Beautiful days and beautiful objects

You know, I despise getting up early in the morning.    I grumble and yawn and curse under my breath sometimes, but when I see views like this on my morning drives, I completely forget about getting up early.   We've had really mild weather here in the Pacific Northwest these days.   I've heard a lot of places across the U.S. have had some wild and crazy weather.    Well, I'm the last to complain because I'd rather have the sun and warmer weather than snow.  :)

Can you believe this is my drive to work?

This past weekend my girlfriend and I had a great afternoon of vintage shopping at the Funky Junk Sister's Vintage Market. Of course, I took out a set amount of money and ended up using my debit card in the end. Always going over my budget, lol. A couple of some adorable finds.

For the guest bedroom that I am redoing.

Hope you're all surviving the crazy weather! Whether cold or hot, enjoy every minute of your beautiful life! xoxo

Learning to relax and stay balanced.



Photo courtesy of Christine Bauer Photography

So I've had a few resolutions this year.   To tell you the truth, I"m tired of calling them resolutions.  I'm going to call them "life goals or ongoing projects" because if you're like me, who knows when the goal will be completed and I detest pressure.  ;) 

One of my goals is to learn to relax and stay balanced (and refrain from pinning like a mad woman on Pinterest every five minutes).  Granted, I already have sort of a calm demeanor but I tend to hold everything in until I hit a wall.  Then I turn into a recluse for a few days.  Not return calls, avoid going anywhere besides work and straight home..and I mean straight home DO NOT PASS GO.      I turned into a scatterbrain the end of last year. I started forgetting things.  Doing things twice because I couldn't remember if I had done it already. Ugh!  

So, aside from my full time and contract part time job, cat shelter volunteering,  women's group that I meet with one Sunday a month, writing another book, spending time with my boyfriend and friends in general, I am going to focus on finding me again.   I've made a list to help me out with that.  I'm finding writing lists is a good memory tool for me.  :)

1.   Meditate at least one day a week (and mind you, I'm not setting unrealistic goals that will put me into shock).
2.  Cook one meal a week at home (I'm ALWAYS eating out. It's terrible).  Oh and take the time to enjoy what I eat!   Savor each bite instead of scarfing it down like there's no tomorrow.
3.  Exercise at least 15 minutes a day (even if running up and down two flights of stairs at home counts).
4.  Take one bath a week with wonderful smelly things (aside from the daily shower).
5.  Spend quality time with the boyfriend and his two dogs (because they always makes me feel good about myself)
6.  Spend quality time with my cats.   Get down on the floor and play at their level and distract them from the fact that I am only their meal provider.
6.  Catch up with my favorite series Downton Abbey (or any movie) on Netflix because I can never find time to even watch one full length show! 

So, that's it for now.   Have you set any goals yet this year?

xoxo

Brighter New Year!

Love, love, loving this coat I got from Target a couple of weeks ago.   Yea, it's bright, yea, it's a little obnoxious but this year I am going to start wearing brighter clothes!    It's sort of vintage, too so I had to buy it.   Bright = happiness, right?  :) 

Are you like me?   I go to Target to get necessities and end up with about a thousand other things in my cart that were not on my list.  *sigh*   I am guessing that will be my New Year's resolution.   A little self-control with the spending!  ;)

Happy belated New Year!    May 2013 be positive and fruitful for you all!

A New Twist on Chocolate Chip Cookies and Revealing Mr. Right.

I had a brilliant idea the other day while baking for a group of girlfriends for a Christmas get together. Now you know one of my favorite cookies is the chocolate chip cookie but I was getting kind of bored with the same 'ol thing. I tried to change it up a few times by putting in different brand chocolate chips, maybe darker chocolate chips and then when I saw this at the store, IT HIT ME! Why not chop up this orange ball into chips and put them in my cookies? I mean, I LOVE the combination of orange and chocolate. In fact, my favorite ice cream was from Swensens Ice Cream Shop, Swiss Orange Chip. Does anybody remember Swensens?
  

Well, suffice it to say, it was DELICIOUS! So, I prepared a package for each of the girls to have their own cookie dough to take home and bake with these goodies! To think of all the other flavors these chocolate balls come in too! Oh my, you could go crazy with variations!   Oh, I also used a great new recipe that I have been loving found on another blog.  Here is the link! 

 

Perseus thinks everything's for him

Okay....and.....I'm sure you are all dying to know about my love life. ;) Well, okay, maybe not. I have to realize I'm not always the center of attention or questions. Lol!  Here we are...me and Sergio. 

After hiking to the top of Multnomah Falls this past summer.  We both love hiking.

