giving up?!?!?!?!?

Well, I can't seem to keep this thing up to date anymore and it also appears that any fans I did have on this blog have given up as well.


If you wanna keep up with me, I am almost always on facebook.

I'll keep this up for a few more weeks and then the blog of me is going away, where ever dead blogs go.

Lucky me!

Did you know I have the worst luck in life? No joke, people from miles around know this.

Mom my jokes about it… for example the other day I was driving and got stuck on the road because of some hazardous waste mess. When I was talking to the cop, I asked if I should be on the lookout for anything – like odd rashes or what not. He told me I would be fine… at this point in the story my mom interrupts and says “did you tell the cop he doesn’t know you and you will most likely end up with some rare bacterial infection from just sitting outside this hazardous waste mess” and all I can do is laugh because she is so right.

There’s a reason I only buy $5 sunglasses because I know some how that a bin from the top shelf is going to randomly fall and bounce and someone hit said sunglasses, breaking them!

One would assume that when their landlord gives them keys to their new apartment they work… well only I would be unlucky enough to turn the lock from the inside before shutting the door only to discover the keys don’t work and the latch is on the other door so there is no getting in that way.

Only I would be unlucky enough to be all dressed up at work, only to have to toss out a bin of dirty water, only to have it fly right back onto said dressed up clothes and then have to sit through two meetings covered in dirty water.

Really I could write a book. This is just a small sample of situations I have found myself in the last few weeks. Maybe they should write a show about all the crazy not so lucky moments of my life… the writers would never need to make stuff up, I would supply them with endless ideas.

This is a picture of my feet with shoes on in the ER, mind you I didn't have clothes on, just one of those lovely hospital gowns... Someone was making fun of me for keeping my shoes on, but if I had to walk somewhere and didn't have my shoes on, I'd be so unlucky that I would just so happen to step on a used needle and get some horrible thing like AIDS.

califonia adventure and not the park

well, I can't believe I have been in California just over two months now... although a lot has happened.

My job is going good, it keeps me really busy and I am normally pretty beat when I get home - my bed time is about 9:30pm, but then again I do get up a 6am every morning.

On Feb 25th I was in a car accident while driving to work. For the most part I am okay... although my neck is curved the wrong was from the whiplash.

About a week later my car died, it was dying, but it really did die, while driving 70 mph on the freeway in the of fast line... thankfully I think fast and was able to get over 5 lanes of traffic before it totally died. I got to ride 36 miles in a tow truck and I never met Sid the Science Kid (which I were I was headed) That day I bought a new car... a 2008 Toyota Matrix!

totally cute, huh? It's been so nice to have a car again that you don't have to worry about, although it means living on an air bed for a wee bit longer.

things I think...

doesn't anyone know how to drive in the rain?

doesn't anyone know how to use their turn signal?

why does everyone think they are the wicked witch of the west and that rain will kill them?

why isn't anyone coming to pump my gas?

why is something that was 3.99 now 4 something?

and the list goes on and on... it's amazing how you can only be away for 2.5 years and already have a different way of life and thinking.

What Every Woman Should Know...

By Pamela Redmond Satran

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. one friend who always makes her laugh.. and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE a feeling of control over her destiny..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. . whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table.. or a charming Inn in the woods.... when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. What she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month...and a year...

AND REMEMBER:
GOOD FRIENDS ARE LIKE STARS.
YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THEM,
BUT YOU ALWAYS KNOW THEY ARE THERE!!!!!!
Be yourself...everyone else is already taken.

a trade

I am trading this...

for this!

This past week I went to So Cal for a job interview and got it! I start Feb 2nd, so it's a fast move back to So Cal. I am super excited, but overwhelmed with the idea of the big CHANGE and finding some where to live. Thankfully I have wonderful friends to crash with while I search.

Re-cap of 2008!

In January I got to give two workshops at the Southwest Washington Early Learning expo thing (I am really bad at remembering the names of things and I don’t want to go look them up), I went a little overboard, but this is me we are talking about – I don’t do simple.

In February I went up to Seattle for a networking meeting of all Infant Toddler people in the Pacific Northwest, I love this group of women and one man!

In April/May I was in California working for nearly 2 weeks – it was great fun. For the past 10 years I have helped One Circle put on huge events and this year we rocked! I had amazing volunteers and actually got to enjoy (and sit down) for part of the event. Then I got to lecture at UCLA (hello, me really!) It was very intimidating, but loads of fun. Everyone was super nice (even the people I made lay on the dirty ground- my lecture was on gross motor development and I needed some models).

