yoga at force

So right before Christmas my mom asked if I wanted to do a yoga class with her.  Considering I don't do much physical activity and that is definitely not good for me, I thought yoga would be a great way to start out.  She was interested and she is crazy about working out and keeping to a schedule so she would be a great motivator for me.

Right after we had a conversation, there was a great deal on Fox 8's Website for 55% off of 10 yoga sessions at Force Indoor Sports in Rocky River!  What a deal right?  We signed up and we ready to start.

Of course, the holidays were right around the corner which made it difficult to start right away, so yesterday we went to our first class.  It was amazing!  We did the slow yoga class with an instructor whose name I cannot remember right now and I feel so bad because she was great.  She explained everything because neither of us were super familiar with yoga and there was one other newer girl in the class.

I really liked that the class was small, only 4 of us total, and it was a great pace and an awesome workout.  I can't wait to go back next Monday.  I'd love to go more than once a week but I'm starting out small and seeing how it goes.

Plus, Thursday I am going to be participating in my first Jazzercise class with my mom.  Yep, Jazzercise.  Yikes!

holidays, hocking hills, and a little lack of blogging

So I'm a little late on the 2011 recap and the 2012 new year's resolution posts.  I also haven't posted anything in over two weeks!  Yikes!

With the holidays, then a short vacation, then the new year, I just haven't taken the time to sit down and spend time writing.  I know I need to get better at that.  Hmmmm...maybe a new year's resolution right there!  More for that later though.

Christmas flew by so quickly this year, as it usually does.  It was a wonderful holiday and I enjoyed every second of it.  Ben and I were able to spend all of Christmas Eve and Christmas day together which is exactly what I wanted.  We spent time with both of our families and enjoyed just being with everyone.  I am so thankful for the wonderful holiday we had.

On Tuesday after Christmas we took a little trip down to Hocking Hills with our friends Melissa and Anthony.  We spent 3 nights in a little cabin with Breckyn and had a great time.  We ate, we drank, we slept in, we hiked, we ate and drank more, we played Phase 10 too many times, and even exchanged some Christmas gifts.  It was a great little break from all of the holiday 'hustle and bustle.'

Ben and I spent New Year's Eve at work, which was better than spending money right?  That's what I am telling myself at least!  It was fun to be with our work friends, but after midnight I was able to go home and did so quickly.  Today we spent some time with my dad's family for the annual New Year's Day potluck lunch and now we have the rest of the evening to hang out and relax.  What could be better than that?

Since I did not take one single Christmas or New Year picture, I have lots of Hocking Hills pictures to share.  We didn't do very much, but we did got to Old Man's Cave which was beautiful.  I still have no idea how to put pictures into a collage, so unfortunately I will just be adding them one at a time and this will end up being an extremely long post.  Any help with this problem would be much appreciated!!

pierogies step one

working so hard

ready for cooking

ready for eating!

a cabin is not complete without a massage chair

very serious game of Connect 4

Melis and Anthony on our hike at Old Man's Cave

Breckyn, Ben and mysefl

some serious tree roots

Phase 10

a very serious game that is addicting

2 years in the making

So two years ago I decided to cross stitch my sister a Christmas stocking.  I had a cross stitch stocking that our grandma had made me.  She passed away before my sister was born so she never received one.  No big deal, all these years she has had a cute little stocking, but I thought it would be nice if she had one that was handmade too.  It is just so much nicer and has meaning to it, and I like to try new crafts so I thought why not.

Well, I never finished it before Christmas.  The holiday season gets so hectic and we lived together at the time which made it really hard to work on when it was supposed to be a gift!

At Christmas I gave her what was done and told her I would finish it.  Then the following Christmas came around and I still didn't have it done.  Grad school got in the way, other projects came up, plus work, and a house, and a million other excuses.

Eventually the cross stitch part of the stocking was finished.  Then it came to sewing it.  So I put that off for awhile too.  Well I finally got my sewing machine from my mom's house and decided the stocking needed to be finished.

