My Blog and I

Josh's Spotlight is being Spotlit!

2010-09-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

A few months back, I posted a little blurb about friend/photographer Josh Durias visiting me at my shop for a few shots on a busy baking day. He has decided to spend a little more time focusing on his current project: Bellingham Spotlight...and it's getting some great attention.

Check it out: Bellingham Herald

Shop Update

2010-09-21T10:54:00.001-07:00

Progress at the Shop thrills me like no other! My dad came up for the 4th weekend in a row this past weekend to finish up electrical and framing and the like. We had such an amazing time. I moved the ladder about a million times...finishing up trim work and begun painting the walls. Nick assisted and and worked on various side projects. Even though the hours are long and late, all of our energy seems to overflow (thank the good LORD for that!). I did poop out around 11:45pm last night though. I went home to sleep, leaving dad and Nick at the shop to finish up (yes, I felt guilty...but when I realized that I my grouchiness over-rode my ability to bite my tongue I figured it made sense to just leave while I was ahead). This morning, I asked Nick what time they rolled back home: 2am. Ouch!

I will post the photos in a bit, but for now...wanted to share a few publications regarding Pure Bliss Desserts (just click on the link below):

Bellingham Herald

Bellingham Business Journal

Under Construction

2010-09-08T21:47:00.000-07:00

Nick said I should just type "Under Construction" as our blog post, because that's basically what our life is right now. For those of you who have may not heard quite yet, Pure Bliss is expanding...here comes a store front. It is a wonderfully exciting endeavor...one that I have always dreamed of. Now it's here and there is no shortage of work.

We have decided to do things the Dave Ramsey way (no debt) so that means doing a lot of the work ourselves, spending a lot of time on Craig's list finding deals (then driving around town/city/state to pick them up) and using our resources when it comes to different aspects of the shop and what needs to get done. I get all tingly in my heart when I think back on these last two months and reflect on the amazing gift of help, encouragement and enthusiasm God, friends and family have shown and given. No really, I tear up just thinking about it. We have amazing friends who have given their talents to help make this transition as smooth as possible. We have family that has sacrificed a tremendous amount to help Pure Bliss be set up for success. I am indebted to all of them (you) dear helpers.

We still have a lot of work ahead of us...as we are currently in the middle of the remodel. In fact most nights are spent at the shop working on something or another. Last week, Nick and I pulled an all-nighter, taking turns napping on the floor while the other painted/scrubbed the walls and ceiling. But that's atypical, we usually head to the shop around 6pm and roll on home between 11pm and 1am for some shut eye, then hit up our day jobs. The past two weekends my parents have ventured up for 12 hour work days....the mag 7 even sacrificed their Labor Day weekend plans for Squamish to spray paint furniture in the ally, build walls and bust down old stuff that didn't fit in the new design. Really it has been a whirl wind; sacrifices are being made, but in the long run it will be worth it.

A snap Shot of the last two Weeks:

How We Began:

DEMO Old Counter Area:

Work in Progress:

One wall up:

New Counter area up:

Even though we have been working hard, we have also eeked a little fun in the mix every once and a while. Late July brought us to Lake Cushman to celebrate my mom's birthday. Early August brought us to Whistler to celebrate Nick's birthday. We take the occasional walk when possible or a jog to Cornwall Park for a round of disk golf as a stress relief. Charlotte is pretty neglected these days, but when my mom rolls into town she perks up...knowing walks will be had and treats will be given. It's just a good reminder that we can't do things alone in this world, nor were we designed to.

I promise to be better about posting updates as we progress. Sometimes it's just hard to justify taking the time to post a blog when research for equipment could be happening or responding to inquiries has to take place I take 10 minutes to look at Nick so I don't forget what he looks like since we are so busy and "heads down" working most the time. This isn't a complaint, I am blessed and excited as all get-out for the shop. It's just fun/hard work.

4th of July

2010-07-12T21:29:00.000-07:00

A typical 4th of July looks like this for the Vann's:

- Sleeping in

- All day BBQ with friends

- Hike to Oyster Dome with the dog to watch 180 degrees of fire work displays, falling asleep on a rock with the best view in B-Ham.

This year couldn't have been more different.

A while back, someone in my immediate family suggested I get a booth for the 4th of July Street Fair in Steilacoom. I thought..."Heck yeah...why not!" This event is the biggest of the year. They close down the main street that drives right threw town and allow vendors to come and sell their goods.

They have a big parade in the middle of the day and then a street dance later on in the evening. Electric Slide anyone? Pure Bliss selling select desserts was sure to do well since thousands of people from towns near by come to partake in the festivities. But a whole lot of planning had to take place...months in advance at that considering this was my first street fair ever.

In February, I contacted the coordinator to request a booth. After approval, I wrote a check to reserve a space, submitted my application to the Health Department and began the task of delegation. Though it was a ton of work to get things set-up...the end result was totally worth it. My entire family was amazing in contributing their skills and talents to make the booth a success.

On the morning of, set up began at 7am, with all vehicles off the street by 9am. The street fair ran until 5pm, but if you felt so inclined, you could stay there until 9pm. That means 12 hours of being open...not to mention the 2 hours to set up and 2.5 hours of breaking down and unloading. But don't forget...cupcakes, cookies and scones don't just bake themselves! No, no...I spent 25 hours that week prepping for the street fair alone. A few numbers for you:

-500 cupcakes: Strawberry Short Cake, Creamy Coconut, Chocolate Bliss

-125 Triple Berry Cream Scones
-350 Super Chocolate Chip Cookies (more than half were converted into Ice Cream Sandwiches)

It was amazing!!! When I was baking for this event, I told myself never again...way too much work and who even knew if everything would sell. But on Sunday, when the crowds were swarming and people drooling over the treats in the display case, it made it all worth it. Plus...we sold out of everything but the milk (guess the dairy queen in me went a little overboard on milk drinking patrons).

There was no was I could have done this alone though...each one of my family members helped me prepare, share supplies and encouraged me. This is certainly not a complete list of tasks that were taken on, but a little shout out for my helpers:

Dad~Purchased the canopy, facilitated the dry run, designed and created the display case, connected with the street fair organizer to score the BEST plot on the street, purchased materials, helped set up and break down, provided his van for hauling gear and manned the booth.

Matt ~ Dreamed up, implemented and hard-sold Pure Bliss' hottest selling item: BiG BLISS ice Cream Sandwiches, popped out of bed at 7am to help set up, made last-minute sales on the street out of the cooler at 10pm, broke down the booth, streamlined excel spreadsheets for sales projections, manned the booth.

Mom~Logistically permitted space in her home for appropriate storage of goods, woke up at 7am to help me organize, fed everyone with the typical German schmorgasborg of deliciousness, manned the booth.

Ami~Turned a crummy Chalk Board into a masterpiece, converted her daughter into fantastic advertisement, manned the booth.

Nick~Designed the Menu Board, created the structure to hold Pure Bliss banner, donated the health of his cheeks while blowing up balloon animals to draw in the kiddos, drug himself out of bed to help set up after his 2 hours of sleep got his food handlers card so I could be relieved from the booth, manned the booth and broke it down at 10am.

Also thanks to Dannyn, James, Olivia and Auntie Alice for their contributions as well, not to mention the hundreds of people who bought treats!

Will I do it again you ask??? Steilacoom's second largest event is the Apple Squeeze is in October...we may just see you there!

The Cabin Trip

2010-07-10T09:26:00.001-07:00

I'm taking a break from the Italy blog. It's taking me way longer than I thought, and frankly, I don't want the rest of life to be put by the wayside while I try to sum up the best vacation ever in blog posts. So...for new news:

A few weeks ago, we ventured to my parent's cabin for a little Mag 7 gathering time. It was a combo "celebrate father's day and Matt's birthday" extravaganza. I love going to the cabin because it allows a break from the real world. I basically turn my cell phone off and don't think twice about cake, my inbox or daily ins and outs like sorting mail or ignoring the overflowing hamper. We spend almost all our time outside...either hanging around the property or hitting up adventure destinations close by.

In honor of my father who really wanted to hit the snow, we went on a "hike" to Nachee's Loop. Hike is a loose term since there was so much snow, it was impossible to even see the trail. Matt got his extra work out in carrying 25lb Delya on his back. After walking around for a bit, we settled on a dirt patch for lunch with a breathtaking view. Home brought some more down time, a bon-fire and Strawberry Short Cake for the birthday boy.

Sunday morning was dedicated to waffles, eggs and bacon...then we hit the trails via bike for a little ride on Skuckum Flats. Per Ami's request, Nick found and purchased a sweet bike to be given to Matt for his birthday. He scored a Norco off Craig's List that pretty much resembles Nick's bike to the T. The four of us hit the trail, and mid-ride while resting, we surprised Matt by informing him that that awesome bike he was riding was in deed for him! "Happy Birthday!!!" we cheered! In typical Matt fashion, he stoically accepted his birthday present with a "Wow...are you serious? Thanks." And we were on our way.

The end to those weekends are always a little hard. It just feels so good to be with the family and celebrate togetherness. But I knew we were coming together again the following weekend for the 4th...so it made saying goodbye just a little easier.