This past July I went to Budapest AGAIN – love that place. They were having an advanced course on Infant Toddler development and I had to go again. I learned so much and even got to do some observations. While I was there we took a 32 hour trip to Vienna and had a blast. The highlight on Vienna was the food and most importantly the strudel, yum-o!
The day after I came back from Budapest I drove up to Seattle to help with a training for like 4 or 5 days (it really is all a blur), it was a lot of fun and I met some great people. Getting to work with my mentor Polly is always a treat. The only room left in the hotel I always stay at in Seattle was the “kings suite” it was amazing. It had two (yes, two) big flat screen TV’s one in the bedroom and one in the living room. With all that luxury I was expecting a decent tub (you know me and my almost nightly baths) and it was just an ordinary tub, boo.

September – I took on a crazy project. I had the opportunity to use the Vancouver Hilton Hotel free of charge pretty much, so I decided to organize a training with me as the trainer. I had over 60 people there and had to hire a good friend to be my assistant. It was a great day and Polly sent me flowers – the first time anyone (yes anyone) has ever sent me flowers and it totally made my day.
The last weekend before summer ended my mom, sister, her three kids and I went camping at Cape Lookout on the coast. We had a great time, got eaten by a ton of mosquitoes and enjoyed some cool sunsets and discoveries on the beach.

In October I got to speak at the Seattle Infant Conference again and I love this event, the people are awesome and my friends put it on. Also in October I got to speak at the Washington Early Childhood Education Conference which was entertaining. The posh hotel we (Polly spoke too) stayed at was amazing. I think I would go back to Tacoma again just to stay in that hotel again. And the HIGHLIGHT of October was the birth of my GREAT Nephew Elliott, born to my nephew Nate and his sweet wife Dana. Elliott is the love of everyone in the family. He is Mr. Personality and our little man. He was born with a full head of redish brown hair.

In November I entered back into the life of working craft shows, yuck! I have been making jewelry since at least 1991 and haven’t done a craft show in YEARS. Some friends talked me into this one and since I needed the money – I agreed. I didn’t make a whole lot of money, but it was still a fun day of hanging with the gals and talking about crafts.
Starting the weekend of Thanksgiving (well, really the work starts long before) my family gets into full gear for the holiday community project. For the past few years my family has headed up this project which serves nearly 400 families (one family has 14 children). It’s a LOT of work, but we love it. I love getting to spend other people’s money and making sure the magic of Christmas stays alive for so many children. Every year I stand in awe of people’s generosity and willingness to give of their time and money, even if they don’t have much. Many of the people that help this project to be successful should be recipients themselves.

In December most of Oregon was caught off guard with a giant SNOW storm, the biggest one in like 30 years. The town of Portland for example pretty much just shut down. We really only have enough snow plows to keep the freeways clear and good old Portland the greenest city in American can’t use salt… it kills stuff, didn’t you know. We use recycled gravel of course. In my neighborhood we got hit with nearly two feet of snow and others got more. I didn’t see mail for over a week and trash piled up, it was ridiculous. It also meant that I spend Christmas by myself with a TV dinner (which was gross by the way). Most schools ended up with a 3 week winter break this year, although they will have to do some make up before the school year comes to a close.

These were my highlights (well that I can remember anyways) I am sure I left stuff out, but oh well; I have a horrible memory so this is what you get.

Here’s to 2009!

Christmas with a broken camera!

This is what you get...

If you know me, you know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE taking pictures. I was totally sad that my camera didn't understand that it was an important day to work. I got NO, none, not one picture of Elliott on his first Christmas with the Owens clan. We had Christmas on the Sunday after Christmas, it was pretty simple and low key. As always Elliott is the life of the party and he made out in the gift department. He slept (for the first time that day) while we were opening gifts (which was that evening).

got out!

looking for nuts... too bad he's got to get through nearly 2 feet of snow before he reaches the ground that the nuts are under.

It was such the exciting day... I dug my car out yesterday and today my neighbor helped me put chains on my car and I drove 10 blocks to the store to get a few things... it was like one of the best days of my life! ha ha

I feel so lame - but really, after 3 days of not being able to get anywhere - it was huge to go 10 blocks... it was pretty interesting driving even with chains. Everyone out of the roads is being super nice and SLOW which is nice.

I decide last night that I wasn't even going to try to drive 60 plus miles to spend Christmas with my family. We are suppose to get 6in. more tomorrow and there just no way that I want to try and drive out there going like 10mph and hoping I don't end up in a ditch.