I spent two hours this afternoon putting it together and I couldn't be happier with the finished product.  It was my very first cross stitch and the first time I have sewed in awhile!  She loved it and it is hanging on my parents mantel already.

Merry Christmas Heather...hope you love it!

hello december!

When I turned the page on my calendar today I could not believe that it was actually December.  The last month of 2011.

I feel like this year just started!  So much has happened this year, and it has definitely had its ups and downs.  At this point in the year, I know everything that happened did for a reason, and even if it is hard to think about sometimes, I am happy with all of the decisions that were made.

Today I received the first two Christmas cards of the season.  It makes me think that I need to get my act together and get mine done.  But then I realize that I have plenty of time still.  With December comes the Christmas season, and I love Christmas.  Not because of the presents, although those are nice too, but because of everything that it means.  Because of the happiness that you see in the people around you.  Because of the good cheer that is spread.  Because of the time spent with friends and family, and all of the fun times that are to be had.  Because it is the beginning of the new Church year, and there is even more to be celebrated.

Something else that I am very excited about is news that I got today.  One of my very good friends just found out that she and her husband are pregnant!  They haven't been trying very long and were extremely surprised that it happened so fast, but are so excited.  This was such great news and I can't wait to start a new project to have ready as a gift for them!  Now I just have to decide what to knit...and wait 2 months because they are going to find out if they are having a boy or a girl.

Welcome December and thank you for the great news!

thanksgiving recap

I've been spending the last hour trying to figure out how to use Picasa to create a photo collage.  Well, let's just say that I have not been successful and since it is late, I've given up.

So instead of a really cool post with an awesome layout, you are going to get a little list of family pictures from our first Thanksgiving at our house.

the boys watching football and playing with the dog

the hosts!

mom, grandma, and uncle joe

heather, mom, grandma, and me

beautiful ladies

ben's family

 Just a few of the things that I am thankful for.

busy weekend wrap up

What a wonderful weekend.  I have so much to be thankful for, and this weekend was another reminder of lots of those things.

Friday morning at midnight I went out shopping with my mom and we were able to accomplish lots of Christmas shopping.  I got home about 6 am and was completely exhausted but had a great time.  We've been Black Friday shopping for a few years now and I can't imagine not being a part of that crazy hectic day.

When I got home at 6 am I went to bed (if you can call it that), slept for a few hours and then woke up and went to work Friday night.  By the time I left you could barely make it through the bar without having your feet stepped on 20 times and a million people rubbing up against you.  Why people pay to drink at a place that is wall to wall crowded is just beyond me.  I don't get it!

Since I had slept so late Friday I was not tired enough to go to bed when I got home, so I started decorating for Christmas!  As of right now all of the decorations are up and the tree is in the process.  I ran out of lights so I have to stop tomorrow so that it can be finished (I love Christmas decorating).

Saturday morning we woke up and did lots of house chores.  We had to paint the chipping wood on the garage door and the side of the garage, we cut back the rest of the rose bushes, and we tore out the attic insulation.  Yes, a very busy morning/afternoon, but very productive!

I had the night off work so I went to dinner with my mom and sister, and then ran a few errands to try and finish up my shopping.  I met up with Ben after he was done at work for a quick bite to eat in Tremont, and then we met up with Melis and Anthony for a drink.  It was so nice to be out on a Saturday night like most of the other people our age.  What a change from what we are used to!

Today started with church, then more errands, then brunch, and ended with cleaning up/organizing the house and a quiet little dinner here.  I am so thankful for everything this weekend brought, and even more thankful for all of the other blessings in my life!

happy thanksgiving

Today we hosted our first real holiday with both families over.  We had them in shifts, but everyone was still here.  We took some pictures but those will have to be posted later.  Right now, we are hanging out on the couch, watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.  I am getting ready to go shopping at midnight with my mom because I am a crazy person (so excited!!!)

There is so much to be thankful for today, and I cannot put into words just how lucky I am to have such wonderful family and friends.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

the lights are up!