Orvieto

2010-06-24T21:56:00.001-07:00

Our third morning was an early one: Departing our B&B in Rome to catch an 8:30am train headed to Orvieto, then onto Siena. Widely enough, I woke up at 6am that morning. Partially because it was a big travel day and I was anxious about missing the train and partially because the pigeons outside our room made the most atrocious cooing noises ever and partially because I was starving, which always wakes me up.
We got to the train station in time to slip into a bar (coffee shop) and sip a cappuccino (for Nick) and an Americano (for me). Italians typically enjoy their incredibly good espresso while standing at a bar. They sip quickly, potentially munch on a cornetto (Nick's was filled with nutella....nutella for crying out loud!!!), chat wildly and then depart with a simple "Ciao!" It is oh so fun to watch...what a contrast to our American Starbuck's experience: Sitting for hours, drinking a 20oz quad-shot, half-caf, non-fat, extra-hot, vanilla latte, hold the foam. Prepare yourself Americans: The biggest cup they have in Italy here holds 4 oz. Which was something that I actually struggled with. Yes...I missed my 20 oz drip coffee with one sugar and a splash of half and half. So...in midst of our trip I actually ended up ordering two drinks: A cappuccino ~ for the foam and an americano ~ for the girth. Three drinks, two Americans...we really confused them! But I digress...)
After our coffee, we hopped on a train and studied up on what we could pack into our few hours while visiting one of the hilltowns: Orvieto. An hour later, we arrived and so did the drizzly rain. Since it was such a small town and the train station lacked lockers to hold our bags, we followed Rick's advice and dropped them off at a hotel up the street. We continued up the hill...a really, really steep one (the Vann's typically choose the walking route) and popped out at the top of the hill and the base of the town itself.
Instantly we were in love. Cobble stone roads which were also the walk ways, flowers hanging in the balconies, little alleys decorated with trailing vines that connected with other streets, cute shops, small markets selling fresh stuff only: meats, vegetables, bread, cheeses, flower shops, restaurants/cafes and of course endless gelatrias. Since Nick and I were so overwhelmed with the sites we saw in Rome, we decided to not do any formal site seeing in Orvieto(aka pay to get into somewhere and take the tour) but instead, walk around and see what popped up.
Of course, I was starving as soon as we arrived, so after a little struggle finding a place (the Rick suggestions we checked out weren't open yet) we decided to wing it with a random pizzeria and my, oh, my I am so glad we did. Take note that there are more restaurants than you would ever know what to do with everywhere in Italy. Most places serve similar items, so really it is just a matter of a few considerations:
1. What atmosphere you are looking for
2. Pricing
3. Your gut feeling about the place
Needless to say, it can be a little overwhelming if you let it be (like when buying shoes or booking a hotel on-line...so many options, so many choices...which one do I go with!). We finally landed in a cute little pizzeria on the main drag. My Pizza had prosciutto (officially my favorite Italian meat - I eat it EVERY SINGLE DAY on our trip), artichokes, olives and cheese. Nick ordered the calzone (which is really just a pizza folded in half) with prosciutto, tomatoes, arugula (Rocket) and cheese. We immediately swapped half our entrees, toasted our vino rosa de casa and dug in. Heaven, pure heaven. Who knew pizza could be that good. Crispy thin crust, light cheese and all bursting with flavor. After both our plates were empty, I sat back in pure delight, a little fuzzy from the wine and totally pleased from the pizza...life is good!
From there we explored and as time progressed we begun to brainstorm ideas for the B&B nick and I want to have in the future. Orvieto seemed perfect. Scenic, authentic, great people, fun things to do and see, unlimited local agriculture, and great places for wedding chateaus (hint, hint matt and ami) and hill-side homes (hint, hint mom and dad) for the dogs to run around in.
We would grow a great garden, have a few livestock, build a rockin' mt. bike course into the side of the hill, and have our guests' enjoy the scene of the town, then come back to a fabulous locally grown meal. Perfect! After walking just over half the trail that surrounds the town, it was confirmed. At that point, Orvieto was our favorite. 10 out of 10.
Just before heading out of town to collect our bags and back to the train station, Nick and I collected fixings for a picnic dinner while waiting for the train. We went to three local places that provided all of the items fresh off the shelf or out of the bin: Two kinds of meat ~ Prosciutto (yes...I was obsessed) and some really dark meat, thinly sliced that we had no idea what it was, two kinds of cheese ~ one soft like brea, one hard like Parmesan, fresh pesto, fresh bread, fresh tomatoes and arugula and locally made chocolate. We bought some white Orvieto Classico wine and were on our way for an amazing picnic for just under $20 euro.
Our train ride went without a hitch...even including a 30 minute layover in a random town that I can't even remember the name of. We arrived in Siena at 11:30pm only to discover the buses stopped running at 11, so had no choice but to were huff it to the hotel. With every step, prayers were shot up to God pleading that the nuns didn't give our room away AND that our feet could stand the unknown miles we had a head of us until we arrived. But of course, God provided...at 12:15am we found out hotel, ripped off our shoes and hit the sack in preparation for another day in a new town. Ahhh...nothing like a really good bed to sleep in.

Rome: day 2

2010-06-19T14:27:00.001-07:00

Just like our first morning in Rome, we woke up on that second morning to beautiful sunny skies. Breakfast on the terrace, once again provided by Ricardo, with the "what are we going to do today" discussion over cappuccinos and crunchy bread. Since our Roma Pass gave us one more free entry to any museum in Rome, we decided to start off with a trip to the National Museum. It was, after all the most expensive museum in Rome, so why not take a look and then head over to the Vatican/Sistine Chapel/St. Peters Cathedral.
Getting to the National Museum required a ride on Rome's 2 track subway system. After asking the man behind the bar to help the brainless tourists how to get through the entrance gate with our Roma Pass, we were off and running. It was simple to see even early in our trip that the transportation system in Europe rocks. Cars are non-essential since their train/subway/bus system is efficient, timely, frequent and accessible. The US could really learn a thing or two about getting around...that's for sure. The only draw back, is the higher threat to pick-pocketing in all of the stations. Mass people, crammed together with tourist's wallets precariously hanging from their back pockets are just asking to get picked. In fact, there were a few times on throughout our trip where Nick and I were tempted to pick a few pockets just because it was so easy. (Note: we wouldn't actually DO this and even if we did it would just be to prove a point after giving the wallet back to the clueless tourist.) Of course we saw the over-cautious tourist walking around with their backpacks on the front of their bodies, emulating a pregnant woman's bulging belly. They just looked ridiculous (especially the men) and oh-so tourist-esk. There's a middle ground somewhere ~ protect your stuff, but don't be paranoid...something I battled with daily considering Rick Steve's constant reminder.
Anyways...I totally digressed. So...the national museum was totally boring and a waste of time. That may sound harsh, but considering we only had 2 FULL days in Rome and a lot to see, I would have rather spent our time exploring the city and their different districts and admiring the super old buildings and women walking around with high heals, pushing strollers on cobble stone streets while eating Gelato (of course we did this, but I wanted more). The only good thing out of our visit to the museum was seeing this sculpture:

and comparing this man's butt to Nick's rather large (and lovely if you as me) booty:

The fact that I was STARVING while touring the endless 4 levels of this museum (and a basement full of coins ~ riveting I tell you, just riveting) wasn't helpful. So I begged and pleaded to get some food AND get the heck out of that place, I got my way and the next panini/pizza joint we stumbled upon was ours! I learned a valuable lesson that day: When going to a museum, make sure I am well rested, full and have at least one glass on wine in me to take the edge off. Those sculptures and paintings are a lot more fun to look at when you almost see two of them.

After the much appreciated and needed calorie session, we hopped on the subway again and headed to the Vatican. I learned on our short train ride there that the Vatican is in it's very own teeny, tiny country (that's why the Roma Pass couldn't be used). We thought if we entered through the St. Peter's side, the line would go faster, but boy where we wrong. That monstrous courtyard (something that took me about 10 minutes to get over) was absolutely packed full of people.
So we walked around the country (he-he), walked right up to the ticket booth, bought our tickets for the Vatican (basically a museum), which would take us into the Sistine Chapel and then in to St. Peters (at which point we found out was free to get into which was probably why there were so many people in line ~ metal detector security). Rick's walking tour left me wanting more since I knew what we were looking was throughout the museum was much more riveting. Preserved mummies, a whole bunch of Egyptian stuff: and massively huge sculptures,
marble coffins, hallways filled with carved head figures
and tapestries 30 feet tall that gave off optical illusions.

But we took what we could get, pretended we knew what we were looking at, ease dropped on a few private tours (those are everywhere in every city) and carried on.
The Sistine Chapel was amazing, although I must admit that I was expecting it to be bigger with a more grand entrance. We basically came down a steep staircase after touring the Vatican and entered a room packed with tourists looking up and anti-photography Nazis erasing poached photos of the ceiling on cameras. But back to the point, the paintings were incredible. Depth, dimension, detail...all things perfectly demonstrated thanks to Michelangelo's amazing work ethic and dedication. It finally dawned on me why this was such a big deal, especially after seeing more paintings on other ceilings/walls in other cities. Michelangelo understood how to convey 3-D on a flat surface and was gifted enough to successfully paint it...even while laying inches away from the ceiling, on his back, in a hammock-like apperatice, for days on end. That's dedication. The question I asked Nick after leaving the room: "How did he go to the bathroom from way up there?" Anyone?
The Sistine chapel lead into St. Peters massivity, I mean Cathedral. Please don't be upset with me when I say this (remember this would have been my 4th Big site-seeing activity for the day and I was getting a bit tired) but I was kinda turned-off by St. Peters. Yes it is ginormous. Yes it is beautiful. Yes, I am sure they fill all those seats (Easter and Christmas especially), but it just seemed soo...Gaudy. Too much. Too rich. Too grandiose...if I may be blunt...too focused on appearance. This was a church? Where was the message of humility that Jesus sent when he was here? I couldn't find it. But we did find a few dead popes in their tombs, lots of little cherubs carved and mounted on the walls, magnificent murals, high arched doors at the entrance and beautiful columns supporting the entire structure. It was beautiful, I guess I was just overwhelmed at the thought that people worship Jesus here.
So we left and I asked Nick if we could just sit for a bit...sometimes a girl just needs to observe her surroundings on the bench in the sunshine. I found this was an effective way for me to get my rests in throughout the trip: I request a sit break and Nick would bust out the map/Rick Steves and get our barrings. We decided no more organized sight seeing would be on our agenda that day, only exploring. So we headed on foot, walked along the Tevere River for a mile or so, then stumbled upon the cutest area in all of Rome, in my humble opinion: Trastevere.
Narrow streets, Restaurants everywhere with fun bistro seating in the allys, eccentric variety of shops offering decent priced goods, Gelaterias, gorgeous vines traipsing the buildings and just an overall feeling of quaint. We strolled and admired this area for a good hour. We knew we were in a big city, but this district felt like a small town. In fact we loved this place so much, that after leaving and exploring the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and tons of beautiful buildings like these:

we immediately walked the mile and a half back to Trastevere to find our dinner spot. A family ran restaurant with 10 tables and the ease to turn away guests once all the tables were full. Luckily, a nice Italian Couple shared their table of 4 with us...giving us the last two seats in the house and the title of the only tourists eating there. The hand made pasta was amazing and the house wine 2 Euro. Even though the panna cotta was only sub-par, we were happy none-the-less.
Around 11pm, we hit the streets yet again, taking an alternative route back to our B&B...about 2.5 miles away. Rome, day 2, officially topped out as our "most miles traveled by foot" for our entire 3 weeks in Italy. A welcomed title considering the streets are safe, the sights are well lit and walking off a pound of pasta before tucking into bed just feels better.

Rome; day 1

2010-06-16T20:57:00.001-07:00

We arrived in Rome around 11:30 at night, which meant that we had been traveling for about 36 hours straight. Yes...we voluntarily opted for a 10 hour layover in Amsterdam, thinking "Wow..what a great way to see the city without having to actually stay here!" Stupid, stupid, stupid! After about 2 hours of wondering the city and visiting the Anne Frank House, Nick and I were so tired, we couldn't see straight. I think a combination of anticipation for our upcoming travels and unlimited movies on the airplane kept us without slumber for the entire 11 hour flight. Oops...bad decision. Being on the verge of tears wondering around Amsterdam, I quietly requested to my travel partner that we head back to the airport and find a nice little dark corner to sleep in. He obliged. Lucky us, we scored two super sweet, lazy-boyesk chairs in our terminal and napped for a good 3 hours before boarding plane for the 2.5 hour remaining flight to Rome.

Needless to say, by the time our taxi dropped us off in front of our B&B (a 5 story building that looked like every other building in Rome) we were thrilled. Shower and bed...here we come!

Our first morning in Rome, we woke up in glorious splendor. A night full of deep sleep, sun shinning in through the window and the city bustling below us…we were refreshed and ready to go. Ricardo, our B&B host, was preparing our breakfast on the terrace. A simple fair of really, really hard white toast (I think this crunchy little squares come out of a package), a warm, flaky cornetto (with a hint of orange), butter, jam, yogurt, fresh squeezed orange juice and of course, cappuccinos. We really weren’t expecting much, since Italian’s aren’t too big on breakfast, but considering neither of us had had dinner, we were pleased.

Since our B&B was a hop, skip and a jump away from the Coliseum…it made sense to take Rick’s advice and hit up the trio tour: The coliseum, the Forum and the Palatine Hill. Once we located a kiosk that sold a Roma Pass (admission to 2 museums, ruins, or the like AND free transportation for 3 days) and a quick lunch we were in the Colesseum.

