Vacation (Portland, OR)... July 2, 2011 (Day 1)

A much needed vacation for us... and a long time coming. Ivan and I have decided that we have got to see where we are from. Share it with each other. Also, Christopher is only getting older and soon, he'll be off working like us all and maybe not be able to travel with us... This first trip was my lovely state of California... I was born and raised out there for the first 28 yrs of my life... then I headed out East when I got pregnant with my son, Christopher. I've been back twice in the past 15 yrs. This was a much needed trip home. I wanted to show off the state that I love so much.

Ivan has always wanted to drive along PCH, a dream of his... and well, that is further up north than where I grew up... soooo, a quick trip home to see my parents and family, turned into the trip of a lifetime! In order to see as much as I wanted to show them, we had to arrange travel to accomodate. We actually flew into Portland, Oregon (as we wanted to see the Redwoods and also as much of the California coast as was possible)... We flew out of Philadelphia airport (needed to rent a car for that, as we were coming home to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport). The flights went well (layover in Chicago O'Hare airport) and we knew we were in for a fantastic trip when we got this view of Mt Hood.

Once we landed, we had to pick up our rental car... the car that would drive us all the way down to Southern California. Then a quick run over the river to a WalMart (seeing Mt St Helens and Mt Hood in our horizon... lovely) to pick up snacks for our next day... over 400 miles and Redwoods and Beaches were on the agenda. Stayed at the Holiday Inn - Portland Airport, which was comfortable. We were exhausted from our day of travel and needed rest for our busiest day of our trip...

It's Diet time again...

It has been a while... and I need to get back to tracking points and losing some weight. We are taking a trip to California in July and I want to be just a bit more comfortable on the flight. So, I went on a huge Sam's run on Saturday and I have all the good foods in the house and I'm gonna get started! Once, I get through the first few days, I find that it's not so hard to continue on with it... I just have to get started.

I got the hubby involved, too... even if he wasn't too excited about it. But, we did this before and we rocked it, so we truly have to try again... and keep it up!

I've got a few things coming up that should keep me busy, which is a good thing. I have a craft show coming up in April (2nd) and I'll be hosting an Avon table, along with trying to sell some of my cards and necklaces. I hope I do well!

Also, going to see Kathleen Madigan on the 26th of this month at Turning Stone. I think she is HILARIOUS and so I'm really looking forward to that show! Then, Christopher and I are going to Bloomsburg U on the 8th of April for the Spring Awakening show. Then, on the 9th, I'm down in Allentown for a Stamp convention, then the 10th, in Pittston for a play. Geez, I'm exhausted just thinking of everything going on!

Fun thing is that I got some batteries for my camera, as I feel that it'll be pulled out a bit more in the coming weeks. I can't wait to get back to posting pics again.

Will keep you updated on everything.

Spring is here (I think).

Well, Spring looks like it's arrived, however, we did experience some snow on Tuesday. So, you never know what Mother Nature intends to do. I've been looking out in my backyard and trying to see how my planting from last year has done. My Forsythia is currently in bloom and looking great! (Will post pics soon) and only 1 pear tree made it through it's first winter. It's budding now and I can't wait to see some leaves on it. Looks like 2 out of 5 lilacs made it... so should be interesting to see what becomes of them. The red azalea is so small, it's hard to tell, but it looks alive. I am hoping in a few years that it blossoms into a huge azalea. The hydrangea I planted two years ago isn't looking at all good... maybe I put it in a bad spot... I've got a gardener coming in to access things w/i the next month or so and I hope we can do something out there... I am trying to make a pretty ugly backyard look nice and full of life.

Also, I've been trying to become a bit more active (with activities, still not great in the exercise department).... I joined a photography club and am having fun with it... we have challenges and I think it'll be a great way to learn more about photography, which has always been a passion of mine. Current challenge is "Portraits". Never really did any of those... so ought to be a good challenge for me.

I jumped into cardmaking, then stopped abruptly and hope to get back to it soon. That or scrapbooking, which I do enjoy doing when I'm in the right mindset.

I've started selling AVON (www.youravon.com/msmith4033) which has been fun for me... gets me out of the house more as well (the goal! If I'm not an active person, then anything that takes me away from the chair in front of the tv is a good decision in my book). Also, selling Build A Locket (www.picforever.com consultant id#570514) which offers amazing charms for these adorable necklaces, bracelets and keychains... Check it out.

Christopher is getting soooo big! He's 13 now, in the 7th grade... about 5'8" and size 11 shoe! I'm pretty sure he'll get over 6' He's into video games, the Beatles, plays guitar and trumpet and Green Day. He gets out to NY often and sees shows and goes to concerts and the like... he's a pretty well rounded kid.