This past Saturday, the afternoon weather was gorgeous.  It was sunny and warm...the perfect day for putting up Christmas lights!

I know, I know, Thanksgiving is on Thursday and Christmas decorations should not be up yet.  I (kind of) agree.  Let me explain.

No one really wants to put Christmas lights up in the freezing cold when there is a blizzard.  The best time to put them up is when the sun is shining and your fingers are not turning into little icicles.

Ben and I had the time Saturday before work and we got all the lights up outside.  I just need to get the wreaths put up and we are all set.  Don't worry, they are not turned on yet (but I really want them to be!)  To be completely honest, if we were not hosting our first Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year, I would probably have my tree up already!

Here's to the start of another happy holiday season!

a favorite place

Do you have a favorite place?  I don't know if I can pick just one, but one of my favorite places has to be my parents kitchen table.

This is the place where we sat as a family every night as long as I can remember for family dinner.  It was something my parents were big on.  The only time we were excused from dinner was for sports or work once we were in high school.  My mom always prepared dinner, and we were always there to enjoy it.  I can't imagine what people do who don't eat dinner together every night.

Most of the time we talked about our days and caught up with what was going on.  Sometimes we just ate in silence because we all had so many things to do.  Either way, I can't imagine my days without dinner at the kitchen table.

Now when I go home, I love sitting around the table for basically the same reason.  We talk, we eat, we laugh, and we have a great time.  It is the perfect place to catch up with the family and feel exactly like I did every night growing up.

What's your favorite place?

three wishes

I'm working through NaBloPoMo to post every day this month.  I've only used a few of their prompts, because I've been doing my best to write about things that come to my mind, but sometimes I like the prompts and don't have anything on my own mind!

Today is 11/11/11.  Of course everyone is making a huge deal about the numbers.  Today is also Veteran's Day.  I would like to take a minute to thank every veteran in this country.  If it was not for the men and women who gave their lives to protect our freedom, who knows where we would be today.  I don't think we as a country can ever thank them enough.  Happy Veteran's Day to all of you!

Today's prompt was to make 3 wishes, so here it goes.

I wish for my parents to be able to see me walk down the aisle and see their grandchildren grow up.

I wish for their to be a cure for Lymphoma, so I did not have to worry so much.

I wish for healthy happy children, when the time is right.

What do you wish for?

country music

I am a huge country music fan.  I've been listening to country music for as long as I can remember and I can't imagine not hearing a country song at some point during the day. 

Why country music?  I really don't know.  My parents listened to it for years as we took weekend trips to "the land" and while we were there camping with our cousins, it was just on the radio.  I mean, we were in the middle of Cosochton, Ohio, where there isn't much on the radio except country music.

So it's kind of just something that stuck.  Is it always the best music?  Probably not.  Are many of the songs about the same old country stuff?  Yep.  But that's part of what makes them what they are.

You always know what you are getting when you turn on country music and I like that.  I've seen Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flats (twice), The Dixie Chicks, and yes...Billy Ray Cyrus in concert.  Maybe that's what started it all.  A concert in 1995 with our neighbors from across the street where we all sang "Achy Breaky Heart" at the top of our lungs.

Oh, the good old days!

balance

I'm working on being a better blogger and trying my best to participate in NaBloPoMo.  This means that today I'm actually going to follow the prompt and write a little about balance.

Making family time is important to me. How do you balance your children, relationship, and work life?- Ricki Lake

I'm still trying to figure out how I balance my own life, let alone how I make time for the other important people in my life.  So here is my best attempt at explaining how I balance all the important stuff.

Ben- We see each other Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, sometime Thursdays if Ben gets the night off.  We try our best to make dinner those nights and eat together.  Of course during the week we both have school work to do, so we always have to squeeze that in somewhere.  We try to spend time together Saturday morning before work, but that is also a good day to run errands and get house stuff done.

Family-  Sundays are typically our family day.  We either head to the eastside to see Ben's family or hang out at home and have dinner with my family.  This is important to both of us since we spend so much time working and we enjoy spending time with our families.