We met this summer (July to be exact) and have been dating ever since. I truly think my dream has come true (and praying that the dream lasts forever). Sergio is the most kindest, most respectful man I have ever met. I feel like the luckiest girl alive. I have never, EVER been treated this wonderfully in my life. He is always so positive, always thinks of me first when we're together, always encourages me and, *sigh*, translates Spanish love songs for me. The best part of all, he is as big (if not bigger) of an animal lover as I am. He loves my cats and my cats LOVE him.   Oh...all that aside from the fact he's HANDSOME! I'm not sure what I did right to deserve this but I am so thankful.


At my firms' Christmas party a few weeks ago.

A beach trip with Sergio and his two adorable dogs.  Sage is the German Shepherd (with his one floppy ear, lol) and spunky Max his Lab.  They are both as sweet as can be!

Well that's it for now!  I'm getting ready to head to sunny Southern California to be with my family and then off to Montana with my sister's family for some fun in the snow, maybe skiing and definitely a sleigh ride!   Will post more pictures later!  

Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season (despite the recent tragedies).   I pray that the families of all the loved ones who have been affected by the tragedy in Newtown (and anywhere for that matter) will find healing in their heart come sooner rather than later. 

xoxo





I found the Grinch!

No but seriously, he was the only one that would stay still when I put the hat on. He's the only one that FREEZES whenever something odd has been slipped on him. :) Thanks for being a good sport, Quincy!

Perseus

I'm quickly realizing that I'm a hoarder.   Not your normal hoarder who hoards food, clothes, makeup or even shoes.  Nope.  I'm a cat hoarder.   I should be enrolled in Cats Anonymous if there is such a thing. My name is Michelle and I'm a cat hoarder.  Well I'm not feeling guilty one bit!   I'm thankful my sweetheart loves animals as much as I do also.  :)  

So, with that said, meet Perseus.  He's six months old and every bit a spunky teenager.    My best friend rescued him and his sister from inside a crate that was delivered to their scrap metal business.   She heard little cries coming from the crate but they were in a spot where she couldn't get to them.  So, she called Roto Rooter and had them cut them out!  Unfortunately one did not make it but Perseus and his sister Lily survived.    However, Perseus was near death.    His body temperature was so low and they weren't sure if he would make it.   They rushed him to a vet where he was dipped in warm water throughout the night to get his body temperature back up.    The little bugger made it.   It was a miracle.  Unfortunately she couldn't keep Perseus because of her dogs and begged for me to FOSTER.   That dreaded six letter word sucked me in yet again.   I agreed to FOSTER.   Well, you know the story from there right?  

The great thing is he has brought the kitten out of Quincy and they both play like brothers.  :))

Baby Perseus not long after he was rescued.

Five months old and all TEEN.

He started getting a little too comfortable.

I mean WAY comfortable.

True love...he's mine..all mine.

Someone get me a can of tuna! Meow

The only time you will see me dressed up as a CAT.  Lol!    I cannot believe I had to work in this today but my office literally forced me.    I told them I would in exchange for cans of tuna.   I tried it on at home and I scared the cats out of their fur, well almost.   Quincy's eyes nearly bugged out of his head and everyone else ran under the bed.    I can imagine what they were thinking.   Crap!  Mom has finally turned into one of us!  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  Stay safe!
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A Visit with the Family!

So, I'm debating whether to start a brand new blog altogether.   Do you ever feel like some things have gone full circle?   Like maybe that was part of a past life?   I guess I'm kind of feeling like that about this blog.  I'm not sure why?   Maybe it has felt like several lives ago since I last blogged and so much of my life has changed since then.   Hmmm....I will have to think on that for awhile.

Anyway, about a week and a half ago I went home to visit family!  Well, more specifically my sister, niece and brother-in-law.  See, they are not going to be around at Thanksgiving so I wanted to spend some quality time with them before they leave for my brother-in-law's mother's place in Florida.   It turned out to be such a fun visit!   We decorated the house for Halloween.  I watched my niece as she started crafting her costumer (she's going to be a Skittle, he! he!), played with Max, my doggy nephew and Paris' new guinea pigs Flapjack and Peanut (so dang cute), had a wonderful dinner with the family (unfortunately mom and step dad couldn't make it that night).  The weather was beautiful, there was a gorgeous sunset that evening and fun was to be had by all!

Here are a few family pics we took from that evening.   We HAD to take advantage of that "to die for" sunset!  Oh and yes, I have REALLY blonde highlights.  Lol!    My Fall color.  I'm thinking my next visit I'll be going back to dark with deep burgundy highlights (like you all needed to know that,, lol).

The three siblings

Me and Paris!

Sis' beautiful fam

The gang before dinner

Me, bro and Paris!

There's nothing that can replace your family, so visit often, laugh together a lot and love always!

xoxo

Surprise, surprise, surprise!