I got myself a fun TV dinner at the store today and that will be my Christmas dinner - lame I know, but it's the smart thing to do.

Merry Christmas!

Holy SNOW Batman!

P-town got dumped with a LOT of snow yesterday... 8-12in all around the city!

This morning I ventured out to take some pictures after I put on 10 layers of clothes.

Blogger is driving me crazy with the order of pictures, sorry!

anyone interested in a little frozen tomato?

(yes, that's my frozen snow covered tomato plant)

I thought this was a cool picture!

AFTER! I raked my front porch... yes, that's right I raked the snow.

Two year's ago when I moved into this house I wanted to buy a snow shovel and everyone told me I would NEVER need it... well weeks after I moved here I needed it and then again this weekend I needed one - should have let me just buy one.

Those trash cans are pretty much half way under snow...


Anyone want to sit and stay awhile?

Me breaking through the ice to get to the SNOW. We have about 8-12in of snow and then on top of that is a layer of ice.

See the layer of ice?!?!?!?!?

BEFORE! My front porch before I raked it clear, it's a covered porch mind you.

My car playing in the snow... silly car!

Snow piled up on the window ledge - OUTSIDE!

A view of the snow pile up on the window ledge - INSIDE!

I am trying to stay warm inside... most of the week we have had snow days, this is the worst. We are in a winter weather warning, whatever that means. Chains are required all over the city, which I have no desire to dig my car out of piles of snow, just to be chains on to look like all the other crazy people out there trying to get stuff done - just take a snow day people!

This is a bit TOO MUCH SNOW for me! It's super cold out and because of that there's lots of ice, so the cabin fever is really setting in... they are not sure when this snow will melt away because, it's suppose to stay super cold AND to make matters worse my house pretty much NEVER gets sun because I have the big red wood tree, so most people get their snow to melt away days before I do, urg!

Looks like it will be a white Christmas!

Great!

My Grown up Christmas List

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies
Well, I'm all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I'm not a child
But my heart still can dream
So here's my lifelong wish
My grown up christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up christmas list
As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree
Well heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up christmas list
What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth(there'd be)
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, oh
This is my grown up christmas list
This is my grown up christmas list

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxtluFgCRW8

Here we go again!

It seems like just yesterday that it was Christmas...

Last year, my mom and I headed up the community holiday project to ensure that 1500 children had a Christmas! We spent from Thanksgiving weekend until the first weekend in Jan. working on this amazing project. It's really the best way to spend the holidays. We weren't even half way through the project last year when we were already talking about the next year.

So, here we go again. We started even earlier this year - we made nearly 4000 tags in Oct and Nov. Starting writing letters to get someone to donate space for us to work and MONEY to buy toys. The tress with tags went up all around town over that thanksgiving weekend.

We have been a little worried about how the current economy situation is going to effect us this year. We already have requests in for over 2000 children and a huge donor ($5000) from last year, isn't able to come close to that donation this year, bummer.

While my mom and I were hanging tags on trees - we got a little hope for the season of giving. One lady came up and said - "tags, I am so excited - this is my most favorite part of Christmas, getting the toys on the tags" then the one that killed us both - another lady come up to get a tag and told us that her daughter has cancer and she doesn't want any toys this year, she just wants to get toys for other kids. My mom started crying on the spot.

When I am not packing up my house to move, you can find me at the "toy box" filling requests for the little ones. It really is the best way to spend the season!

On Black Friday, 6 of us got to Wal-Mart at 5am to get the best deals $500 could buy. We had a donor give us $500 and we wanted to make sure we could get the most for the money. As we were standing in line our 3 carts full of toys caused a few comments, when people found out we weren't shopping for ourselves, they were touched.

I think the most fun I have ever had in my life is filling cart after cart full of toys, spending other people's money to give children simple toys to ensure there is still magic at Christmas. Last year, I went into Target one day - 5 carts later the bill was close to $2,000 bucks and barely fit in the car.

Here we are with our three carts of goodies from Wal-Mart!

some days are just like this, even in australia

Thanksgiving 2008, can pretty much be explained by this picture!


It was a weekend of things just not really going as planned. Oh, well - it gives us something to talk about and remember. Thanksgiving morning we had our traditional breakfast at my sister's. She (having just recently had knee surgery) wasn't really able to get around as much as she thought she would be able to and so things just didn't get done as she would have liked. For example she had promised us all home made apple fritters and her dough didn't work out, so we had to live without them fritters, darn.