Friends- Of course I always have my monthly dinners.  This is something I look forward to all month and can't imagine not having.  Since Melis and Anthony finally moved back to CLE, we spend time with them about once a week.  Sometimes on Sundays for Browns games, or other times during the week for dinner.  We do our best to hang out with couple friends and our own friends to keep that balance.

Work-  There is never enough time for this.  I often take things home and leave them in my bag because I need a break.  I need time with my dog and Ben, or time to go outside and enjoy the sunshine.  I do my best to keep the balance in my work life and still do the best job that I can.

Balance is hard.  I'm finding there are so many things I want to do and just not enough hours in the day.  It takes awhile to figure out how to prioritize and decide what can just get left alone (like vacuuming everyday, totally not necessary).  I'm working on balance and trying my best, but I'm sure it will be something I always have to work on.

a day for family

What a beautiful weekend!  The weather we had in Cleveland could not have been any better.  The sun was shining, there was barely a cloud in the sky, and the air was the perfect crisp fall type of air.  It was wonderful and I could not have been more thankful.  Beautiful weather like that just makes you happy and puts you in such a great mood.  Especially when we know snow is just around the corner!

Ben and I spent the day visiting family.  This morning we got up and headed to the eastside to visit with his mom, grandma, and brother for brunch.  We took Breckyn with us and she got to run around on their property and play with his grandma's puppy Abby.  I like Abby because she is a bad dog, and she makes Breckyn look like a good dog!  I know that is so bad, but it makes me feel like I'm raising a half way decently behaved dog (is that really the right way to say that?)

His mom showed me some new knitting projects that she is working on and even gave me 2 pieces for the project that I'm working on with Knitting Club at school.  I can't wait to show the kids Tuesday and hopefully it will help to motivate them to get theirs going.

We headed back to the westside, ran some errands, and then headed over to my parents house for dinner.  We left Breckyn at home even though my sister's dog would have loved to see her.  She was plenty tired and could have used the rest. 

We caught up with my parents and had a delicious dinner.  Of course there is never enough time to sit around and talk and laugh, because we ALWAYS have something to do!

Ben headed to his Chapter meeting and I headed to JoAnn Fabrics for some crafting stuff that I'm going to motivate myself to work on, which means I have to get off this computer now.

Hope your weekend was wonderful!

Breckyn turns 2

Two years ago we began searching for a little Siberian Husky puppy.  We were lucky enough to find a breeder who lived about 75 east of Cleveland who had just had a litter of puppies.  We were so excited and could not wait to go see them.

About 3 weeks later we headed out and found the cutest little puppies we had ever seen.  It was so hard to decide which one belonged to us, but after playing with them for awhile, one just kind of seemed to stick around.  She seemed like the perfect little puppy and we could not wait for her to be big enough for us to take home.

 

We got to pick her up in the middle of December when she was 6 1/2 weeks old and there really hasn't been a dull moment since.  To call her a spoiled dog is an understatement.  She knows exactly what to do to get us to cave in and give her what she wants.  She knows that I feel bad for leaving her in her crate all day while we are gone.  I swear sometimes she knows exactly what I mean when I'm talking to her.

Yes, I know she is just a dog.  But if you have ever seen her listen to you and turn her head and look at you right in the eye as if she wished she could give you a response, you might think otherwise.

She has torn through two couches,  killed a few birds,  found a few dead squirrels, eaten her fair share of garbage, and still has not learned that it is not polite to jump on people when you see them.

But she is our dog and she is so sweet.  She is always happy to see you when you come home and it's the best when she sits next to you on the couch after a long day.  She loves to sleep at your feet in bed, which is much easier to do when only one of us has gone to bed but proves to be a little more difficult when we all get in there!

She is awesome and we love her.  Do we spoil her? Yes.  Do we talk to much about her?  Probably.  Does she give us a reason to go on long walks and bike rides?  Yes.  Would we change anything about her?  No (okay well maybe it would be nice if she actually listened to us, just maybe).