Hi everyone!  Yes, it's me...remember me?   I'm still alive.  I'm so sorry I haven't posted in SO, SO, long...it seems like centuries!  I have been awfully busy with two jobs and life in general but mainly having two jobs (which I really don't need but feel obligated to my last job I was trying to leave for a new job) has really put a cramp in my blogging style.    

I wanted to let you all know I plan on coming back to blogging very soon, I hope!   Update in a nutshell:

1.    Michelle is up another kitty making it a total of 4.  Will introduce Mr. Perseus (my new 4 month old terror very soon).
2.    Two legal jobs keeping me very busy these days.
3.    A new love (latin lover, I should say).  Crossing fingers HE is the one but still a little hesitant (and superstitious about this stuff) before divulging him.
4.    A new car (Mazda 3...in pearl white!)
5.    My garden didn't fair well this year but still salvaged a few tomatoes.
6.    Got in tons of hikes this summer with my new love.
7.    Still dreaming....
8.    I am on Pinterest if you would love to follow me!   
9.   I am on Facebook and would love to have you as a friend!   

Hope you are ALLLLLLL doing well!   I miss you all so much!    I am very active on Facebook and Pinterest these days.   Blogging takes longer so it's harder to find time but I plan on carving time out for getting back to it!

Hope I see you soon!

Some of us are lazy...

But mom wants you all to know that she hasn't been lazy, just BUSY! Between the cat shelter, ghost hunting, opening a booth at a local antique mall with her girlfriend, working a job and a half, yoga, writing, and more we're amazed she has time to still play with us!

Anyway, she wanted me to let you know she's still alive. If you haven't noticed, she still has time to feed us. THANK GOD.

You knew I couldn't last long...meet Lily!

Yep, you all know me well. I think three is my lucky number. :) But there's a story that comes with this. Lily is from the shelter I volunteer at. When she came into the shelter (6 years ago...she is now 9 years old) she was pretty feral. When I came to work at the shelter a couple years ago or so..I felt drawn to her...because she was so shy and feral and would hardly let anyone touch her. I worked with her and worked with her every time I went in. Today, she is loving and loves to be touched and given love. I made a promise to her that should my circumstances change and I could find room in my life for her...I would...and I did.

She is one of a few cats that have been at the shelter most of her life and probably was not adoptable. Since we have been so overcrowded at the shelter, I felt like this was the right time. She is so happy. She's doing things I have never seen her do at the shelter that tells me she is a happy girl. I'm keeping her separated for a little while until the other kitties warm up to her.

I think Quincy is trying to impress her.

This doesn't look like the shelter. I think I finally have my own home!

More pictures to come!

Crocheting Away!

So I've taken up crocheting...and I've turned into a mad crocheting woman! It all started before Christmas, really. I wanted to make handmade gifts. I love homemade gifts that are given to me..I just think they are a little more special than store bought gifts because love and hard work went into making them. Soooo....I started off with those infinity scarves that are so popular now and crocheted three to give as gifts to the girls in my family.

Of course, being a Gemini and acquiring ADD at an older age, I get bored quickly so I had to change it up a little. I started crocheting these darling wrist warmers. :)


It's a little hard to have yarn around with cats. Lol! But you know I can't deny 'em!



Happy Thursday!

My five dollar find....

I love it. Don't you? Thank God for "inexpensive" antique stores. :)

What is your vision for 2012?

First off, Happy New Year, everyone! I am so glad 2011 is over with. I am thankful for so many things that had happened this past year but this year seemed to have more struggles than others. One of my biggest struggles was losing Mocha, as you well know. It's still hard for me to look at pictures or talk about her without crying.

HOWEVER, one of my goals (I don't like saying New Year's resolution because when I say that I never stick to it) is to look at the positive side of things. I am thankful for all that I have in my life and appreciate these gifts everyday. :) So, what will be will be and for now, I take things day by day and try to be the happiest I can be everyday.

Anyhoo, I'm rambling. To start out the new year, my girlfriend and I decided to get together and create vision boards. Have you seen those? It's where you cut things out of magazines, pictures, words, or whatever it is you want to put on it that will reflect what you want in your life and that's what we did. We had a nice quiet and fun evening putting these together along with munchies and a bottle of wine. Quincy and Emma are in disagreement since I convinced her to bring Sage, her puppy (well big puppy) over. Needless to say, Emma spent the evening under the bed but Quincy, well I'm a little impressed. He stood his ground with Sage and would not budge..hissed a little...raised his back a little....went poof with his fur and Sage actually left him alone. I think she may have been afraid a bit. Lol! It was very funny to watch. Quincy and Emma have been around dogs before but not one this big. Sage is such a puppy herself, I knew things would be okay.