Purchasing the pass was key to bypass the extraordinary line that filled the corridor. Imagine a line if the world series were at Safeco field…LONG! We also decided to purchase an audio tour since neither of us were too informed with details regarding the Colosseum. Rick was right; the commentary was a bit dry, but informative non-the-less. We circled the Colosseum twice…one on the upper and lower levels, while a British accented woman shared the history of gladiator matches, wild animal hunts, the hierarchy of social class seating arrangements and various building materials. Though the Colosseum was amazing to see, we were ready to move on…2 full days in Rome isn’t much to see all there is to offer.

The Forum was next and thanks to Rick’s walking tour, we were well informed as to what the “rubble” used to be, without having to purchase another audio tour. From massive structures built for famous men, to market places meant to proclaim opinions, to Caesar Augustus’ burial sight…it apparently was the place to be back there in 500bc. This may not look like rubble (some was some wasn't, but I guess it just goes to show that they really knew how to build them way back when...)

The Forum lead directly into the Palatine Hill, which honestly was my absolute favorite of the three. Things were green up there. Gardens, walking paths guided by trimmed bushes, orange trees and fabulously tall trees that kinda look like big dinosaurs, I was thrilled to see life after all the brick and mortar and marble. We forwent the audio tour and though slightly dissatisfied with Rick’s description of the expansive area, it was still fun to explore and be wowed by the intricate details of the structures that remained.

By now, Nick and I had had it and were ready for a change of pace. Enough with this 2000 year old stuff..bring on the now! So we hopped on a bus (always an adventure finding the right one, the right place to stand to get on it and getting to our final destination) and headed to Piazza de Popolo: This is one of Rome’s trendiest places to be (they were currently prepping the piazza for an event)…stuffed to the gills with gorgeous stores (aka expensive) and locals out on a stroll. So we strolled, goggled at the fun and FUNKY current styles, hit up the Spanish Steps and hunted down our dinner location. Yes…a bit confusing with all the alleys, street names on the buildings that look like alleys, and the like, but we ended up at a great little spot on Rick’s suggested list, just as the rain started to pour down hard...nothing our huge patio umbrella couldn't handle though.

Of course I had heard that it is appropriate to order multiple courses (antipasti, primo piatte, secondi) plus coffee and dessert, and considering our hunger level, we did: Bruschetta to start, then the ravioli in butter and sage for me and fresh egg noodles with bacon, black pepper and Parmesan for Nick, then pork chop – to share, then sauteed eggplant and zucchini, all to be consumed with Vina Rosa and un café. Yumm. No really….yummm. They keep it simple there, maximizing the taste of the high quality ingredients. Butter and sage made my ravioli perfect. The bacon on Nick’s pasta had a delicious crunch to it that had me reaching across the table with my fork between bites of my own dinner. We also discovered that we had ordered too much food. It may be insulting to not order a meat dish next time or no dessert, but honestly, I would rather finish every meal (breakfast included) with Gelato. Va bene!

It was about 11pm by the time we left our quaint little restaurant. We strolled home, eager to see what we would stumble upon during the 2 mile trek. The thing about Rome that amazed me the most was around each corner was another fabulously old structure...just sitting there...to be looked at....like this: Amazing!

Just as a side note...I did in fact get pooped on by a pigeon our first day it Italy. But to the Italians, this is considered good luck. So I went with it. It was also a wonderful reminder that totting along anti-bacterial wipes would be a good idea. From the that day on, we were fully stocked. Just in case.

Nick and I chatted a bit during dinner regarding Italy and the things that make it fabulous (from my entire 24 hour exposure thus far). Here’s a few high points:

· Though it may appear to be chaotic, the locals have an overall aura of peace…even while driving

· The maximization of space is incredible…the alleys are safe, well lit and used frequently by all people all the time, the majority of people drive smart cars or Cinquecentos or mopeds, homes are smaller, but no one seems to mind since the minute they step out onto the curb anything they need is basically at an arm’s reach.

· You can walk everywhere…and if you don’t feel like it, the transit system is rather straight forward.

· Gelato is on every corner...it’s like the American version of Starbucks

· Buildings that are 3000 years old are just here…sitting around while people walk past them like they belong there (and they do of course, but it is just crazy to get my head around it)

There's more...but really, I could write all day, so I'll save some for later.

We're Back and Better Than Ever!

2010-06-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

Italy has come and Italy has gone. "How was it?" you ask. In a nutshell: Perfect. We loved every single moment of our trip together. Sure...it rained, we got lost, we were hungry, cold, tiered, confused, we couldn't find a bathroom when we needed to go, we had our "conversations," but in reality...times like those are so minuscule compared to the overall wonderfulness of our experience. In fact...they usually add a spark of adventure that makes it that much better. We saw things we have longed to see for years. We experienced things we had no idea existed. We explored until we were exhausted. We ate, swam, played, drank, bused, trained, walked, scootered, read, chatted, prayed and relaxed well. But most importantly of all, we lived a life FULLY and COMPLETELY together for 3 solid weeks. Our marriage strengthened and our inner joy overfloweth with adoration for one-another. Yes...that may sound cheesy, but you asked (kinda). I guess that happens when the biggest concern of each day is: "What do you feel like doing today?"

So...for you to-the-point people: "How was Italy?" is quite easily summed as absolutely the BEST vacation we have ever been on.

For you detailed people: "How was Italy?" will be answered via blog over the next week or so as I gather my thoughts, organize our photos and post. Be patient with me. Writing about everything we did is impossible. Writing about some things we did is slightly easier, although my frustration with surface with each word I type because sometimes there are just not enough words to describe the awesomeness we experienced. Either way, check back every so often...you are bound to get the info on each town we visited, weather you choose to read it is completely up to you!

Pure Bliss Dessert as Josh Durias' April Spotlight

2010-04-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I felt like a movie star. A camera clicked at high speeds with big umbrella flashing brightly as I melted, mixed, frosted, garnished and packaged client dessert orders in my downtown kitchen. Josh Durias of Josh Durias Photography, a fabulous Whatcom County-based photographer, decided a while back to look beyond the "wallpaper" of local business here in the Ham and actually embrace the Be Local campaign. So, without wasting a moment's notice, he started to get to know these businesses and feature them on a monthly basis via Spotlight on his blog. Lucky for me, Pure Bliss Desserts was his April choice. We had a great time, swapping business-start up stories, as well as sharing our passion for supporting the local businesses here in Bellingham as he clicked away. Check out his blog, his talent and then perhaps go pay one of his Spotlights a visit. Small businesses thrive because people like you and me choose to support them!

As Josh says...here's a nibble of his post:

Andi Vann is owner and operator of Pure Bliss Desserts and serves Whatcom County. She specializes in cakes, cupcakes, pies, tarts, dessert bars, cookies, and cream scones (YES.). You can visit her site to get her full menu.

Thanks Josh! You ROCK!

Wigs for everyone!

2010-04-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

My mom is a very sassy woman.

NOT via tongue or attitude. VIA style.

Just a to give you a clear example: On her 55th birthday she asked me if I would accompany her to get her nose pierced. I accepted. She has had a sparkly nose ever since and Rocks it well!

During my last trip to Steilacoom, I was sitting on my mom's bed catching up on our last few weeks of life. She casually mentioned wearing a new wig for a little dinner gathering she threw for her sisters. "A Wig???!! Where is it? Can I try it on?" I shouted immediately. 30 seconds later, it was on my head and I was tickled pink. Talk about a girl's dream for instantly long hair. It was long, slightly curled, with awesome highlights. I showed Nick and he was not impressed to say the least (he's a bit too natural for synthetic hair). Mom and I laughed and laughed, and then she busted out ANOTHER ONE! This one was much shorter...more fitting for her current style. Then my sister arrived and we had some fun.
Nick said that we fast-forwarded time by 20 years...two sisters...hanging in the kitchen...with their very different "Mom" hair cuts. Ha!

As a side-note...Ami and Charlotte got some good bonding time. You know how Charlotte likes to cuddle...but this was ridiculous. Ami carried Charlotte around in a hugging position for a good 20 minutes and our bear was in heaven. I guess they both needed a little extra love that day.

EASTER

2010-04-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

The Mag 7 celebrated Easter this year in Ridgefield/Salmon Creek, WA helping Matt, Ami and Delya move residences. We packed boxes, moved boxes, ran shuttles, organized, strategized, took Starbucks runs, attended church in an old Mervyns and even managed to fit in an Easter Egg hunt. Our Easter Bunny had the best time directing the 36, 33 & 29 year olds to find their golden egg: You're hot...getting hotter...hotter even now....Ohh cold, cold, cold! It was great!After 4 days straight of constant movement, we left Matt, Ami and Delya in their new "we're in transition trying to figure out where we want to live" rental home looking totally and utterly chaotic. But hey...our job was complete: Move the stuff from one place to another. The remaining organizing job is up to them...looks like Matt is ready to have at it!

Pure Bliss Desserts' New Digs!

2010-04-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

I just recently passed my 2nd anniversary of Pure Bliss Desserts. It has been quite the journey…feeling like I have been baking as a business owner much longer than I actually have. When I look back to the beginning months, I never imagined the tremendous learning curve that comes with owning a business. How do I market myself? How do I keep track of customers and orders and money? What do I say at a meeting with a potential client? What makes me different/special/unique in the dessert world? Being a Psychology major with minimal business exposure (I took Econ 206 in college and that’s it) I learned quickly to tap into resources to help me get on the right path. As time passed…more questions came, but thanks to the good Lord’s guidance and amazing advisors, more answers came, helping through the bumpy road of decision making.
My most recent HUGE answer to prayer is landing my very own kitchen!!! No more sharing with other caterers. No more calling ahead to reserve the space. No more toting my ingredients back and forth. Pure Bliss has settled herself in a cozy kitchen downtown and loving it!

As a general update:
~Cake of the month continues to offer Bellinghamsters an amazing deal on REALLY GOOD cake. ~Keep your eyes peeled for April’s featured cake coming soon!
~Creative Cookies are distributed to coffee stands across Whatcom and Skagit County

A few local hot spots are now featuring Pure Bliss Desserts:
~Honey Moon Tasting Room has Pure Bliss Cake and Tartlets
~Banditos Burritos has various Pure Bliss Cookies
~The Anker Café has a nice spread of Pure Bliss options…from dessert wedges, to cookies to muffins and scones to accommodate their new opening time: 7am.

Yes I do love what I am doing and thank God each day for the challenges and joy comes.

Tissue Anyone?

2010-03-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

Remember a few months back every corner you turned there were warnings (threats really) of the feared Swine Flu? You couldn't flip a channel, read a newspaper headline or walk into a drug store without seeing the words Swine Flu/H1N1/Vaccination/Hospitalization/whatever! People were inundated with talk of the worst flu season ever. After weeks and weeks of talk, I knew 3, count it 3, people plagued with this illness. I thought we all got away easy on this trip...until now.

