i photoshop...

I heart Adobe Photoshop...  

Newest project for my lola's 80th birthday is a scrapbook.  To save on time and money and to avoid dog fur in the glue I have decided to digiscrap.  I think I will forever more digiscrap instead of paper scrapbook.  

What is digiscrap? It's short for 'digital scrapbooking'.  Basically, its the same thing as paper scrapping...only you create your layouts on your computer using software.  Since I'm not an avid scrapbooker, (yet) I'm content searching for the freebies online.  I've found several places that offer free kits and e-papers. At first I was like...e-papers? that makes no sense at all! But after sifting through hundreds of pages, I realized how silly I was and smacked myself on the forehead.  They are backgrounds of course... how could I be so dense? 


I've only accomplished 2 pages so far, and while it probably actually took me just as long to put together a page digitally as I would have with paper, it was only because I kept changing my mind on how the layout should look.  This picture is what I've done to one of the pages so far.  I'm already loving it.  I can foresee this turning into a hobby...

The Battle of the Body Wars Begins - Flu and Cold Season approaches

I wore a jacket this morning for the first time this season because it was chilly which got me thinking about fall. (side note: I have grown completely in love with the fall, the sounds the smells, and I can't wait to go outside with my new camera and take pictures of the trees)  As the weather cools down, I'm sure I will be hearing my grandmas and my titas claim "its cold, put a hat on or you'll get sick".  I wonder how much actual truth there is to that.  It seems relatively impossible to get sick just because it's cold out.  We learn that bacteria thrives in warm, damp environments, growing and spreading everywhere they come in contact so in the cold, it wouldn't survive.  But the cold and flu are not bacteria, and they seem to attack us the most during the fall and winter.  Everything moves slower when its cold...down to the molecular level, and yeah the nerd in me is even thinking about the germs floating around in the air.

This isn't the first time I've thought about this, and my theory is that when you're cold, your body is working harder to keep your body temperature normal than to fight off the little buggies.  So either there is some truth to my theory or I'm just making up words to justify and reason out why people would say being cold makes you sick.  It still doesn't explain summer colds though.

School has started, and although I don't have little harbingers of illnesses of my own, I'm surrounded by people that do.  Kids are everywhere.  It's unavoidable, and I'm finding myself already starting the battle now that my husband is home sick.  As a minor hypochondriac, every sneeze, every cough, every twinge in my sinuses is being scrutinized and analyzed.  Is it allergies or an oncoming viral outbreak?

When school starts, there is a sudden influx of advertisements for the flu shot.  About this time last year one of my bosses contracted the dreaded swine flu and was out for 2 weeks.  We had disinfecting wipes randomly placed around the office to prevent the infected from spreading the germs to everyone else.  We just talked about how it's time to get the flu shot again.  I haven't gotten a flu shot in at least the last 5 years.  Now is when I debate again for weeks on whether or not I'm going to go to the local drugstore and get poked with this seasons virus.  

POW!

I don't have the strongest immune system, as I get sick at least 3-4 times a year, so it is a common thing for me to have colds.  But, I have noticed since I've been out of school, it's been less often.  Something about the congregating of mass quantities of persons and communal equipment allowing germs to fester having the potential to create an epidemic.  But even if you're not in school, the germs still manage to find their way to you.  And consequently, to me. 


So begins the battle, and my seasonal ritual of tissues, tea, vitamins, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer.  Bring it on...

Note to self...

...Don't stay up drinking with the neighbors until midnight on a school night.  Er, work night.  At least, not when I have to be awake by 5:30am.  Not good for staying awake through the rest of the day.  Good thing I like coffee now.

Still, it was a fantastic way to end the long weekend.  A long, laborious weekend.  So much for Labor Day weekend being 'labor' free.  We chopped down 4 trees in our yard, which we had been itching to do since we moved in to the house almost a year ago. And when I say "we" I mean my husband did the chopping while I stood around and took pictures of the mass destruction (I haven't uploaded the pictures yet, so I'll have to add that later). I helped move branches though...