I am so proud of Quincy though! He stood up for what he believed in and didn't run in fear. We need to take advice from him for the New Year, right? I, myself, am taking his advice and taking a risk this year on something big but I will have to wait to tell you. I'll have to see how it turns out first. If it's successful, I'll tell ya. If not, maybe you'll forget I said anything. ;)

Hope you all had a wonderful celebration and like me, start 2012 off with only positive thoughts!

xoxo

Happy Holidays!

Picture Courtesy of Country Living Magazine

Just stopping in to wish you all a wonderful holiday! I am headed to California again. I have been so busy lately and I have been a horrible blogger...but after the New Year it will be another story! I promise! I miss you all so much. My New Years resolution will to be more organized and set aside an amount of time to blog every week.

Hope you all have a cozy holiday with family and friends. See you soon!

While cleaning up the garden....

I picked some fresh rosemary to dry but then I had another idea. :)



Voila! A fresh Rosemary wreath. :)

It made the kitchen smell so good!

Hope you're all having a wonderful week! I just bought my tickets to fly home to California for Thanksgiving! I can't wait because I am always missing my family and I am so thankful for my family during this holiday season. :)

Still here....

We've just been healing from our loss of Miss Mocha...and being sick for weeks on end. Quincy and Emma have taken wonderful care of me. :) The kitties have even gone through a change since Mocha has been gone. Quincy went through a bit of a depression and became VERY needy with mommy for weeks after. Emma on the other hand turned into the happiest little kitten you'd ever seen. She plays now and runs around like a happy go lucky cat. Lol! Mocha and Emma never really got along so I think Emma is probably happy she is the alpha female now. I, on the other hand, still tear up to this day. Even yesterday, driving to work, it hit me without warning and I sobbed in the car while driving. I know this will take time but life goes on! We have pretty much gotten back to a normal schedule and I will be posting more. I have missed you all and I'm so sorry I haven't visited you more often!

I hope you are all doing wonderful and not sick like me! This past weekend I literally watched The Hallmark channel ALL weekend long. You know, those holiday movies that make us all have the warm fuzzies and wish life could really be like those movies? Well, I watched them all twice now. I'm waiting for the new ones next weekend but I probably don't plan on watching them twice. Oh who knows, maybe I will. I love weekends home, especially on cold rainy days where I can snuggle in with the kitties and drink a hot cup of tea in bed with my favorite chocolate croissant from Trader Joes. :) xoxo

Goodbye My Sweet Mocha (1996-2011)

I am crying as I write this post. Mocha's beautiful soul went to kitty Heaven on Saturday morning. After a two year battle with IBD, she gave up her fight. She had such tenacity and stubbornness about life that she truly was my other half since I am the same. It's hard to put into words what she brought into my life. She saw so many transitions of my own life and followed me wherever my road went and stood by my side without a single word of judgment. She only gave me love and acceptance. She was a part of my soul.

I was so fortunate to have her come into my life at 7 weeks old and to think that I almost turned her away. God had a plan when he gave me that little push to take her in even after I had picked another kitten out to take home with me. When that young pet store attendant begged me to take the screaming ball of fur because no one else would, it broke my heart. The words "no one else will take her" was the deciding factor for me. So, fleas and all, I brought her home to my little studio apartment that I had after my divorce and we bonded from that moment on.

No words can explain what it feels like to lose one of our fur babies. They don't judge, they don't hurt purposefully and all they want from us is love and to be taken care of. I did the best I could as her mother and I only pray she is now in a field of all the food she wants and all the furry friends to play with.

I love you, Mocha. There will always be a hole in my heart that can never be filled with the love that you gave me. It will take me a very long time to get used to not doing the things I do when I see you....to not hear that little meow saying hello to me and especially to no longer feel you kneading on my stomach for your own comfort. It will be hard but I hear time heals all wounds so until it does, I will hold your memories in my heart now and forever.

Rest in peace my sweet baby.

Despite the short summer we had....

The tomatoes turned out beautiful! I really was never a fan of fresh tomatoes but as I grew older my taste has somewhat changed. Isn't it funny how our tastes change throughout our lives? Why is that? I still am not crazy about the big beef steak tomatoes but these tiny little sweet tomatoes are so perfectly sweet and easy to just pop into my mouth. When I harvest, at least half of them end up in my mouth before I bring them in. :)

Herb Window

Remember the "fern" window I painted similar to this several years ago? Well, I'm starting my herb window. :) I found some old windows in a sweet little antique shop near the tea house my girlfriends and I have tea at. I'm having tea on Saturday, so I may pick some more up.

P.S. Can you send prayers for my little Mocha. She's been doing so well, even through her ups and downs, but the last few days she has been a little down and has lost weight. She has rallied for the last two years and despite visits to the vets, no one has been able to pin point what her underlying problem has been with her IBD. I realize our little fur babies don't live forever but if it's not her time, she could use some prayers. Thank you, everyone!