Last week the Flu, Head Cold, unknown illness, and the like swept across what seemed to be everyone in the Vann "circle of trust," and them some! We are talking gobs and gobs of friends and family struck down with sickness. We knew of people taking their babies to the walk in clinic due to random vomiting and other gory projections. We knew of adults taking a trip to the ER for IV injections to replenish fluids. We heard of more people at home sick, hugging the toilet and napping in the same week, than we probably did in the entire year last year. It was terrible. E-mails for prayers went out. Phone calls to cancel gatherings were made. The epidemic had hit and it hit HARD. Nick and I were amazed and grateful that we were at our peak of health. Our daily does of vitamins (Multi, Vit C, Vit D & Fish Oil), exercise, leafy green eating had paid off...we were living it large and untainted by the swooping plague. And then...luck run out...well, My luck that is.

I blame it on our quick little trip to Steilacoom and dwelling with 3 sick-with-different illnesses family members. I think my body was doing the best it could to fight off infection, until we were in the car on the way to church and there was slim to no chance I was going to get out un-tainted. My father, most recently diagnosed with walking pneumonia was hacking in the drivers seat (Ummmm...learning about that little piece of information would have been helpful BEFORE planning our trip home). My mother, coughing and sneezing in the passengers seat. My sister in the back sniffling her little heart out...all with Nick and I in the middle, staring at each other with fear in our eyes hoping for a small miracle: The germs leaking out through the cracks of the car and skidding across the freeway rather than marinating in the clean air we were currently breathing in. No such luck on the right side of the car...those germs clung to me and has left me with a bit of head cold.

For the record, I am NOT down and out for the count. I am not in any form to be in the ER or hugging the toilet or even napping 24/7. If anything, I consider my little sniffle to be a minor inconvenience...a slight cold, just passing by. This is either due to my ignorance or my Positive Psychology tendency: My behavior will follow my attitude. And my attitude is I am not going to get any more sick than the slight tiredness, with a few sneezes and sniffles that I currently have. Although, my little episode has reminded me of how horrible it is when you are not at your 100%. The exhaustion from getting out of bed to make toast. The dizziness while picking something up off the floor. The inability to TASTE food. The constant tenderness under your poor, little nose. The banishment from your significant since their desire of health overrides any sort of desired affection. So if anything...this little blog is for all my friends and family suffering through whatever YUCK you currently have. Persevere...it can't be long now until your health overcomes you! And when in doubt...convince yourself that when you wake up tomorrow you are going to be healed! A little Positive thought can go a LONG way regarding health!

To Sew or Not to Sew

2010-03-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

Last week when Nick was out-of-town for work, I decided to get a few projects done around the house during my free time in the evening. I touched up the trim paint in a few rooms, wiped down all the doors in the house (those are filthy if you take the time to look at them), painted a portion of the "bump out" in our bedroom and some other stuff. I decided to get some courage up and actually bust out the sewing machine I borrowed from my parents for a sewing project I have avoided for the past 2 years...for good reason.
See...in our bedroom, there is a bump out (same as mentioned above) with a bench and a nice window. When we bought this house, I was convinced that that would be my reading place...or a place to sit and ponder the world. I must be honest and admit that I have never sat there to read or ponder, but instead I use it as a clothes holder...typically at night when I am too tired to put them away. Although, Charlotte puts it to good use on a daily basis as the guard dog extraordinaire headquarters. Atop this bench adorns a cushion that is horrifically covered in demin (well...it's faux demin I am sure...but either way...it's ugly). One of the first things I DID do when we moved in was purchase a nice, silky sage green piece of material to cover the said demin. Though this beautiful covering goes well with our bedroom, it is a thorn in both Nick and I's sides with it's constant untucking/rippling/dishevelled manor. Each day we tuck it in, only to discover it has disheveled itself once more (only Charlotte is to blame, I am sure). This may seem like a petty and insignificant thing to be frustrated about (which it is) but I suppose we get worked up about it because there is such an easy fix: Sew it so it forms to the cushion like a fitted sheet, rather than it's floppy, stubborn companion...the loose sheet.
Now...back to last week: With my projects quickly dwindling down, I gussied up the gumption to create a fitted sheet for the bump out. It was awful. I am the furthest thing to a seamstress there is. No really. People shouldn't allow me to get withing a 10 foot range of a needle and thread. It's not because I am inherently bad at running a straight line down a sewing machine (see photo below) or anything, it's just that I lack the care and finesse it takes to ensure that whatever I am sewing is going to actually fit or match up or look good or anything else you expect when two ends of material meet. I am not a time-taker on these sort of projects. I just want them to be done. So once I hit the "good enough" marker, I take the next step, which, naturally, only ends up taking 3 times as long because I did not take the time to do it right the first time.
Instead of boring you with the nitty-gritty details of my fatal attempts to sew silky fabric, I will just say that it is done. It may be ugly and may not last long, but it is done. The good news is this project falls into the unseen category; the only category I will allow myself to be in. Unseen category include sewing projects that won't blatantly show my naivety/impatience. I wouldn't ever dare sew a skirt,a shirt or anything...that is what Anne Marie, Kristen, Ami, Holly, Diana or my dad for crying out loud are for (wow...my friends are talented!). No, I sew the insides of jacket pockets because my keys keep on falling out or something really elementary like buttons. Luckily, my horrific seams are covered up by the cushion itself, so the untrained eye would think it is a nice fitting sheet instead of 8 different sew lines on two corners to make it fit, with the back two corners stuffed down because I just wanted to be done and the front is all that really matters anyways. Few. Glad that is over with.
I told Nick what I had done (with a great sense of accomplishment I might add) and he asked to keep my parent's machine a bit longer so he could hem some pants. "Ha!" I exclaimed. "You can hem those pants and mine right along with it darling!" Thank goodness that we each posses different talents.

The bump-out:

A visual of my sewing giftedness: My keys will for sure stay in my pockets now!

29 and Feeling Fine!

2010-02-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

Growing up, my parents always did an amazing job making me feel like my birthday was MY DAY. The whole day....from morning until evening...it's all about Andi. This ideology could have set me up for some major disappointment in the future, but my hope is that I have some groundedness and ability to flex, so as each birthday rolls around, I try my best to adapt to my surroundings and take it all in stride. This year was no different when I woke up to 29 and shouted: " Woohoo it's my birthday but I MUST remember to be flexible!!!" This isn't to say that anything too drastic happened...I am just a believer that if you set high expectations, you are bound to be disappointed. Please note that this theory does not apply to all avenues in life...usually just things like Birthdays, New Years Eve Parties, Halloween Parties, or the Perfect Date that you have been planning for months.

Since MY DAY fell on a Saturday, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to tour Seattle. Nick and I discussed our itinerary a few weeks prior to my birthday and booked the appropriate tickes: Hit up the Pacific Science Center (PSC)...take in an iMax movie...eat some delicious food, walk around the city...you know the usual. I invited my family to join in the festivities, because after all, they are some of my favorite people ever...AND Ami's birthday is 2 days following mine, so it would just be weird to not celebrate together.

Rather than type out the play by play...I like the idea of highlights for this day:
-It happened to be Educator's Day at the PSC meaning people in the Education field and their guests could get in for FREE! Thanks to Ami, we got to partake in that opportunity.

-After 3 weeks of great anticipation to watch AVATAR on iMax, we were taught a great lesson on making seamless plans: Don't. The iMax broke the day before and would not be showing our movie. Bummer! Just another reason to be flexible.

-I got my first hamburger experience at Dick's. Only don't ask for no mayo - they don't do special orders. Flexible, flexible, flexible!

-After giving mom and dad the tour of the Colonnade, dad is currently trying to set a date to meet up in Seattle and borrow one of our bikes with "shocks in the front and back" so he can play. What an adventurer!

-It was confirmed that without Nuvi (our handy car navigational system) there is no way we could get to Gas Works Park. Wow...Seattle can be so very confusing!

-The Madator is one of the BEST fusion Tex-Mex places around...yummmmm Verde Carnita Enchiladas and way too many chips! (You should go...locations in Ballard, Tacoma and Redmond)

-My parents and sister spoil me rotten! I scored some amazing Cake Stands (amongst other things)...perhaps one day I will post a blog with photos of them. They are gorgeous!

Matt teaching Delya a valuable lesson in being Camouflage:

Dad and I feeling rather small:

Sometimes the exhibits are just too exciting!!! I mean look at Nick...he is enthralled learning about Walking Sticks:

Dad and I spent a significant chunk of time in the Butterfly House. I think he enjoyed the sitting and I enjoyed the warmth...plus it was pretty cool when a butterfly landed on your shoulder, shin or shoe:

Valentines Day

2010-02-15T15:56:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day in the Vann household is not blown out of proportion with heart shaped paraphernalia or chocolate boxes from the floor to ceiling. Instead, we tend to emphasize on the togetherness with perhaps a little extra attention to detail than any other regular day. This year was no different:
A lazy morning woke me up at 8:45am (record breaking for me) with clanking in the kitchen. I padded into the dining room to find my hubby prepping waffles and mixing cream in my coffee...what a guy! There were roses, candles, champagne and some schmoopy words written on heart shaped red construction paper cut out waiting for me as well. Cupid did not appear like last year, nor did my "Chef of Love" like the prior to that...but having Nick bust out the red apron and scamper around the kitchen as I watched him and read the newspaper out loud was just as good.
Since life has been on the busier side lately (summer wedding cake gigs = multitude of winter consultations and tastings at Starbucks/Woods/our house) we decided to use this special day for hitting nature a little harder than the quick 2 hour bike ride on Galbrieth. With rain jackets on and snacks in the back pack, we headed to Chuckanut Drive for one of our favorite local hikes: The Oyster Dome. A steep and rugged 3.5ish miles one way, with some rain, planted us at the "dome" as the skies were clearing up. It was chili, but easily overlooked when the beautiful Sound is staring you in the face (the sandwiches/carrot & hummus/chips helped too!). We spent a majority of our climb up discussing in depth AVATAR...the fabulous movie we finally got to see at the iMax in Langley the previous night (attempt #4 mind you - apparently that's not a movie you can just show up at the theater for...planning is involved) and watching Charlotte hike double the distance as she ran ahead then ran back to see why her pack was moving so very slow, just to turn around and run ahead again.
The hike down was euphoric...that may be a strong word to use when describing a descend that was so muddy and slick, it required 3 points of contact (two legs and and hand or two hands and a leg...or sometimes to hands and a butt), but really it is the best word to describe it. I have a thing for using my body as a tool to explore the earth that God gave us. What made it even better was having Nick and Charlotte there. We got to talk extensively about heavy topics and laugh at silly things with no distractions except for the occasional "feel this soft moss" or "look at the weird moving blue algae in puddles" observations mid-conversations. There were no phones ringing, no e-mail to check, no laundry to switch. It was the perfect way to celebrate togetherness with my Valentine. And, just as every marriage should have it's occasional moment or two, I feel in love that much more with Nick yesterday. He makes me laugh, he "gets" me, he is willing to get a little dirty when his wife requests a hike on the rainiest day of the week and he doesn't complain a bit when make him the deal: You wash that dirty dog...I will make dinner! Thanks babe...you're the BEST!