We had our turkey day dinner on Sunday night, to allow everyone to be able to spend the day with all the other families who had needs to have them there. Our stuffing was pretty much mush, it tasted good - but it was like baby food (no we didn't give any to Elliott). My mom couldn't find the gravy spoon, so a measuring cup works just fine.

It's more about spending time with family and friends then things going perfect, right. RIGHT! As always baby Elliott is the hit of all family functions now, we do a pretty good job of sharing him - Nate and Dana are the most laid back, first time parents I have ever met.

the posh hotel

Okay, no matter what I do blogger wants these pictures in THIS order - mind you it's not the order I would like them to be in. But, you now have to wait until the VERY END of this post to see the posh hotel room... oh, the suspense!

Since, I am sure you all didn't think the link to the hotel I stayed in a few weeks ago in Tacoma and since I am still talking about this hotel with everyone I can. I thought I would share my pics!

I am all about rooms with views... and I seem to always have to take pictures out of windows (random fact about me)

I have wanted one of these ihome ipod docks for some time, but I didn't know how much I would love love love it until I got to play with the one in my hotel room... oh, and if you didn't have an ipod - you just had to call the front desk and tell them what kind of music you like and they would bring up an ipod for you to use while you were there - I told you they were posh.

Oh, and if anyone loves me enough to get my an ihome ipod dock for Christmas, you would be my new best friend forever more!

The bathroom - while it was overall very impressive, personally I would have liked a spa tub - I mean if you are going to be totally posh and all, why not have a spa tub.

Here you have it, my room! Polly (my mentor) had pretty much everything the same in her room expect the art (each floor had a different theme) and her lamps were red. The bed was super duper comfortable, I didn't want to get up - ever! They had a pillow menu, yes you read that right a pillow menu and got to pick out the kind of pillows that best suited you for your stay. I felt like a queen getting to pick out pillows that I would use for 2 nights.
The whole hotel was impressive... although if you ever stay here and you don't like nudes, avoid the 8th floor! HA HA! I am cracking up just thinking about the adventure that was the 8th floor!

Been Tagged

My Friend, Michelle tagged me!

8 IS GREAT!!!

8 TV Shows that I love to watch:
1. Samantha Who
2. Without a Trace
3. CSI (all of them)
4. Extreme Makeover Home Edition
5. ER (and no I haven’t watched it this whole time it’s been on)
6. Dancing with the Stars (but, I just started when my mom gave me the go ahead that all the horrible people were off – I can’t stand to watch people who can’t tell their right foot from their left try and dance.
7. So You Think You Can Dance (can’t wait for this SUMMER)
8. The Bachelor or The Bachelorette – I know they are horrible shows, but I can’t help myself.

8 Things that happened to me yesterday:
1. Went through my beading stuff and started a pile of stuff I wanted to get rid of
2. Went to Michaels to return some stuff
3. Sat on my couches talking with Kristen
4. Did some research about Etsy and Paypal
5. Got up at the crack of dawn to retrieve my trash cans before the wind took them away
6. Took a bunch of stuff to the recycle bin
7. SHOWERED (ask Ali, this is a BIG DEAL)
8. Can’t think of anything else

Favorite places to eat:
1. Quiznos
2. Red Bicycle Café – local joint
3. New York Bagel Café - local joint
4. Jamba Juice
5. Bugerville
6. Almost any place that serves PIZZA
7. East Burnside – local joint
8. Cup and Saucer – local joint

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Christmas – its Elliott’s first!
2. Hopefully having reached a decision by Dec. 10th
3. Getting rid of stuff, call it fall cleaning
4. The rainy season to be done, ha ha – I live in Oregon the rain never really goes away
5. Figuring out plan XYZ
6. The Community Holiday Project – it’s a big job, but it’s the best way to spend the holidays!
7. Baking, it’s holiday time!
8. A new year and hope for better things to come

8 things on my wish list:
1. Find an amazing job
2. Find funders
3. Become a millionaire
4. Get my life more organized
5. World Peace
6. Cure for Brain Cancer
7. A new car
8. Stop having the police question me about crimes in the hood, a girl can wish!

8 people I tag!
1. I
2. Don’t
3. Think
4. 8
5. People
6. Read
7. My
8. Blog!

make up, skin care and the like

My sister is pretty much the expert in this department. If she wasn't my sister and willing to share her wonderful knowledge with me, then I would be at a total loss. REALLY!