The work is still not yet complete but at least we're making headway, and the front of the house is slowly becoming known to the world through the jungle that used to be the "arborist's dream".   What kind of person thinks an overgrown yard is even remotely attractive?  An actual arborist would probably be appalled at the bedraggled state of this yard considering it was so unkempt that things were starting to kill each other.

I finally went back to hot yoga on Saturday, after a 4 week hiatus.  They still remembered me, and I had to admit my failing to come to yoga for 4 weeks in a row.  Though, I have to believe they understand that most people in my position who only come to yoga once a week anyway, feel no shame in skipping multiple weeks.  It was fantastic, although I screwed up and fell asleep awkwardly on the couch the following morning with the puppy.  Now my back is all tight again.  Looks like I'll have to go again this weekend as well.  

The best part of the weekend is finding out I have lost 4 lbs since the beginning of August when I last weighed myself.  So maybe there is some hope still.  I have been assuming my family and friends have been going crazy when they tell me I lost weight and how good I look.  I still think they're crazy because 4 lbs is not noticeable by far since I've not lost any inches at all. My Lola even told me "You look good now, getting smaller.  Not fat anymore." It didn't faze me...old Filipino women are as blunt as they are dramatic.  But I did ask my Ninang..."I was fat?" as I'm taking pictures of the delicious smelling pancit she cooked.  "Oh you know what she means...I keep telling her she has to be careful who she says things like that to you know..."  Still, it's nice to hear they perceive that I'm losing weight. 

The next best part of the weekend is completely tiring out the puppy.  Hooray for a docile half asleep puppy for 2 days straight.  I'm sure after sleeping it off today while I'm at work, he'll be ready to go again tonight, but it was great while it lasted.  The key to a lazy hound is a combination of a large open field, a frisbee or some ball like retrievable object, and willing victims kids.  This morning he literally sat there on our bed sprawled across my husband, watching me get ready for work when usually he's in my face trying to get me to play/feed him. 


Overall a blessed weekend. Couldn't ask for more. :-D

The things I Eat...Chapter 1

So, what does one do at home during the afternoon when the television set is broken and a serious case of the munchies emerges from the depths of the stomach? We cook of course.....

"Noncooks think it's silly to invest two hours' work in two minutes' enjoyment; but if cooking is evanescent, so is the ballet." ~ Julia Child

Sometimes, the mood just strikes me...though most times it's purely out of necessity.  This afternoon it was both. I'm no chef, or even a fantastic cook for that matter.   I hardly ever come up with my own recipes, continuously scanning the internet for other peoples ideas.  Most days I rather enjoy cooking...coming up with different meals, perfecting and experimenting with the ones that work. 

The husband purchased an ice cream maker attachment for my stand mixer.  It was my birthday present this year, although like he says, its "the gift that keeps on giving". I've made an assortment of ice cream and sorbet so far and fully intend to keep on making more.  In fact, today I made more...

I keep my ice cream maker attachment in the freezer for days like this when I get in the mood to make some of this delicious homemade  sweet treat.  Time to pull it out.

"Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos."  ~Don Kardong

Everyone should have ice cream from time to time.  Lactose intolerance be damned.  Don't let that stand in your way.  Fresh, creamy ice cream.  Is there anything better?

So I've made triple chocolate chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, coffee chocolate chip (see a pattern?), raspberry sorbet, kiwi-strawberry sorbet, and raspberry-mint sorbet.  The booklet that came with the attachment has all of 3 ice cream recipes.  Vanilla, Chocolate chocolate chip, and Orange Creme?...  Here's where my endless online searching comes into play, ice cream recipes! Last night I found a recipe for Moose Tracks....who doesn't love vanilla ice cream with mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and fudge swirl?  

Laptop = Recipe :-)

Reese's!

Notice I also have Reese's Peanut Butter Chips and Chocolate chips as well.  I wasn't sure what I should use.  In the end, I used both.  I chopped up the Reese's...

Yum.... I may or may not have had a few bites prior to mixing them into the ice cream. I'll leave that up to your imagination.  

Vanilla is almost done

The final product....Moose Tracks!