Three Years of Marital Bliss

2010-01-20T08:47:00.001-08:00

Yesterday Nick and I celebrated our 3rd Wedding Anniversary. We didn't really have anything planned per say...just the idea that we would wing it with what felt right. If we felt like dressing up and having a fancy dinner, we would. If we felt like hitting up Boomer's anniversary "all burgers for $2.89 sale" then we would. We're breezy.
This was the first anniversary we were to celebrate in the state of Washington. The last few years we have conveniently been on family vacations which included both Mexico and Hawaii. Both years we have flown out on the actual anniversary...but still...having a good chunk of the day dedicated to white sandy beaches, Pina Coloada's and decent weather...not too bad. Needless to say we were a bit distraught that our anniversary fell on a non-vacationing date...no special treatment this year...or so I thought.
The day was pretty much the usual run of the mill days...wake up, (although I was adorned with a bouquet of beautiful flowers), go to work, touch base with the usual phone call and so on. But at 5pm...Nick came blazing in the door (very unusual for him...6 or 6:30 is his normal arrival time) asking: "Are you ready to go?"
"Oh Goodie!" I thought..."A surprise!" Nick is very good at surprises.
I asked a few questions: "You are going to feed me right? (I was starving). "Am I dressed OK?" (My new Bellingham-esk hemp skirt). "Do I need a jacket?" (Knowing Nick he would probably make me hike 4 miles to get to a remote staged picnic scene.) After we took care of those details, we were out the door in a flash! As soon as we headed North on I-5 I knew this was going to be good. All regular food establishments that we like are downtown which don't require freeway access...let alone North-bound. I was chatting in the car like everything was normal, but when we took the Bellingham International Airport exit...I shut up and began to wonder.
We parked and was greeted/escorted onto the tarmac by our friend Laura Mills, girlfriend extraordinaire of Corley McFarland...our aviation-equipped friend. Soon I put it all together...we were headed to San Juan Island for dinner. The tradition continues...our anniversary would be celebrated with dinner on an island and on a (much, much smaller) airplane.
The smallest plane I have ever been on was from Guatemala to Belize on our honeymoon - a 20 seater. The plane we were about to occupy could have fit in that 20 seater plane. It was tiny! Corley being the oh-so professional and suave pilot that he is, gave us the grand exterior and interior tour, calming any fears that the plane was in fact functioning to it fullest ability. He had all the fancy lingo going when communicating with the towers...so I figured we were in safe hands. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't a wee-bit fearful...not because of the idea of plunging to our death (God takes us when He wants to) but of the fact that I hadn't gotten to say goodbye to my family or let anyone know that if anything did happen, they needed to go get Charlotte who was sleeping innocently in our kitchen. So after a quick prayer and a few negotiations with God, I let it go and had the time of my life!
The tiny plane only needs 1/6th of the runway to lift off. It was relatively fast and easy. As soon as we got up over the treeline though, things were a rockin'. The plane is very, very light (with, let's not forget to mention, only one engine) so the wind is boss and the plane is left to be corrected. As we swayed to and fro, dropped and raised, and shifted side to side, we admired Bellingham Bay, Fairhaven, Vancouver Island, Anacortes, Lumi Island and all other sights to be seen. Of course it was dark by this point, so the lights twinkled beautifully. My respect also grew tremendously for anyone who navigates airplanes in the dark. While over the water, the land blends in with the dark masses below so differentiating between high peaks or sea level ground is nearly impossible. Thanks to GPS and Corley's keen skills, we flew at a steady 3,000ft for about 14 minutes until landing safely (and a little bumpy thanks to those "gusts") at Friday Harbor Airport.
From there we parked the plane (which involves getting out and pushing it!!!!) and walked to the down town area for a fabulous crab cakes appetizers, a fish dinner, wine and great conversation.
The ride home was a bit smoother than the ride there. The air was much calmer this go around. I got to sit in the front which gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation yet again for people who fly...think about those Fighter Pilots who fly at Mach Speed!!! Crazy!
Our landing was seamless and night of flying was over. We pushed the plane into the hanger, locked the doors and that was it! Who would have thought that in a mere 4 hours we were flown to and from the San Juan Islands, had a terrific dinner, amazing company and a memory to last a life time.
Thanks Nick!!! I am a lucky, lucky woman to be married to you! And a special thanks to Corley for flying by the seat of his pants, so to speak (weather in January is rather undependable) and giving us a ride of a lifetime!

Thanksgiving and Christmas Tree Hunting

2009-12-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving weekend was awesome! Although I didn't take any photos of our bountiful feast, the 17 Kaczmarek family members put quite the dent in the plentiful bounty on the table. I took a poll of people's top 3 favorite Thanksgiving Day food items and amoung each answer there was one common demoninator: Stuffing. My mom makes a rockin' good stuffing! No nuts, no cranberries, no rasins. Just lots of sausage, spices, cornbread and butter of course. No wonder it is the best!

Two of my wonderful cousins, LeAnne and Lauren, flew into town to join in in the festivities from Colorado. It was so much fun to catch up with them. Check out Delya's poka dots. She is so very stylin' thanks to Omi.

We spent half the long weekend in Steilacoom and the other half at my folk's cabin at Cyrstal Mt. Saturday was spent up on the slopes. The first half of the dad was filled with clear, gorgeous skies. We failed to pull out the camera, before the clouds rolled in and limited our visability. Bummer. Dad, Nick and I had a great time though. Nice and easy pace...with many bathroom and snack breaks...just how skiing should be!

Sunday was Christmas tree shopping day. We bought a forest pass ($10 - a total score) and hit the hills. After about 45 minutes of dredging through waste deep snow, we finally found the tree to adorn our living room this December! We were so excited...I shared a kiss with Charlotte! (Too bad she can't take photos...otherwise, I could have shared a kiss with Nick!) Ahh, well.
Charlotte digs the snow! She was bouncing all over the place like a bunny. See her tail???
Tying the tree on the car is my least favorite job. That's why I take pictures and explore while Nick does the dirty work.

I would LOVE to post a photo of our tree decked out with orniments and lights in our home...but our camera has officially crapped out. When I try to turn it on, it just blurts 5 furrious beeps at me then turns off again. Guess it's time to hit consumer reports for some research!

Yes...I am almost a month behind....but here it is Halloween!

2009-11-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

Charlotte and Fairy

I am so, so behind on posting blogs. I think I have computer phobia during the evening...which is unfortunate because that is when I typically blog. So much of my work (besides the baking part) is on the computer...emailing clients, putting together quotes, doing "paperwork." So when evening comes in the Vann household and dinner has been eaten, the dog has been walked and I have free time, the last thing I feel like doing is firing up the good ol' computer once more for more screen time. Nope. Lately, I have been all about reading, playing a game of crib with Nick or movie watching. Not to mention the fact that my bedtime is around 9pm (I blame it on the time change and the dark skies arriving around 4:30pm). So I am uber behind on my posts, but whatever...it gets done when it gets done.

So...Halloween weekend we had a full house. The Mag 7 came together once again for some lounging time, participation in a ragin' BUNCO party and a home improvement project. Check it out!

We had a great turn out for our Halloween Costume BUNCO party and the Anker Cafe. The perfect venue for a large crowd! I didn't get every one's photo...but if you were there and your picture isn't below...send it to me and I will happily add it. I know I am missing some Animal Control peeps, another Polyester dude & tourist, as well as Salt & Pepper (seasonings, not the rappers)!

The Card Players:

The 1950's Housewife and her Construction Working/Beer Drinking Husband:

Poison Ivy, Pirate and Skunk

The Bump (road construction/bun in the oven) and Tourist:

Bacon & Eggs!!!

Scary hooded man with dark eyes:

The Polyester Queen and "Dave From Work"
Shrek and Fionna:

Hippie (holding our little Skunk):

Dad was the General Contractor for installing our back awning that weekend as well. Our goal was not only to protect us from the adverse weather while coming and going from the house but to also give Charlotte a dry place to perch if it happened to rain on a day she was outside.

The Before:
The After:

On Sunday, while Dad was redeeming his birthday present (a professional message) and Nick and Matt were up on Galbrieth...Mom, Ami, Delya and I went to Hovander Park for some animal viewing-park walking-pumpkin admiring time. It was great!
Thanks for a great weekend...perhaps the Costume-BUNCO party will be an annual event. You should definitely come next year!

November's Featured CREATIVE COOKIE

2009-11-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

Available November 9th through November 24th

Minimum order of 6 cookies, $2.25 each (plus tax)...and they are shippable!

Email to place your Order: Andi@PureBlissDesserts.com

Pure Bliss Desserts and Seamless Cakes have collaborated to bring you Delicious AND Beautifully decorated cookies! Each all-natural cookie is individually wrapped, bowed and tagged to make the perfect favor for parties, client appreciation gifts, thank yous or a treat for the kiddos and YOU! Each month there will be a new themed cookie.

November's Cake of the Month

2009-11-06T09:14:00.000-08:00

CREAMY COCONUT CAKE!

Creamy and moist white cake infused with real coconut, layered and topped with cream cheese frosting, then garnished with toasted coconut flakes for an added crunch!

Two sizes available:
The standard size; serving 20 people for $34 (plus tax)
OR
The petite version; serving 8 people for $15 (plus tax)

Pre-Order yours NOW (before November 9th)! Your cake can be available for pick-up or delivery between November 13th to the 24th. Email Andi@PureBlissDesserts.com to order.

Thinking about Christmas already??? How about giving the gift that keeps on giving? A year's subscription to Cake of the Month! A delectable CAKE (in either standard or petite size) for each month in 2010 is the perfect gift for your friends, relatives, co-workers, nanny, neighbor, employees...anyone who just really LOVES cake.
Want to learn more??? Contact Andi.

*Photograph provided by: www.taylorswedbergphotography.com

Go Sounders!

2009-11-03T19:05:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, we were spoiled by Ben and Jen (friends of ours....met during my Effectiveness Institute days) to a Sounders game. After a rousing dinner of the much delicious bottomless fries at Red Robin, we headed over to Seattle for the game. It being our first, we really didn't know what to expect...but I can honestly say it was riveting. The crowd totally gets into it. It's like they are a part of the team. The support, the enthusiasm, the die hard loyalty they showed the Sounders was not only impressive but influential. We stood the entire game...minus half time. Nick bought himself a scarf, because ever true Sounders fan needs to have one and waved that puppy with the best of 'um.
It was great to catch up on the last 2.5 years face-to-face with Ben and Jen and made a vow to not let that much time pass again. I mean...why is life so busy that that much time can pass and seem like a blink of an eye? Scary. Oh and just in case you were wondering...the Sounders beat Texas: 2-1.

Harvest Festival

2009-11-03T18:50:00.001-08:00

The weekend before Halloween, the Sweds hosted their annual Harvest Party at their home in Blaine. This was the first year that Nick and I were in town to actually attend the event and we were thrilled!!!
Mindy made some delicious Chili for the crowd, then we dove into our pumpkins to carve our little hearts out. I am not a skilled pumpkin carver, but did discover that I am married to a grand artist (yeah...it's a bad photo....peter isn't even looking at the camera, but I only took two shots and here are both of them). After 45 minutes of attempting to capture the perfect photo on the Swed's porch, we did our best to clean the pumpkin off the ceilings (ok...maybe not actually on the ceilings, but it was a mess) and headed home. Eating, laughing, catching up with old friends (we miss you Peter!) and carving can really take it out of a person!

Carson Martin Weber is here!

2009-11-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I have blogged...however I did just do a gigantic photo download off our camera and am ready to get up to speed on various events and activities.

WAY back in September, my sweet friend Sarah since the 5th grade was "showered" because her bun in the oven was just about ready to come out! Look at how CUTE she is!

And just a few weeks later on October 14th, Carson Martin Weber arrived! A whopping 8 lbs, 1 oz and 21.5 inches long. He obviously got his height from his daddy, but will no doubt has his momma's amazingly kind heart. I am so very proud of my friend and her growing family. Now it's just a matter of when I get to hold the little guy!

Tiny photos...but I got them off facebook...so what's a girl to do??? More will come, I am sure!

CREATIVE COOKIES ARE HERE!!!

2009-10-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

Pure Bliss Desserts and Seamless Cakes (www.seamlesscakes.com) have collaborated to provide CREATIVE COOKIES!!! A deliciously buttery cookie, decorated beautifully to boot! A new design will be available each month, so I will be sure to update you with the latest and the greatest design(s). But don't wait too long to order...these cookies must be pre-ordered, as their availablity is limited. Check out the details below!

HALLOWEEN'S FEATURED CREATIVE COOKIES
Bats and Pumpkins

Pre-order your spooky cookies by October 19th. Once your order is placed, the cookies will be available via Delivery or Pick-up between October 26th to October 30th.

How to order:
Write: Andi@PureBlissDesserts.com
Phone: 360-739-1612

Pricing:
$2.25 (plus tax) per cookie
Minimum order: 6 cookies (either designs)

Happy Halloween!

Panninis, Wine, Gelato, David...ahhhhhhh

2009-09-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

On our first date, Nick told me about his time living in Italy while serving in the Navy. He spoke of it with such passion and vigor and details; almost as though he had just returned from overseas.

His adoration for the beloved Italy has only grown these last 4.5 years, as has my interest in traveling internationally (Gelato on every corner???? Yes please!!!!), so we decided to commit already and put a date on it. The flight has been booked and the planning will soon begin. We will get 3 lovely weeks in Italy during the Spring.

I better hit the books...my Italian is worse than my Spanish and that is pretty bad! Arrivaderci!

Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend had been on the calendar for months. The plan was to have the Mag 7 meet on Orcas Island and spend the long weekend kayaking, hiking, biking and hangin'. After the 20 phone calls and constant watch of the weather leading into the weekend, it was decided that camping in the rain is stupid and a revision would be made. The family headed up to B-Ham instead and for the first time we were all in Bellingham together.
Each day was a bit different...Saturday brought a walk to Starbucks, a bike ride to the Farmer's Market, a swim in the pool (oh if only I had a photo of my niece in her BIKINI!!!), a fantastic dinner cooked by mom, and a rousing couple's competition of the Newlywed Game.
Sunday we packed up lunch and ferried over to Lummi Island. A day never to forget:

The Ferry:

The biking train:

Charlotte and Delya sharing the ride (although Charlotte did not obey the "no escape" rule while the cart was in motion):

The blowout (note that the mustard looking material is actually poo, NOT mustard):

The hang time:

We also got to celebrate dad's 62nd birthday. Mom again made an awesome dinner and we had some delicious German Chocolate Cake for dessert.

Monday allowed us to squeeze a few more precious hours of togetherness. We did a little baby clothes consignment shopping, consumed the oh-so delicious Coconut Kenny's long board sandwiches and took a little hike near Lake Padden. Dad even busted out a few tools and helped the rot on our eaves disappear. He is amazing like that!We were thankful for our time together and even more thankful that we opted for the roof over our heads rather than the tent sitting in a soggy campsite.

Yellow Aster Butte

2009-09-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

Nick and I were determined to get at least one back packing trip in this summer, so when we found a weekend that worked, the obvious destination was to Yellow Aster Butte. The view from the top is beyond-words remarkable. It is expansive, versitile and breath taking. But don't take my word for it...go check it out yourself!
The entire hike is 3.4 miles. The first mile and a half you are begging for the flat part. But it is shaded so at least there is some mercy. Beyond that is an exposed trial with a gradual climb. At about the 3 mile point, you turn the corner to see your destination: the actual butte to the right and vast meadows, interwined with tarns (glacial water ponds or lakes). Once at said destination the exploring is endless. Miles and miles of additional trails that wind amilessly and show you God's beauty. Seriously, there is not a bad view in the joint. Mt. Baker and Mt. Shucksan steal the show, but a 360 panaramic view of varying peaks that layer back hundreds of miles aren't too shabby themselves.
We decided to camp in the same location as we did 3 years ago when Nick surprised me with a candle lit propsal, a bohemian themed campsite and a gourmet dinner (all at 5,500 ft...not too bad). It was fun to re-live Nick's anticipation at certain points along the trailhead..was the plan going to work? Was I going to say yes? Was it going to be worth all the effort he put into this? Back then and 3 years later, he still says "Absolutley!" Lucky me.
We were blessed with amazing weather...warm enough to make the tarns feel like our own personal swimming pools. Not to mention unlimited blueberries to feast on! Charlotte of course dug the trip and did an amazing job off leash the entire time. She was born for the outdoors; the perfect dog for the Vanns!

A Homier Home

2009-08-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

I know I blogged about this last summer, but each year I am taken aback by how cool gardens are. We plant tiny seedlings in dirt and before you know it...it's Jungle out there!!!!

Since we had so much success with tomatoes last year, we went all out and planted 5 different varieties again this year. They have dominated the majority of the garden...enough to inspire Nick to increase our overall garden 200% for summer of 2010. The raspberry plants, that I though I killed last year, have taken off and are producing enough berries for a decent size snack each day. The lemon cucumbers were an experiment and are deeming fruitful. As are the chives, basil, mint, sage, oregano, and thyme. Our spicy peppers are trying their best, but the brussel sprouts never stood a chance. Dang the slugs!

Last night I was inspired to have a Garden Dinner: Basil pesto spaghetti with cherry tomatoes and pan fried tilapia and herbed-buttermilk salad. Yummmo! I love heading out to the garden to grab something and then eating it that night. It's the 20 foot diet, if you will.

I also recently became absolutely disgusted by our home office. It was cluttered, unorganized, inefficient and not the ideal working environment for a girl who thrives off of tidiness, some style and functional. So...I took an entire day and upgraded the overall look. Moved a few things around, tossed a lot of stuff, purchased a few key organizational items and Vua-La!!!

A place that excites me to work and dwell.

Nick Turns 36!!!

2009-08-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

August 7th turned a new page in Nick's Book of Life: The glorious age of 36! Since his actual birthday landed on a Friday and was near impossible for any sort of worthy celebration due to my weekend wedding schedule, we postponed his actual celebration for Sunday. However, we did have time on Friday night to squeeze in some social time with a few awesome guys at Archers for beer, darts and good convo (Thanks Trev, Nate and Ryan)!

A few weeks earilier, I had decided to surprise Nick with a Day of Fun, celebrated with a few of his dearest friends. Guys he has known for years and years. Guys who have walked along side him through the valleys of life, as well as celebrated the joyful moments! So on Sunday morning, after Nursery duty at Cornwall Church, we headed home for what he thought to be a day for just the two of us. The true plan was soon reveled as the guests began to arrive: The Best's (Pete and Joy, as well as their twins (Nick's Godchildren) David and Isabelle), the Norwoods (Ron-a-tron and Cathy, as well as their daughter Bella) and Kevin Unruh. Our house quickly turned into a kid-friendly playground, with the set agenda of a hike with the guys (plus me) and a steak dinner. We enjoyed all of Nick's favorites: Avocado, Bacon & Turkey sandwiches, great convo and a pleasant hike up to Fragrance Lake.

Then came dinner with the whole crew back at our house: Bacon wrapped sirloin steaks, garlic mash potatoes, grilled asparagus and green beans, baked brie and figs, corn on the cob, mojitos, and for dessert: Flourless Chocolate Torte and a Summer Berry Tart. He was happy as can be and in his words: "Honored the his friends sacrificed an entire day to travel to Bellingham and celebrate with him." Hearing him say this was a breath of fresh air. I got to witness Nick humbly recognize his own worth to others. That was the icing on the cake(or ganache in this case) and the best birthday present he could have given to himself.

Mag 7 Gather Again - Swift River

2009-08-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

In honor of my mother's birthday, the Mag 7 took a trip to Swift River Reservoir in Southern Washington. We did as we always do and just relaxed together.

Hanging at the campsite:
Eating (Pappi took it upon himself to introduce Delya to her first whole food: Cantaloupe):
Reading at the beach:

Sailing (Dad's make-shift canoe/sailboat):
And just Hangin':

Lewis River was about an hour drive from our campsite. We strolled through the lush-green landscape for a final destination at the Lower Falls. Gorgeous, pristine water, and oh-so refreshing! Since Washington's random heat wave hit that weekend...we all took advantage of the cool waters and lived like kids again.

Andi dusting off those old cheerleading skills:

Ami taking the plunge:
What a great hubby...helping Mommacita scale the rock:

4 of 7:
Thanks Mom! Great place to celebrate your birthday!

Christ Church Bellingham

2009-08-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Our church is here! After 2 years of feeling unsettled in not having a home church and one full year of monthly meetings and prayer time, Christ Church Bellingham has finally arrived (http://www.christchurchbellingham.org/)! Nate Walker and Trevor Mauss have been working diligently (with tremendous support from their wives) in preparing a new church for Bellingham. Sunday evening services have begun, as well as Tuesday Night BBQs at various parks. We gather to praise Jesus, learn from each other, sing loudly, eat, play and dwell in fellowship. Nick and I are thrilled to reunite in a church community that is so welcoming, real, loving and raw. Wanna come???

Work, work, work

2009-08-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

Work has obviously been keeping me busy these last several weeks. Both Pure Bliss Desserts and Steven Moore Designs have hit their peak season. Just about each weekend has been consumed with either a wedding to coordinate, a dessert bar/cake to bake or both. The end of July brought my craziest times with 3 dessert bars and a wedding to run all in the same weekend. It was busy, but way less stressful than what I was expecting. Organization is key! Pre-planning is a MUST! Asking for help and not over committing my social calendar helped too.

A few shots from that weekend (Thanks Taylor and Clinton!):

500 cupcakes to eat:

The cake to cut:

The Garden Wedding:

The Lavish Pink Wedding (Life is about learning as you go. My lesson: Cream cheese frosting isn't stable enough to hold fondant. That's locked in the memory bank).

Ami came up to assist that weekend. It was so much fun to spend some bonus time with my sister and niece.

We laughed:

We cried:

We snuggled:

We bathed:
I got peed on (if you look closely, you will see my pee soaked shirt)!
The summer is winding down for me in the coordinating business. Two weddings to go and then I will retire from Steven Moore Designs. I have truly enjoyed working for the oh-so-talented Steve, as well as learning more about weddings than I ever though I would. But alas, it is time to move on. My goal will be to focus on growing Pure Bliss Desserts and enhancing the opportunities to treat the people of Bellingham wirh delectable and amazing desserts! I will also continue to develop recipes and help produce goods for Chuckanut Bay Foods a few times a week. Still a full plate, but when you are as passionate about baking as I am, it rarely feels like work.

It's Catch-Up time!

2009-08-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Whoa! It has been a while...5 weeks actually. I guess that's what happens when busy season comes around. Blogging shifts quickly to the "low priority" status when there are cakes to bake, weddings to coordinate, recipes to develop, meetings to meet and fun to be had (the sun is limited you know...at least in Washington)! But today I am taking the day off from that busyness craze and enjoying the overcast day by doing what feels right in the moment. This moment feels like catching up on Blogs, so hold on...more to come!

