Memorial Service at MIT

I collect things

Happy Birthday, John!

Valentine's Day cards - GIVEAWAY

Friday night at midnight I'll draw one random winner and I will send you a set of these Valentine's Day cards. Leave a message on this blog post and TELL ME WHO YOU LOVE. I love my nieces and nephews.

Click HERE if you want to buy a set of the 4 cards (1 each of these 4 photos) for $10.

The things you see when you work at MIT

Antique bread box found in Oregon

These triplets were at Rosie's party...

…I wanted to take a couple of them home with me.

Rosie's Oscar themed 1st birthday party

Antique suitcase

Valentine's Day cards for sale

4 Valentine's Day photocards (1 of each photo) for $10.  Click HERE to hop to my Etsy shop.

View from seat 7A

Goodbye, Oregon.

Heading home

Fingers crossed the weather won't be an issue and I can get home tonight.

Cards

I play lots of double solitaire with my mom.  I bought her these skinny cards but she didn't really like them (they make shuffling easier).

Running shoes for a non-runner

I don't like to run but I like running shoes (and the Nike discount--thanks, Chuck).

Antiquing in Aurora

This little Oregon town has lots of antique shops.  I found an old bread box (with a red lid, of course).  I wish I had bought a metal cake stand but was worried it wouldn't fit in my luggage.  Next time I'll take a bigger suitcase!

Old Oregon cars

Seen on a Sunday drive.

A favorite Portland restaurant

We ate there twice in 5 days.  Good burgers.  And the root beer float hit the spot.

I'm in Portland

Do you recognize the PDX carpet?!?

Over Amarillo

My dad inherited a farm years ago that was in Vigo Park (near Amarillo).  I'd love to fly to Texas, rent a car and drive around the state with my camera.  I guess that's on my Bucket List.

I say belt, you say buckle

Layover at DFW.

I promise I don't eat out every night...

…BUT tonight a friend and I went to Bertucci's.  They brought us rolls and drinks and we ordered a small silano pizza and small salads.  We ate our salads and waited and waited AND waited for the pizza.  Forty minutes later someone (a manager?) came to tell us that our pizza FELL ON THE FLOOR when they took it out of the oven so they made us a new one that would be out in a few minutes.  She offered us free dessert (which neither of us wanted).  Why didn't they just give us a FREE pizza?!?

Seek and ye shall find

BurgerDive

One of the best chocolate shakes.  Ever.

Red berries

Good

Tonight I went for a good late night walk and then enjoyed a good late night cinnamon roll.

Bishop Bement

And the 8th bishop of the Arlington Ward is Kenny Bement.  He'll be terrific.

3 libraries - 1 day

Sibling love

Sledding with Chuck

The Florida Pattons

I didn't take this picture (their friend Melissa did) but I love it.  And them. And all that hair.

Recipe Swap - curry

Tonight was the monthly Recipe Swap - curry themed.  Our lovely hostess Mary made this delicious dish and another woman made coconut curry rice.

There were 7 of us there and we had a lively conversation (mostly about adoption).  I love the women in my ward.  And I love that our Relief Society has momentum and good energy.

My mom's birthday card

Today is Nan's 81st birthday.  I took this photo in the New York City subway.

1 flat tire = $248 + 2 new tires

I had a flat tire this morning on the way to work.  My best option was to stop at the closest gas station and get two new tires.  What a crappy way to start the new year.

Best medicine

I'm home sick today (what a way to start the year).  My friend brought me a turkey terrific from Neillios.  I feel better already.

New Year's lesson

I taught Relief Society today (a presidential perk) about goals/new year's resolutions.  My favorite quotes I shared are:

Kelly McCaleb (a favorite blogger/instagrammer that I would love to meet someday) talked about things becoming clear and understanding that what you feed in your life, grows.  What you don't, withers.  And so she wants to be sure that she is feeding the thinks that are most important to her.

And I really like this quote President Uchtdorf shared in the January Ensign (and I wouldn't mind meeting him someday too!):  An old proverb says, "The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.  The second-best time is now."

EP advice

Back up your blog.  Since I blog every day it would be a few hundred dollars to make it into a book so I make a pdf of my blog each year. It's really easy through blog2print.  Just follow the directions for making a book and it will give you the option of making a pdf and it's only $7.95!






















EP advice: take it or leave it.

I met baby Silva tonight...

…cute boy

T.W.

I snuck in a little T.W. (Temple work) tonight before the 2-week closure.

Not so big snow storm

It only took about 11 minutes to clean off my car but baby it's cold outside!

New Year's clean up

It feels good to start the new year more organized and with less expired food in my cupboards.  #3trashbagsfull

Now you see it, now you don't

Christmas is packed up and put away.  Happy New Year!