This weekend, my sister and I spent some time reading about new products - WE LOVE IT! While we were reading over the costumer reviews, I was reminded how clueless most people can be. (did you like how I didn't call people stupid, cause that's really what I was thinking - me trying to be nice, go me)

A few things you should know about make up and skin care before you try something new or write a review.

1. When you try something new, give it at least a month. REALLY! It takes time for your skin to adjust to something new or a change. People often say, but I break out so I stop - BAD IDEA! Now, I am not saying that if you break out so bad you end up in the hospital that you should keep taking the stuff. Every thing I try, I break out! I have super duper sensitive skin. What I have learned over the years (and thanks to my sister) is that my skin gets worse before it gets better. If you are not willing to give something a whole 30 days, at least give it a week.

2. DON'T TRY A BUNCH OF NEW THINGS AT ONCE! Do I need to repeat that? How on earth will you ever know what if anything worked well or didn't or if you are allergic to it. Give your skin time to adjust, people - it's the largest living organ of you body.

3. A face cleanser is often NOT, I repeat NOT a make up remover! There's a reason people invented make up remover, and no it was not just to sell you another product. You remove make up and then you use a face cleanser. Please stop bashing face cleansers for not removing your make up, it's not what they were invented for nor do they promise to do just that - READ.

Now, here's my shameless plug for Bare Escentuals! My sister and I LOVE THIS STUFF!
I will admit, I did not like it one bit the first time I tried it. It took me going in a few times, letting them know what I liked and didn't like about what I had tried, etc. for me to get what was right for my skin. Even with my sister and I being related our skin is not the same - what works for her, does not work well for me. Ask questions, research and experiment.

Okay, getting off my soap box now. Thanks for listening.

posh

Today I arrived in Tacoma, WA to speak at a conference. I am staying in this totally posh hotel room. You all would have gotten a kick out of me. I literally didn't even put my bags down (all 5 of them) before grabbing my camera and taking pictures of my room. I can't post pictures because I didn't bring my connector cable. But you can check out the hotel for your self, Hotel Murano.

I did my presentation today and it went very well. As always I prepared way more than I had time for, but now I get to sit back and enjoy the rest of the conference. It's a nice benefit of speaking the first day.

The reason you ask for 5 bags. WAIT, it's 6! 1: my purse 2: my laptop bag 3: a bag full of handouts for my workshop 4: a bag with my overhead projector, toys and a baby doll (for my workshop) 5: clothes and personal items for the 3 days 6: some food

I'll have you know I did it all in one trip, although I did nearly take out 100 people in my attempt to only make one trip.

Oh, and I am sick again! I was worried my voice wouldn't make it through my workshop.

Meeting Baby Elliott!

This past weekend, I was finally feeling well enough to make the trip to meet my first Great Nephew Baby Elliot.

We had our weekly family dinner, it was Elliott's first time attending and it was also his 2 week birthday. He is such the little man. I am totally in love with him. He has this full head of dark hair. He is the most expressive and full of movement 2 week old I have ever meet.

My sister Karilyn holding baby Elliott

Khlia holding baby Elliott... this was all she wanted for her b-day was to get to hold him.

His full body including his cute little foot!

Ready for your close up, little man?

I love that he was wearing one of the millions of outfits I have gotten him. He's a little rock star baby! He pretty much slept the whole time he was at my mom's. I love that he thinks he lives in Australia and sleeps all day and is awake all night. If he was in Australia he would have it just right. He's totally related to me!

End of Summer Family Camp Out

I know it's been a month now since this trip... I am totally behind the times. Just before the last day of summer, we headed out for a family camp out to Cape Look Out. We had a BLAST! and it only rained the last night we were there and we stayed pretty dry considering.

We did get ambushed by Raccoons the first night and they got some of our food. The Mosquitoes were out of control. I mean we were at the ocean, running water - why did we have mosquitoes. Crazy bugs, don't they know they are suppose to like STILL water. Here are just a few picture from the trip... I'll post more at another time when I have more time. But, until then enjoy these few.

We are big babies in my family... Khlia, my mom and I all needed our own tents.

I pretty much showered in this every 5 minutes, even though it said you didn't need too. I came home with like 25 bites.

We took many long walks on the beach to discover what natura had in store for us to see. The first morning we discovered this star fish.

I love sunsets, this was the 2nd night. The first night Khlia and I read on the beach while the sunset, it was so relaxing.

Aeddan and Khlia making some yummies!

Random Fact of the Day

Even when you can't breath and therefore think you can't smell.... farts still smell.


In case you wanted to know.


I am cracking up at myself over this little piece of information I discoved today.