Winthrop, WA

2009-07-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

Two weekends back, Nick and I took a solo trip to Winthrop, WA. Located in central Washingon, it is a quaint little town with numerous things to do...from shopping to laying by the river to various outdoor recreating. Sounds a lot like Bend, but not nearly as big. It has it's own Country Western feel, as most of the buildings on the main drag (only drag for that matter) are faced with the Wild West facade. The home made ice cream shop was by far the most hoppin' place, but it certainly didn't lack the antique-ish gift shops that are always so fun to browse, as well as outdoor clothing stores and restaurants.Since it had been years and years since either Nick or I had ventured to Winthrop, it was clear that it was time to re-explore the land together. After randomly selecting a campground near town via internet and getting a wee bit lost trying to find it...we rolled into our campground at 10pm, Friday night. Ahhh...another set up in the dark...is there any other way? The camp host had no record of our reservation, but after telling him that my credit card statement said otherwise, he willingly gave us a site and we were on our way.

The next morning we realized Big Twin Lakes campground is beautiful and well shaded (a MUST considering 95 degree weather - too hot for a good ol' Western Washington girl like me), but the lake was rather disappointing. It did not pass the inspection as being a swimable lake, unless one enjoys swimmers itch, but rather a good fishing spot, which neither Nick nor I do.
After a leisurely breakfast and a game of cribbage, we headed up Sun Mountain for some awesome mountain biking. It took me about 2 peddle strokes to realize that the term "Mountain Biking" can have many different meanings. Most of Eastern Washington mountain biking is rolly, hot, exposed, sandy, rocky, fast, narrow, non-technical and in my opinion very boring and life-sucking. Not to mention boiling hot! I was reminded yet again how lucky we are to have Galbraith mountain 10 minutes from our front door. That is my kind of mountain biking: Steep and steady going up, fast going down, technical, networks of trails, compacted dirt, shade and fun, fun, fun. So after an hour and a half of peddling and seeing if the trails would get any better, we threw the bikes back on the car, headed back to camp and took a 2 hour nap under the Willow tree.

Shockingly, when we woke up we were still exhausted and realized it was more about being over heated than it was about being tired. A 10 minute drive took us to a beautiful, refreshing lake where the water cooled our bones and rejuvenated our spirits. Charlotte even took a little swim (slightly forced by Nick) and though she probably hated it in the moment, we could tell she too felt much better after taking a dip. We did a little dog sitting once we returned to our campsite. Ore site neighbors, and as it turns out fellow Bellinghamers, were celebrating a 60th birthday in town and asked us to watch their 3 lb dog, Lucy. She took a liking to Nick quickly, although, I'm not sure if she ever stopped shaking.

Sunday morning, the skies were a bit overcast and I thanked the Lord every moment. After peanut butter pancakes and sausages, we packed up camp and headed to another mountain bike trail that was promised to be more of our kind of biking.

Cutthroat Lake, located in the Oakenagen National Park, is a must see for everyone! The lake itself is a mere 2.4 mile trek up a very gradual incline. The scenery during the hike is treat enough, but the lake is awe-inspiring. Warning: Layer on bug spray like you would smoother frosting on a cake. The mosquitoes are thick as blankets and have a tenacity that would humble a tiger feeding on it's pray. They only surround the lake, so when on the trails you are home free!

Since we were biking, we took 2 seconds to snap a photo by the lake (Nick was lucky to have me stop moving that long - they were ferocious little blood suckers) and we continued up the trails. From there on the incline got much steeper. With constant switchbacks and the occasional stream to plow through, we climbed and climbed and climbed with beauty surrounding us. Eventually we hit a stopping point (mostly due to our time limit...we still had a 3 hour drive home), padded up and headed down. Granted it wasn't the technical downhill that we are used to, but boy was it fast. Nick lead the train, then Charlotte who can run with the best of them, then me bringing up the rear. We were back at our car before we knew it, amazed at what a difference the day before's ride had been compared to what we just did.

Refreshed and exhausted we headed home, soaking up the awesome views the whole way. If you haven't made it over to Winthrop yet. You really must. The drive itself is worth it!

See Charlotte likes the technical bridges too!

Bend, Oregon

2009-07-07T23:03:00.001-07:00

Quite a few months ago, Nick and I sat down and created a list of destinations we would love to visit this summer. Since the bulk of my work consumes the weekends throughout the summer, we are forced to be intentional about our limited free time. We all know that the Summer is the time to take advantage of the beautiful Northwest...so it was a no brainer to break the patterns of the last few summers of just "wingin' it" when it comes to weekend trip and really brain storm our most desired mini-vacation destinations. The list included: Bend, OR...Hood River, OR...Victoria, BC...Whistler, BC...Squamish, BC...Winthrop, WA...San Juan Islands, WA...and at least one backpack trip on Mt. Baker. Obviously, we were already able to cross off Whistler and Squamish off our list, and during the 4th of July weekend...we accomplished yet another desired location: Bend. OR.

Though the city name itself - Bend - sounds somewhat unintriguing, it is actually an absolute "must see" city in my humble opinion. Located in central Oregon...it reminds me just of a bigger Bellingham. A place of unlimited activities...both for the adventurous heart and laid-back shopper, while surrounded by beautiful terrain and a laid back ora.

We were blessed to have a three day weekend over the 4th, so it made sense to visit Bend due to it's longer distance from home (8 hour drive). Leaving late on Thursday night, we rolled into Ridgefield (home of Matt, Ami and Delya Lewis) around 1am. After catching some ZZZZZs, we all awoke, packed the car with 4 adults and 1 infant's belongings and bodies and hit the road.
Though the car ride was a bit tight, I soaked up every minute. Lucky me, I got the choice back seat right next to two of my favorite women in the world: My niece and sister. I got to stare at Delya for 4 hours...watching her watch her mother with adoration, joy and total contentedness. The have obviously grown a deep bond during the last 4.5 months and it was written all over Delya's face. Something that I will never forget and continue to be so proud of my sister for being such an awesome mom.
After we rolled into Bend in the early afternoon, we checked in at our hotel and took the short half mile walk into downtown. The dry 90 degree weather took a bit getting used to, but so very worth it. With a few streets of full of boutiques, sweet shops and outdoor gear, we were easily entertained for hours upon hours of window shopping and eating. Lucky for us, we also took part in the "Art Walk" which happens on the first Friday of each night in downtown Bend. Local participating shops and galleries stay open later and offer free wine, beer and treats. A genius marketing idea, as each location was jammed full of potential shoppers, who may not opt to be there without the free booze. After a late dinner at one of the McMenamin's school turned restaurant/hotel locations (www.mcmenamins.com - so cool...check it out!) we headed back to the hotel for some rest.

Delya rockin' her new booties:
The 4th celebration was a sight to see in Bend. By 10am sharp, thousands of on-lookers lined the downtown streets to watch the parade; simply consisting of humans and their pets, adding up to even more thousands. It was packed...lively...and the all American spirit was buzzing through the streets.

Nick posing with his pet of choice (besides Charlotte of course): "A Pony!!!":
The five of us continued on our walk to the Old Mill district:... A place of more shops, but this time more commonly seen names: REI, Banana Republic, American Eagle, Victoria Secret, Red Robin, etc, etc, etc. It was while walking through the Old Mill area that I told Nick - "Honey...we are actually doing it! We said we wanted to come here...and here we are!" I was proud of us...it's easy to plan trips, but doing them takes effort...the packing, the driving, the dog arrangments, and on and on and on.

It was fun to brouse and get some walking exercise, but it was obvious that the quaintness and uniqueness of the shops in the down town part of town won our hearts. It was also obvious that the mid 90 degree weather was draining us, and the Deshutes river was calling our name.
Running right through town, the Deshutes has a mild flow and a very "float me" call. After a unanimous vote of floating the river, we headed back to the hotel, to get the car so we could find the nearest box store that would sell us a floaty. After our $2.50 floaties were purchased, we launched, somewhat unwillingly, into the river for our 1 mile drifting experience. I say somewhat unwillingly, because while on our floaty shopping spree, the clouds decided to come in and temporarily eliminate the burning sun that created the craving to want to jump in a freezing cold river. But we made the best of it, even Delya (what a fish!!!) and laughed, while chattering our teeth at the irony of it all.
Snacks, showers and feedings (for Delya) were in the books for us at the hotel, and then we were headed back into town to hunt down a great dinner to celebrate our country's independence. (Can you tell we walked 10 miles a day, just going from one place to the next???? It was awesome!) Deshutes Brewery was the obvious choice due to the vast menu options, the great beer (for the boys) and the perfect location to step out of the restaurant to view the "Best in Oregon" fireworks show in a small pocket park around the corner. It was really a great way to wrap up such a fun day.
Sunday was our departure day, so after hitting up a Pearl Izumi Outlet (biking gear) and a pit stop at some rockin' reservoir for a picnic lunch and a quick swim...we were on the road yet again. Though the ride back was uneventful (thankfully...no traffic) it may have been one of my favorite times from the entire weekend. I have said time and time again that Ami and I are very close. But this trip truly allowed the "sister time" that we really haven't had in years. Being completely sedentary in the car for 6-7 hours...allowed us the time to chat, chat, chat with minimal interruptions or distractions. It really is all about the journey, isn't it?

Since we rolled into Steilacoom so late (mom and dad watched Charlotte for the weekend), we deemed it wise to sleep there, then head back to B-Ham in the morning. It was an awesome way to spend the long weekend...after all "We're actually doing it!"

Father's Day

2009-06-23T11:32:00.001-07:00

This year Father's Day was unlike any other for The Mag 7, as we celebrated 2 fathers (well 3 if you include Nick fathering Charlotte): Matt and my dad of course. It was a weekend gathering in Steilacoom, with the loose agenda of Kayaking, BBQ and Church to be followed by the traditional trip to Costco for mocha freezes, pizza and soda. We did as we always do...living life at an easy pace in Steilacoom.

Since my mother had a bit of a migraine, neither she nor Brea attended the kayaking festivities. So that left: Dad, Delya and Matt in the canoe, Ami, Nick (& Charlotte) and I in individual kayaks on American Lake in Lakewood. We paddled for about 2 hours, with deep cravings to jump in the water, but too intimidated by the daunting "I just may rain on you any second" clouds. Midway through the adventure, Delya needed a snack so Ami and Matt swapped vessels for appropriate feeding. It was hilarious and wonderful.

I do love how different land looks from the water (verses seeing land on land). And it pains me to say that I have not been saving up enough money for our water front dream home...hmmmm only 2 million to go...Yikes!

It was such an enjoyable weekend. Not only to honor the dads in our family, but also because I got some serious time with my niece. It had been about 5 weeks since I seen her last, and boy oh boy had she changed. Physically, she has turned into a baby after my own heart: Chubby-chub-chub with eatable cheeks and rolls upon rolls (this is healthy you know...baby's need fat for brain development and extra nourishment in case they don't get enough calories in a day - that is nature taking over). Developmentally, she is leaps and bounds beyond our last encounter: She is so very alert, wide-eyed and expressive. She is strong...holding her own weight while standing (assitance with balance is needed of course). She smiles the sweetest smile and is much more go-with-the flow: From Auntie Andi, to Uncle Nick, to Pappi, to Omi then to bed...she transitions beautifully and rarely fusses.
It continues to amaze me to watch my sister in this new role of motherhood. She is excelling. She is a patient and loving mother. She is adaptable, adventurous and embracing the challenge. She is not over-panicky, over-bearing or over-protective. She is an amazing mom...as is Matt an amazing Dad...fully present, completely helpful in all infant duties and expressive for his love for his little girl. Not to mention the hilarious names he comes up for Delya: Little Sumo, Milk Coma Baby and 100 others that I just can't think of right now. It is great to watch them be parents together...especially when I get to hold my niece and nibble on her cheeks!

