprising. Some people have wheelchairs, some have canes and some can't even make a loop around the building. Have they been working here so long that they've succumbed to the temptations of fast food, coffee and molding to their chair?

I've had a personal trainer for the last six months in an attempt to look super hot for my wedding. Unfortunately, I haven't seen all the results I've wanted and it's most likely my own fault. It's hard to eat healthy and commit to working out when you've got so many things on your mind. Albeit, I've gained 4 pounds of muscle and have lost 1 1/2 inches in my thighs. I've lost some inches in other places and have noticed more definition in my chest, arms, legs and abs. Here are some amazing workouts I've accrued from my trainer Dylan. Some of them you can do from home with a mat, a medicine ball and dumbbells. Maybe I will post this for all my coworkers....

Shoulders, Biceps, Trapezius and Chest
Each exercise has 10 reps for a total of 3 sets

Wood Chops:

• With a medicine ball (choose a weight but make it challenging, I use 10 lbs), stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
• Lift the ball above your left shoulder and swing it down toward your right thigh. Repeat 10 x.
• Lift the ball above your right shoulder and swing it down toward your left thigh. Repeat 10 x.
• Remember to squeeze your biceps during this exercise and keep a straight posture.

(This chick added a squat, which is nice but you don't have to)
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The Beauty of Flavenoids Cont.

After doing more research, I've discovered that "green smoothies" are all the rave! Major health nuts like Green Smoothie Girl and Mark have some great recipes for these green slimy concoctions and I was definitely hesitant at first. Kale in a smoothie?? I can understand some V8 juice here and there but bitter veggies mixed with sweet berries for my morning wake up call did not sound too appetizing.

My latest obsession over kale caused me to continue browsing through various websites and reading comments about the taste and benefits of green smoothies. After reading the nutritional benefits of these green smoothies, I was pretty convinced. Not only that but the ease of making the smoothies seemed attractive as well as the hopeful idea that it would keep me fuller, longer through out the morning. Cereal can get pretty boring and my stomach is usually growling before 10am.
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DIY Wedding Bouquet

I've been researching so many DIY wedding sites during this whole wedding fiasco and have attempted at being a crafty lady. Paper pom poms, homemade jam favors, create-your-own guest book, bark and bird centerpieces, birdcage veils, and the list goes on. So many options and so little time. The DIY trend stems from brides-to-be needing to plan a wedding on a tight budget and that is exactly what I am trying to accomplish. Going to a florist for flowers is incredibly expensive. A bridal bouquet can range anywhere from $50 to $300 and when you multiply that by how many bridesmaids you have, it starts to get just plain stupid. After researching flower arrangements and bouquets, I discovered that I love dahlias. Canby, OR is home to one of the greatest dahlia vendors (dahlias.com) and their prices are very reasonable. For 10 stems, it's $7....
So then I googled "how to make your own bridal bouquet" and that appeared very easy so I decided to actually make my own bridal bouquet. I bought all my supplies at Michael's for under $10 and I bought a bunch of mums at Trader Joe's for $4.99 and they lasted for about two weeks. The only problem with mums is that there are multiple stems coming off from the main stem so it makes for a bunch of flower heads at different heights. When making the actual bouquet, it's better to use single stems. Here is the step-by-step:


*Before beginning, cut off about an inch of the stems and soak the flowers in a vase of water with a packet flower food. Let them sit for about an hour or so. 

Wide Satin Ribbon
Green Floral Tape
Pearl Tipped Corsage Pins
Scissors

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The Beauty of Flavenoids

Kale is a quiet ninja. It sits in the produce area among the carrots and bell peppers, often missed and unaccounted for. I never see it on a restaurant menu, it never shows up at family dinners and it just doesn't stand out in the grocery store, like the apples, broccoli or lettuce. No one would notice it unless they were looking for it and yet it is one of the most healthiest vegetables you can consume.
It's often colored with dark green, medium green or purple. Kale's thick, curly leaves can range from a slightly sweet taste to a bitter, potent taste. It's a hardy green that screams health.

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Red Curry with Basmati Rice

One way I absolutely love to relax and rewind is to cook a fantastic meal. I don't care how long it takes or what ingredients are required, as long as I have a glass of wine and can savor the fruits of my labor afterwards. It's how I can forget about all those annoying people at work and get into a normal state of mind. One of Andrew's recent string of complaints is about how long it always takes me to make dinner. A majority of the nights we don't end up eating until 8:30pm or 9:00pm because I always decide to make a grandiose dish after getting home from the gym. I'm a believer in eating healthy home cooked meals so I'm not trying to eat garbage every night just because "it's late". Plus, I just love to experiment in the kitchen with different combinations, spices and flavors and oh boy when that chicken comes out of the oven all tender, juicy and hot, it's soooo worth it! Our friends Ashley and Josh have a blog that has inspired me to post my newest favorite dish.
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Max Train Mayhem

The gas prices are ridiculous. It just so happens that as soon as I transferred back to Hillsboro for work, the gas prices started creeping higher and higher. I believe the highest price is just over $4 per gallon and supposedly will get higher once summer hits. My car gets great gas mileage but driving 45 minutes both ways, in stop and go traffic does my gas tank no justice.

Let's not forget about the calluses I get on my hands from gripping the steering wheel so tight, while I curse and glare at the idiots on the road. I am a fierce driver and I get road rage somewhat easily. I've tried to curb this rage by playing calming music, taking deep breaths, opening my sun roof but it usually doesn't last long.
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Thinking, thinking, thought.

You know how easy it is to obsess over certain thoughts? How they can easily inundate your mind, take away your focus, control your behavior, cause you enough emotional distress that you could punch a stranger. Sometimes you don't even know how these thoughts get stuck in your head, reeling through your cranium like a broken record, over and over and over and over again. Once they are there, you can't get rid of them, like when you wake up with a Britney Spears song stuck in your head and you wanna scream "FML!". Or when everything you see, taste, hear reminds you of that single thought.
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Spring has sprung....... Then the rain came.

Andrew works at Roosevelt High School and it is currently his "spring break". The reason I put it in parenthesis is because in Oregon, it never feels like spring when it should. Spring and "springtime" refer broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth, which is perfect for the birth of this blog and my new inspiration to create something fun and exciting. Also something that people will **hopefully** enjoy reading.
Today, Andrew asked to join me for lunch and of course I said yes because it is always exciting to go to lunch with your hubby, especially when it's his day off. He drove all the way to Hillsboro to pick me up at work then we went to Noodles & Company where we took part in corporate America and ate some corporate noodles (I could make a much better pasta dish at home).
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Andrew and Laura sittin' in a tree

Ah, love is in the air!! As most of you know, I am marrying the man of my dreams in T minus four months. Wedding planning is out of control, but I am doing my best to keep it in control--mostly by ignoring it. Thanks to my mother, I am reminded of the "little" things I need to do, such as finding a garter, or a guest book, and what about the pen I will be using?? And the table for the guestbook? How about corsages and makeup and jewelry and the DJ and the arbor? Crap... I don't know.
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