Is it amazing you ask? Why, yes, yes it is! Time for me to chow down. Chapter 2 coming soon...Guacamole and Pork Chops.

Summer endings...

Since I am now officially one of 2 people in my department at work for the rest of the week, I am hereby switching to weekend mode. *click*  BSB party in my cube...initiated. 

Although the actual date of summer's end isn't for another couple weeks, most mark Labor day weekend as the unofficial official end of summer.  The kiddies go back to school, the sun isn't out as long, the white pants get put back into the deep recesses of the closet...  and all I can think is, "It's already September?! Where did the rest of the year go?"  Is it just me or is time moving faster? 

I now have about 4 months remaining to lose that extra 15 lbs I vowed to shed at the beginning of the year. Oops.  Well, there's still time. If my husband can lose 20 lbs in the middle of summer, I can lose 15 before Christmas, right? <insert cricket noises here> Unfortunately for me, I enjoy the activity of eating far too much. And with Halloween candy, Thanksgiving turkey, and Christmas hens in the line up...I'm pretty much done for. 

While setting this blog up, I also included a link to the Homeowners Chronicles blog and since have realized how little house decorating I've accomplished since we've moved in.  That was my goal for this summer and I have thoroughly failed on that one.  That is one of the blogs that I ran out of 'free space' to include more entries.  I was in the process of editing and compiling the various entries into an archived blog but alas, I have failed on that one too.  

Kona

So, I didn't accomplish what I set out to accomplish this summer but I did undertake the training of the new puppy, and I got another tattoo.  2 things I wanted to do for several years.  Maybe it takes me longer to achieve some of my goals but by golly I get there. Puppy training is so far going quite well.  I managed to teach "shake" in all of 1 evening.  I taught it so well now he wants to do it continuously, even when I'm sleeping...and on my face. I'm sure I  don't need tell you, a 50 lb dog stepping on your face while you're sleeping is hardly comfortable. But he's so cute!  

Summer has come and gone, and I believe I'm through enjoying the hot weather.  Even though we still have several weeks left of warm nights and even warmer days, now it's time to look towards the weather cooling down, the leaves changing colors, the 2 month long holiday season, and snow.  White, fluffy, cold snow...and the general assortment of terrifyingly thrilling, blood pressure increasing, ab and thigh burning winter activities.  Maybe it won't be that hard to lose 15 lbs after all....

Taking time to slow down...

“It’s about how you got there. Not what you’ve accomplished.” - Yvon Chouinard

One of my favorite quotes from a man who personifies the popular Latin phrase "Carpe Diem".  It's just a reminder that I should take time to enjoy life and have adventures on the path to my goals. Getting to the top of the mountain is just as much about the path you take as it is getting there.  As I reflect upon the things I have done, there's not much there.  Nothing big at least, no crazy adventures, no intriguing stories amassed.  With the invention of facebook, followed the tradition of facebook stalking.  And facebook stalking can be hazardous to the health of your psyche. I know I've gotten insanely jealous of the adventures my pseudo-friends have had and posted about.  The random vacations, hook-ups, parties, etc that I've always imagined as 'living the life'.  It depresses me to the point I rage at how mundane my life seems compared to them.  Why don't I get to go to Vegas/Europe/the beach? How come my 'friends' don't invite me to participate?  So then I try to make plans and swear to have an adventure sometime soon.  But it doesn't happen, and continues to not happen.  Not the way I imagined at least...

The thing is...I've had my own adventures. They aren't quite as ludicrous as some of the adventures I have observed via facebook stalking, but you know what?  They're my adventures. One of the things I've recently vowed to do is to believe and think in a positive manner.  No more saying "I hate it when...", no more thinking "My life is so boring"...none of that.

So what adventures have I had?  Getting married...that's an ongoing adventure.  Though I may complain and whine about certain things, I know the past 2 years have been fantastic.  The whole process of buying a house and actually buying a house...from which I've learned immeasurable amounts of things.  Getting a puppy.  Oh, I could write a whole separate blog about puppy adventures...

My path to the top might not be as spectacular as most people, but in some places I'm leagues ahead and still thrilled about what's yet to come.

The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost