I've got that itch....

The time has come to plan my next Europe Trip. This time the theme is simplicity. Not trying to cram 7 cities into 15 days. I want to go to places I've not been to. Here's where I'm thinking of going.

Italy- Tuscany and Venice
France- Nice, Marsailles, Aix-en-Provence
Spain - Barcelona
Czech Republic- Prague
Germany- Berlin, Frankfurt
Austria- Vienna
Scotland- Edinburg

I'm wanting to go sometime in late summer or early fall. Time shall see.

Say hello to my new friend.

So I did it. I took the plunge. Right now I have a Canon XSi D-SLR camera on its way to me. I keep thinking of the possibilities of things I'm going to do with it and I get all kinds of tingly. I have been reading some wonderful blogs about Food Photography lately and they have some tricks and tips on using different settings to getting the best shot out of it.

So if you're one of my friends that wants a few photos done... I'm willing to do them for no cost so I can have a portfolio :) Just let me get used to it and we're on!

I'm in love.

I have a new love in my life.

I made the plunge yesterday and got an iPhone. Some of the best money I've ever spent. This phone is so easy to use and by gosh, it does anything and everything. Everyone has seen the commercials for the "App Store" and with just a tap of the screen, you can get a new game, program, news site, or anything you'd like on your phone.

I added some great applications... and the best part is that they were free!

• Facebook - this is awesome! I like it better than on my computer!
• Pandora Radio - it streams just like it does on the web... I can put on my earbuds and listen to the Michael Buble channel all day :D
• NYT - I get the latest news articles right on my phone!
• Youtube- just a click away and I have anything on Youtube at my fingertips!

Other than having a gorgeous 3.5 inch touch screen display, this phone is honestly the most user friendly phone. Even my technologically ignorant mother would be able to work this phone.

Yum.

Sesame peanut noodles anyone?? The recipe I did made a TON of it... so I stashed it in the fridge, they are even better cold!

Fresh red pepper slices, snow pea pods, scallions, and bean sprouts tossed with a peanut/sweet chili sauce with whole wheat noodles.

*sings* These are a few of my favorite things...

So I was making cupcakes for a friend's birthday celebration tonight and wanted to do an artsy display for photo taking purposes. Enjoy!!

My next big purchases.

I've decided that I want to invest in a Digital SLR camera. Somewhere along the lines of a Canon Digital Rebel XTi or a Nikon D40. Photography is something that I want to take more seriously. I've already looked into taking some photography classes out by the beaches.

After that I'm going to be a really good girl and save some more and purchase a MAC computer. I think I want a laptop, since I already have a desktop computer that does a good job. I want to see if my parents will go half with me as a Christmas present... they did that for me last time.

Also.... I am feeling kind of low right now. I need some excitement. I can't stay home on Friday nights.... I feel so lame when I do that.

Things you'll need..

I'm going to list some items that are my summer necessities. Things that make me have a happy summer :)

1. Tinted Moisturizer. It's light, doesn't clog my skin and gives me great coverage. Sometimes when I wear ONLY mineral foundation it looks blotchy when I get sweaty. This prevents it!

2. Degree Clinical protection. Seriously. No pit stains. EVER. This stuff kept working in 100 degree heat on the 4th of July in Daytona.

3. Spray on sunscreen. No Pool Boy around to rub lotion on your back? This is a great spray-on mist sunscreen that ensures no sunburn... and so easy to reapply. No more sandy sunscreen!

4. Camel Bak sipper water bottle. I love this because you basically bite and suck. I love this at the gym because when I'm getting my work out on the Elliptical machine, I don't have to tip back and spill water down my chin, which I used to do all the time. I looked like the "special" girl on the machines.

5. Twilight. Need a great book for the beach? Look no further than Twilight. This tells the story of a regular gal named Bella Swan that moves from hot, sweltering, sunny Phoenix to the place that gets the most rainfall per year, Forks Washington. She notices a gorgeous boy named Edward Cullen at school. Turns out that he's a vampire. The way Stephenie Meyer writes is addicting, and you'll be begging for the next book after you're finished with this one. There are three more books after Twilight.... New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn (comes out this Saturday!).

I know...

I'm slacking with my blogging. Full post to come in the next few days. I promise!

Delightfully classy.

This is someone that I strive to be like in life. If I could just ooze class like she did....

I have a new love in my life.... The Pioneer Woman. She has some of the BEST recipes out there on the internet. Picture instructions, easy recipes , witty humour... I love it all. I've already made her "Crash Hot Potatoes" and topped them with crumbled bacon and cheddar. They are so tasty and a perfect side dish for any meat entree! They would be awesome served with a steak! I plan on trying her other side dishes soon... her asian noodle salad looks so delicious and light for a summer lunch!

Expensive things I can't buy right now.

Sometimes I get these really lusty urges to get out the debit card and charge away. But I resist temptation. Here's just a few things I'm currently drooling over.

1. Tocca : Cleopatra. ($75.00)This fragrance has notes of pink grapefruit and cucumber. It's so delightfully crisp for summer I want to just prance around and sing when I spritz it.

2. Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick in Beige Strass. ($28.00) This stuff is like the Holy Grail of lipsticks. The staying power is unbelieveable and isn't drying, which is my issue with most lipsticks.

3. Guerlain Meteorites Powder for the Face in Beige Chic. ($51.00) These are little balls with magical powers. The glow that this product brings to your cheekbones is incredible. The also come with a delicious violet fragrance makes it even better.

4. A Longchamp "Le Pliage" Tote bag. ($125). I saw these totes EVERYWHERE in Europe. It was like Europe's version of Coach bags. They wear really well and they even fold flat for storage. It's a simple and classic bag.

6. J.Crew "Sea Foam Treasures" necklace ($100.00). I love the colors of this necklace! Very summery and bold. The starfish are too darling as an accent as well.

*sigh* A girl can dream, can't she? I think I need one of these as a reward when I obtain one of my goals. Most likely getting my debt down. And right now I am broke as a joke until Thursday. That $400 cell phone bill from Europe KILLED me this month.

Oh yeah. And to those reading this : The Happening was the suckiest movie alive. Don't waste your money.

The only man in my life. For now.

CRAP. Father's Day is tomorrow. WTF am I going to get my pops? He is always the hardest one in the family to shop for. He hates the clothes we buy him, rarely uses the gift certificates for Lowe's, Home Depot, etc on himself. I love my Daddy, but damn he is so hard to shop for.

Progress!

I got offered a free place to stay if I wanted to go to NYC this summer. After hearing some gals on MUA say that it was like a "Piss smelling steam fest" in the subways, I don't think I'll be going. I really need to get my financial situation handled before I go on another trip.

mo·ti·vate: to provide with a motive or motives; incite; impel.

For me that modivation is Ali from the Biggest Loser. She started off at 235lbs. Which is only 10 more lbs than I was at my highest weight last year. She is only an inch taller than me, she's 5'5". Her before picture is with her mom, Bette Sue. She and her Mom got voted off of the show early on. After being home , Ali continued to lose weight and got to come back on the show for losing the biggest percentage of weight at home.









Well in the finale, she actually won the Biggest Loser competition, and got down to about 125 lbs. She lost 112 pounds. THAT IS A SMALL PERSON. Seriously. That is awesome, awesome motivation for me. Hell, I don't have access to The Biggest Loser ranch and trainers, but I can still have a goal for myself. It may take me longer, but if she can do it, so can I!

And so it begins.

Well today I worked on one goal... fitness. I rode my bike for 6 miles. Not much, but it's a start. Not to mention all of the swimming I did in the pool today.

Welcome to my madness.

So here I am writing a blog. Why you may ask? Because this girl needs to motivate herself. I have GOT to set some goals for myself, otherwise I have nothing to really look forward to in life.

1. Finances. I must get my credit cards manageable. I need to pay off one this summer. It's a limit of one thousand. If I take $250 of each paycheck and put it towards that, I'd have it done in 2 months. Totally do-able.
2. Working out. I've already lost 45 pounds. And by god I'm going to keep it off. I have access to a gym, I have spare time, why not? I really need to go after I get off work like I used to. The pounds were melting off when I was working out 3 times a week, sometimes more. It's summertime, perfect time to sweat it out! If I can lose 2 lbs a week (which is NORMAL for weight loss) , then I can lose 26 lbs by the end of August. That would put me in the 150's. My ultimate goal would be getting in the 140's.
3. Self Confidence. I have a huge lack of it. I just need to be more confident in myself. Get out there and stop hiding out in a corner!
4. Organization. My room and my schedule. I want a manageable workspace on my desk. I want a schedule that I don't have to juggle things around and try to fit things in when it's necessary. I want to get rid of the things I've been hoarding since Jr. High.
5. Working. I think I spend more time gossiping at work than I do actually working. I know there's things I can work on. My goal for this month is to create my next Toastmaster's speech, and work on quarterly reports for the supervisors.