Friendship Hard Limits

Friends Don't Let Friends...

• Allow distance to keep them separated.
• Have anything stuck in their teeth. Period.
• Experience the good or bad times alone. Be there as a shoulder to cry on or cheer them on!
• Wallow in self-pity OR pie OR ice cream OR brownies...
• Look silly, goofy, or hare-brained alone. They join in!

 "Friendship isn't a big thing, it's a million little things."

Currently,

Reading: This month my book club selected The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  I ordered it up on my Kindle this week because I've been slacking about getting my library card renewed.  I've been a real slacker at BC and haven't read the last three months worth of books due to being busy with my master coursework, vacation and pure laziness.

Watching: On Mondays Matt plays softball and sometimes I go along to cheer them on, but The Bachelorette is just about to wrap up and I'm pretty much glued to the TV during each episode.  Other than that sintilating show we like to watch HGTV's Design Star and of course re-run's of A&E's Duck Dynasty.

Working on: I've got a few programs coming up this summer at work that I'm pretty excited about.  Prairie Flower Identification and the Illinois Master Naturalist program.  The MN program will keep me busy from about August through November.  My horse, Louie, would also fall under this category!  I'm always striving to better our partnership.

Thinking about: Grad school, will it ever end? 

Anticipating: Horse shows and the fun things we've got planned for the summer... birthday parties, concerts, and trips with Matt!

Craving: Ice cream, always ice cream!  Although it doesn't necessarily go with my Weight Watcher's points...

Wishing: That there were more hours in the weekend!

Mission Accomplished, Finally!

I don't know about anyone else out there, but I was so incredibly late getting my patio containers planted this year.  First, cash flow limited what I could do and then I was gone for a week and finally the triple digit temperatures here in the Midwest were stifling!  Last night I finally finished up my arrangements and I think they look pretty fantastic, if I don't say so myself! 

I like to incorporate old and vintage items along with the pretty flowers and foliage on our deck.  The old wagon I scavenged from my parents farm.  My Dad actually remembers using it when he was a kid.  I found the old crate in the barn where we live.  The rusty watering can was purchased at a thrift store.  I adapted it by cutting the top out and planted flowers inside.  Finally, the red, white and blue bunting ties it all together, which I'll leave up all summer long to celebrate 'Merica!

On the other side of steps I have several small pots nestled alongside an old chair with a large pot placed inside.  I'm sure you've seen this everywhere, but I just love the look!  My girlfriend and fellow crafter, Kathie, made me the large watermelon decoration and gave it to us three years ago as a house-warming gift.  This year I add another 'slice' of watermelon for additional decor.  Finally, the "Welcome" sign was an afternoon project last year.

Do you know about the 'rule' of "Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers" when filling your containers?  To achieve a beautiful arrangement consider adding:

• Tall plants - Thrillers
• Round, mounding plants - Fillers
• Plant that hangs over the side - Spillers

In my arrangement pictured below, I used pink Geraniums for my 'Thriller', red Snapdragons and purple Petunias for my 'Filler' and purple Sweet Potato Vine for my 'Spiller'.

If you haven't already, go and scavenge for any plants left at the garden centers and see about putting a container together using the "Thriller, Filler and Spiller" tip!

Was ist Das?

Anyone out there speak a second language fluently?  **I failed miserably at learning Spanish in HS, I took the required year of foreign language and got the heck outta there!  My grandma spoke fluent German, but sadly my only memory of her doing so was when she would sing Stille Nacht (Silent Night) in church on Christmas.  After she had pasted away my Grandpa would reminisce about the first time he met her family.... They all sat around the table and spoke in German about him while he sat there with a smile on his face not understanding a word!  How ornery, but awesome at the same time!  "Was ist das?" in German translates to "What is this?" in English and it's exactly what Matt said when he saw this sitting in our kitchen:

Can you tell from the picture?  They're green onion bulbs!  I've seen online that you can sprout new growth from the root end if you stick them back in water, as opposed to just pitching them in the trash can, and it works!!!  These green onions have been growing for about 10 tens and I've changed the water twice.  I'm pretty impressed with this little tip!  Supposedly, you can also do this with celery and even pineapples?!?  Have you tried 're-growing' any fruits or vegetables?

Happy Birthday America!

Morning!  Up and at 'em on a holiday... I've already gotten a few chores done this morning (including my 30 Day Shred workout) and this evening we're headed out to a cookout with some friends!  I'm gonna make Texas Caviar, Tequila Soaked Watermelon and Chocolate Thin Mint Ice Cream to take with us because I can't just pick one!

The weather here has been really dry and brutally hot for so early in the summer.  Many surrounding towns have chosen to cancel their firework displays rather than risk having an accident, but just in case we miss out this year I can always check out this amazing shot my friend took last night!  It's beautiful!  Happy Birthday America!

30 Day Shred, Day 1

I posted in my Midweek Confessions that I was going to start the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred today, July 1.  If you aren't familiar with the workout here's the quick and dirty...
Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels. 20 minutes.  3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs.  Repeated 3 times.  You can read more about it on Jillian's site.

Here are Day 1 pictures and measurements so I'll have them to compare at the end of the 30 days:
  

 

As of July 1, 2012;
Chest: 36.5 in
Hips: 38 in
Left Thigh: 23 in
Right Thigh: 22.75 in
Arms: Didn't get those... It's really ackward to measure them by yourself!

I've hit a bit of a plateau with Weight Watchers and I'm hoping this workout will kick start my losing again.  I've been doing some light running and walking in the mornings, but truth be told I've taken some time off from my 'serious' workout routine since running my last 10k.  It's been freakin' HOT and I don't want to be outside longer than I have to be and the novelty of the treadmill has worn thin!  The cardio in the video wasn't much of a problem for me, but I know it'll get more difficult as I move up through the levels.  Although, even at the beginning level some of the strength training moves towards the end were making my arms like jelly. 

Everyone have a good week and I'll try and do a half-way and final post after I complete the 30 days!