Happy 2nd Birthday Breckyn!

her first Christmas present

first snow!

her ears look huge...dumbo?

so important in the passenger seat

hanging out on the front porch

playing with her new birthday present

Ok, enough about my dog (at least for a little while!)

my best friend is back

Yesterday was a wonderful little day, despite the gloom and rain that has been pretty much every day this fall.

In the afternoon I headed to the eastside for Adrianna's first birthday party.  She was adorable as always and it was hilarious to watch her dig in to her smash cake.  It was great to see my group of eastside friends because it is not that often that we all get together.  (they have a really hard time crossing the threshold that is the eastside/westside)

Since I had to take the night off for the party during the day, I was conveniently able to celebrate the big 26 with Melis.  She is officially back in the CLE.  I cannot tell you how ecstatic I am to have her home.  We thought we were going to have a nice group of people to go out with but it ended up just being the two of us and we were okay with that.

We had dinner here and it was delicious.  I am never disappointed and give that place two thumbs up.  Then we headed to the old MGB because I clearly can't get enough of the place.

I'll take one glass of delicious

After a few hours of talking and a few Pumkings, we headed home.  This morning I remembered why it is much easier to go to work on the weekends instead of going out drinking.  I had every intention of meeting up for brunch today but I just couldn't do it.  I'm getting to old to drink all night and be productive anytime before 2 pm!

Instead Ben and I had a lazy Sunday with a very lazy dog.  We made chili in the crockpot which was delicious and I'm so glad it is crockpot weather again!  The parents even came over to enjoy dinner with us.

What a nice little Sunday.  Here's looking forward to a great week!

being happy with what I have

It is a super blah rainy day here in the CLE, one that makes it hard to think about all the good things and instead just curl up in bed and hide under the covers.  Sometimes that is the easier thing to do, and sometimes that is exactly what we all want and need to do, and as far as I'm concerned that is okay.  What's wrong with taking it easy and relaxing and every once in awhile just feeling sad?  I think that's what makes us human and makes us have feelings.

Today for me just isn't one of those days and I'm feeling the need to write about the happiness in my life (despite the rain water that is all over my basement floor AGAIN because of a little downpour). 

This past weekend was my little sisters 23rd birthday and my parents 29th wedding anniversary.  Both were awesome things to celebrate and I could not be happier for all three of them.  My sister is a great person who I think has finally found her 'calling' working at a vet office.  She is a strong, fun, outgoing person who does not care what other people think.  We've definitely had our share of arguments, but she's my sister and I would not change that for the world.

My parents are two people who I look up to each and every day.  There are lots of times when I just wonder how they did it.  It could not have been easy raising two kids, but they always made it seem simple.  We were so lucky as kids and I know we did not appreciate it like we should have.  It's probably taken me 26 years to realize just how much we had and should be thankful for.  I don't think I could ever tell them enough just how great they are.  I am sure there were many times when they wondered how they were able to make it through the last 29 years, but that's what marriage is about right?  I hope someday that I am lucky enough to have the happy that they have.

Where I am right now in my life is such a great place.  I have a wonderful boy to spend my days with and he is so supportive of all the crazy that I can be.  I have a great family who has made me who I am.  I have an adorable little puppy, who we treat like a human, but who makes even the worst days good when she licks your face hello and cuddles up with you in bed.

I'm feeling as if I am in just the right place at the right time and I want to celebrate that.  Believe me, there have been many hard days in my past year, and I know that is par for life's course.  Right now is a great time though and I'm looking forward to so many more good times ahead. 

*All of this was brought on by a dr's visit I had today.  I switched dr's because mine was on the east side and since I'm living back on the west side I figured it would be easier to have one out here.  She was awesome!  We talked about everything including the pressure to be married and have babies and the fact that it is not necessary to do before a certain age.  It was nice to have that conversation because I feel that pressure and that has definitely caused some stress and anxiety in my life.  I know I put some most of that pressure on myself for some crazy reason but it was just a great conversation with her that made me feel good about where I am and what I've done.  Thanks doc, you gave me just what I needed!

a wonderful little Sunday

The end of summer (at least the summer break that I am lucky to have) is never a very good day for me.  It is usually one of the worst cases of Sunday stomach that I get the whole year.