Ivan is getting soooo big, too! (laugh here)... he's still working at the Optics factory. We enjoy our time together more, though! He also likes video games, reading and generally hangs out with me as much as he can. We enjoy going out for Chai or Vanilla Latte and maybe checking out local things... We go to book stores when we can... always fun to get out of the house. We watch movies at home together. It's a relaxing life, but it works for us.

Well, enough catching up for now... that's what's been going on. I'll do my best to get more posted here...

Should start up again with my blog. Need to find interesting things to post, though.

New Camera... new pics

Well, I finally had to replace my Sony Cybershot. My son had dropped it about two years ago and well, I was able to get 2 more years out of it.. but my last two outtings, I just did not want to work... so, I bought a Fujifilm Finepix S1500 camera. It's so nice... small, yet substantial. I've taken a few pics already with it... It has a panarama setting... which is pretty cool... so a view of Scranton is in order... and some firework shots, too from our Italian Festival this past weekend... La Festa. And of course, the cats... Nutter (grey) and Puddin' (the regal looking thin one)...

Caitlin and Will Concert

Well, today, I went out with a friend to a Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser, where Caitlin and Will were featured. Caitlin and Will were the winners of last year's CMT: Can You Duet? It was a very small venue and it was great that we got so close to the stage and able even to get pics taken with them... I went with a g/f from work. She's a HUGE fan. I didn't watch last season, but saw them sing at this season's finale. They have fantastic voices and really should have a CD out there, but I guess you can find their music at itunes.

Jam-Packed weekend

Well, last weekend, I didn't do much of anything... but this weekend, I'm pretty much busy every minute.

Friday night, I went out with a friend to Longhorn for some desert... have you had the Stampede??? OMG! Delicious! We shared, as it's basically HUGE... yummy.

This morning, Ivan and I went grocery shopping... a very routine thing for us to do... Early enough not to annoy Ivan with crowds and just a nice way to get out and spend time together. Our cupboards were pretty bare, so we definitely stocked up on lots of basics and loads of fruit an veggies. I'll be doing alot of cutting/storing/cooking tomorrow. Then, I went out to the movies with a friend from work... and we saw Julie and Julia... I've been sooooo eager to see this movie and loved it... I will definitely buy it when it comes out on DVD... And when that happens, I'll watch it immediately, too... AGAIN! :-) See it, if you haven't yet... I had to run to my friend, Meredith's house for some AVON books...

Oh yeah, I started selling AVON last weekend... so my first order will be submitted this week. Sooo, if any of you would like to purchase anything from me (free shipping often applies), please feel free to check out my AVON website... I'd love the orders, obviously. http://msmith4033.avonrepresentative.com/

Okay, back to my day... had to pick up books for upcoming sales... hope I can make enough to have fun! Then I can focus on paying my bills with my paycheck! LOL

Oh yeah, forgot that I checked out this new store (opened Wednesday) called Maines Source which is basically a grocery/restaurant supply store... got some great deals and will definitely be going back often! The aisle with the kitchen stuff had me drooling... Who knows, maybe after watching the Julie/Julia movie, I may be more inspired to cook with the right tools!

Drove Ivan to work tonight, too... as we are going to breakfast up in Carbondale with some friends of ours...

Soooo, then tomorrow's plan is, get up at an UNGODLY early hour... shower, go pick up Ivan, go out to breakfast, fly back home to meet Bob (Ivan's brother) on Skype for a video chat. Bob is in Spain at the moment in his 2nd home, which we've only heard about... so with the power of the internet and two webcams, we just might be able to view a bit of where he lives! I'm soooo excited.

Then, at 11, I've ordered some homemade chile verde tamales at Chicano's Restaurant on Prospect Ave in South Side Scranton and will be picking them up... we are going to freeze them and have from time to time. Yum! The taste takes me back to my roots.... growing up in Southern California, you get homemade tamales alot... and these are my first since I've moved to the East Coast (about 13 years ago)... crazy! and GOOD!

Then, tomorrow, I will be heading to Mt. Top for a concert with a friend from work (it's been alot of UPSers this weekend) LOL The show is Caitlin and Will from Can You Duet, last year on the CMT station... I'm not super familiar with them, but for $5, I thought, why not? I'd love to get out for a bit and hear some great country music. I think there is a biker ride or event for charity that is taking place at the same time... we'll see about that and I'll shoot pics!

Then, a few AVON calls for orders tomorrow night... then bed and a full work week! Not as much fun as the fun I am having this weekend!