Today was much different though and I could not be happier.

We started the day with a delicious brunch at Luxe with two of my favorite people, Melis and Anthony.  Since Melis is still living in Cbus (but will be here soon!) we always try to see each other when she is in town.  Of course working the weekends at MGB makes that a little hard and that is why brunch is perfect.

We sat on the patio, even though it drizzled a little and had some delicious food.  They even have a 2 for 1 drink special from 11 until 1 on Sundays, which is awesome!  We had lots to talk about and catch up on and made sure to do so over a few breakfast cocktails.

The afternoon was spent lounging around in the yard with Breckyn enjoying the sunshine and relaxing.

We then met up with my dad and sister for an early (of course) dinner at the one and only Gene's Place which is so authentic it doesn't even have a website.  I can't even begin to count the number of times I have eaten at this restaurant and it never gets old.  I will take my children (which currently are not even in existence) there someday and absolutely look forward to doing so.  Nothing says family time like a family owned diner with delicious food and awesome staff.

Ben and I came home and have been relaxing ever since.  It was a wonderful little Sunday, and even though I'm never ready to go back, I feel pretty prepared to start work tomorrow.

Here's to another great, and hopefully quick, school year!

a movie that is just as good as the book

This afternoon my sister and I finally went to see The Help.

It was a book that I absolutely loved and made her read because I knew she would like it too.  Plus then I knew I would have someone to go to the movie with when I heard they were making one.

She enjoyed it as well, and we were both excited to see what they would do with it in movie form. 

I'm a book girl and so is she.  We both love to read and if there is a movie to go along with a great book we will usually go check it out, but I don't think I've ever enjoyed the movie as much as the book.

Today The Help changed that.  It was such an amazing book and the movie was done so well.  I'm so glad we went to see it and I recommend both the book and the movie!

well hello 26

Goodbye 25, goodbye July, hello 26!

I could not be a luckier girl.  I had an absolutely wonderful birthday thanks to my family, friends, and of course Ben.

Since we work on the weekends, Ben took me out to a delicious Sunday brunch.  Then we strolled around Crocker Park for a little while in the blazing heat and decided pretty quickly that it was time to go home.  Ben did get a new bike though which is awesome because now we can ride bikes together!!

My parents and sister came over for a yummy dinner and cake.  We ate, chatted, and opened presents.  We were celebrating my dad's birthday too since that is tomorrow.  I cannot wait to start reading this, which I plan to do tonight even though I'm already reading another book because I love love love Chelsea.

I also can't wait to use the new digital camera that my parents got me!  I sure hope it takes pictures in light other than direct sunlight, which is why my old camera is not my fav at all.

Then Melissa and Anthony stopped over for some drinks to finish off my wonderful day.  And they are moving back to Cleveland.  I could not have received better news.

Here's to 26 being the best year yet!

the end of our midnight movies

  

It all started my freshman year of high school.  Yep, you would think it would have been earlier than that when I was actually a little kid,  but the honest truth is I read the first four Harry Potter books in just a few months during my freshman year.

It was perfect.  The first four books were out so when I finished one I was able to move right on to the next.  Until I finished the fourth and I was like, what do I do now??

Then the movies started coming out.  My sister and I started going to all the midnight movies.  I'm pretty sure there was only one or two movies we did not see at midnight.  When we went to see the sixth movie, my sister went right from the movie to work because she was working the 3:30-10 am shift.  

Some people think we are crazy, but we had so much fun doing it.  Last Friday at 12:01 am we saw the last Harry Potter movie.  It was sad to think that we won't get to do that again.  The movie was great and I will probably go to the theater to see it again but nothing beats the midnight movie with my little sister.