Whistler Relived

2009-06-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago a group of us headed up to Whistler BC for a weekend of adventure and relaxation. Thanks to a great friend's hook up, we were able to score a sweet deal on a great condo in the Upper Village. A mere 15 minute walk took us to the heart of the Village...a place for shopping, delicious dining and oh-so entertaining people watching. I LOVE hanging in the village. The vibe it gives off is one of great appeal to me. Such a blend of people...young to old, rich to rags, it has got it all. The die-hard bikers who live for the hills to those who may not even notice the recreation options...but more specifically there to shop, dine or raise a ruckus during a bachelorette party. The entertainment is unlimited, therefore, I love it.

After 2 years of recovery and positive self talk from my last horrific Whistler down hill park bike riding experience (http://nickandandi.blogspot.com/2007/08/whistler-bikers-dreamunless-youre-me.html), I decided it was time for a do over. We went about it the right way this time: I rented the fattiest bike I could get my hands on...9 inches of travel with motorcycle tires (basically) to boot. I padded up with the right gear, caffeine up to give me a boost and we were well on our way up the mountain (via chairlift of course...those bikes weren't designed to be peddled up hill...or flat for that matter). I am so very proud to report, not a single tear was shed this year. Only hoots and hollers of exaltation! I even stepped up a few skills while I was there: Overcoming my fear of drops (or basically allowing my tires to be off the ground longer that .01 seconds) and taking full advantage of the berms. Nick of course was a great encourager (yes...he definitely learned his lesson from the last go-around). He stuck by my side the whole day...taking breaks when I needed them (read: to get food and more food), gave me on-the-spot lessons and techniques that would help my advancement and praised me for the littlest of accomplishment (which I have learned helps me more than anything else). It was an amazing day...we returned to the condo that evening with smiles on our faces and excitement to hear the stories of our fellow traveling companions. Not to mention the hilarious observation of 3 grown men trying to expedite the process of charcoal burning.

Sunday brought a yummy "family style" breakfast, a people watching/coffee drinking period at the park and a sun tanning session at Lost Lake with the crew. We lounged, relaxed and laughed...things all Sundays should include.
I can't wait for another go around in 2010! Or even a few more in 2009!

Whoa - weekend catch up

2009-06-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been an absolute blurry blast. From here to there on the weekends to slamming weekday, work-filled hours...I haven't found the time to blog about life. But a las, a quick update just cause I can!

In May, Nick and I visited our amazing friends Pete and Joy. Their twins turned 1 that weekend, so we got to hang with them a learn all about Diaper-Genie, frozen pureed food and landscaping the yard.

Isabelle loves to push David in the buggy.

Charlotte likes to see what's going on too:

I'm getting served up my all time favorite treat: Ice cream!

Mother's day weekend was spent up at my parent's cabin. And though I have no photos to show off that blessed weekend...we definitely had a blast! Hanging around the cabin, venturing to the fabulous town of Enumclaw for a hair cut and Starbucks, and a rather long, wet bike ride with Nick in Black Diamond. I am happy to have that destination scratched off our list...was a maze!

The following weekend, mom and dad payed Nick and I a visit. It was a long time coming and we were so happy to have them up. There was defiantly more play than work being done...but of course dad's amazing skills were put to good use...fixing our sink, shower head, and endless consultation on deck repair and refinishing. He says not to do anything until August when it's really hot. Perhaps we will just have to schedule another gathering with them then to help us out!

We took them up the Ridge line for a hike on Galbrieth
Dad built a little muscle too...that push mower is no easy task:

Memorial Weekend took us to Squamish...or as Taylor puts it: Bellingham times 100. Gorgeous terrain, awesome mt. biking, beautiful lakes for swimming, plentiful trails for hiking...really the list goes on and on. And if you can believe it, we forgot our camera! Ahhhh!!! But had a great time with friends Mindy and Taylor, as well as Nick's co-worker Corley, his girlfriend Laura and friend Oscar from Portland.

Last weekend was the first weekend in weeks we had to ourselves. Besides the 300 cupcake delivery to Semiahmoo for a wedding on Saturday, we managed to pack a lot of recreating and fun into our two days off. Bike riding, Costco shopping, yard work, dog parking with friends, church, ice cream eating, house cleaning, you name it, we did it. I love those weekends. The ones that feel really long, but in a good way. A balance of productivity and complete relaxation.

This weekend brings even more fun events. It all starts with a clothes swap (best way to clean out your closet, go "shopping" for free, help those less fortunate and hang out with a bunch of super cool girls all at the same time!), a baby shower, rockin' out with a band, a bike ride and everything else that falls between. We really, truly are blessed...life is what you make it!

The art of letting go - Vacuums included

2009-05-06T17:39:00.000-07:00

I don't have good luck with vacuums. I would like to say that it isn't my fault...but that would be ridiculous. Of course it's my fault, after all, I am only $200 away from a really good one right?

It all started a few Christmas' ago. We were wrapping-up the unwrapping and my dad was getting rather giddy. I inquired further the means for his behavior and he soon there after reveled to me a completely refurbished 1970 vacuum for my very own! Since I had just moved into my condo in Kirkland, the timing was quite apropos. I chose to ignore the fact that the thing weighed 80 lbs, had no extension hose for those "hard to reach places" and required new dirt-bags every 3rd use. I graciously accepted it and vacuumed with enthusiasm and appreciation for the time and effort Dad put forth to give me a special gift.

Fast forward 5 years and envision a very frustrated Andi who tries to keep a tidy home, but finds such task impossible when said refurbished vacuum continues to sneeze out it's internal guts every time I turn the dang thing on. On a particularly sunny day, I happened to observe just how much dust it spat out while I was trying to pick up the week's worth filth on my carpet. That was it! The end of my emotional-attachment to this dang machine that doesn't do what it was made to do. So, I ripped the chord out of the wall, mid-vacuum, and promptly sat myself in front of my email to kindly thank my father for this gift he poured much time into all those years ago, but it was time for both of us to let-go. I was officially in the market for a new, perhaps a bag-free/Hepa filter vacuum. You know...really indulge in the fine luxuries in life. I even contemplated the Roomba...you know...no hands/no time/no effort needed. Just turn it on and walk away. Nick laughed at me and asked "Why would you want that?" I am sure the look on my face was enough of an answer, but just in case he didn't get it...I answered his question with a question: "When was the last time YOU vacuumed or swept the floor?"* But either way, my destiny was not for a new vacuum. No instead, my frugal father responded to my email saying he had yet another vacuum for me...not refurbished, but perhaps an upgrade. And since I am my father's daughter, I accepted graciously...happy to be saving the extra bucks, thinking I just scored an awesome deal.

Yesterday, I realized the truth...this vacuum sucks too! And not the good way! It seems to have the "smearing" effect. Just kinda pushing the dirt around until it feels like sucking it up. So I spend MORE time than before trying to get the dirt off the ground. At least this one actually keeps the dirt in. It is also is a bit easier to push...with the other, I ended up de-layering due to overheating as I progressed from room to room. Thankfully, my upgrade does have an extension hose...so all those hard to reach places can satisfyingly get clean. Aesthetically, it is rather sad. A very dull blue color and chunky to boot; lowest of the low 1980 model. I try not to complain...it was free after all...and everyone knows I love a great deal!

And a perk for my parents: An enthusiastic daughter, willing to vacuum their home with every visit. They have an internal vacuum system...no bags, no weight, no problem! Wonder how much that costs to install??? Naw...I will just add that to the "wish list" for the next house.

*Nick is actually a very good house cleaner...when he remembers to do it AND makes the time. I just happen to have a higher need of cleanliness around our humble abode.

A time for change

2009-04-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

Before I even begin this blog, I beg of you not to judge me. I didn't know I would be struggling with this issue...I wasn't prepared for it. I am, in fact, still processing my thoughts, reactions and realities. But since I am a "verbal processor" I thought typing this out may help...along with sharing a story with you.

My beautiful, moppy, shaggy, oh-so-adorable, car stopping dog is gone. Not gone, gone....Charlotte is still very much alive and with us in the Vann household...but her beautiful exterior has vanished. See my dilemma...such a worldly, shallow concern, but a concern non the less. Wait for it...there's more.

For a while now, Nick and I had concluded that Charlotte would in deed need a hair cut soon. Many reasons brought us to this conclusion: Even during our meek 60 degree days...we would find Charlotte panting like a mad dog, seeking out shade where ever she could find it. We were needing to brush her everyday to manage the clumps and clumps of knots that were forming in her hair. We were constantly stopping her while at the park or on Galbraith Mt to extract the multitude of sticks, pine needles, ivy and other miscellaneous items she collected from mother earth in her leg and belly hair. We even had a scare late one evening due to her projectile vomiting...later to conclude internal cloggage of pine needles in her tummy had messed with her digestive track (while I, of course, thought she was dying). Again...because of her self grooming techniques of extracting park debris from her legs and eating it. So obviously it was time for a cut.

Last week, I did my researched...called a few places in town to learn about their process and pricing. Just so you know, cutting Charlotte's hair costs more than Nick and my haircuts combined. Awesome. But, due to the reasons above, we knew it would be worth it. Overall...less day to day maintenance.

One option we liked:

Another option we liked:

After we scheduled an appointment, I spent some time on the net, searching for Wheaten Terrier hair cuts. I had a specific look in mind and didn't give up the search until I found a few that I liked. I should have know at this point, that it was time to let go of the "mop look" and embrace the change that was due to occur. The thing is though...I didn't want to. I loved my little shaggy bear. I loved that she had this moppy body. I loved that she could only see clearly when we was running at mock speed and the wind blew the hair out of her eyes. I loved that people would roll down their windows and ask "what kind of dog is that?" or stop mid conversation on a sidewalk corner to bend over and pet Charlotte. She was unique. She was different. She was stinking cute!!!! But never the less, Nick and I printed out the photos, discussed, in GREAT detail, what our expectations were, so that when Nick dropped Charlotte off at the groomers, he could clearly communicate what we were wanting.

The big day had finally come, so Nick dropped her off in the middle of the afternoon. Time progressed and Nick hadn't yet received a call from the groomers, that Charlotte was ready. So he stopped by to pick her up at the end of the work day, thinking that they were near done. They requested that Nick return in 2 hours...saying that Charlotte's hair was more matted than she had thought and needed to hand cut the hair with scissors. I was getting a little nervous...because I didn't know what to expect at this point. I kept on thinking...WOW, I'm going to be able to see Charlotte's eyes. Wow...she is going to be completely BLOND when we get her. She's going to have a beard!!! (per our request).

Sure enough, 2 hours later, Nick got the call and picked up Charlotte. We had a few guests over at the time, so obviously I stayed home to be with them.

Upon Nick's return, I suddenly realized that I was worriedly anxious to see Charlotte. Through our back door, I could see Nick's face, but not yet our newly groomed dog. The look he gave me was "prepare yourself." With guests' attention towards that back door, Charlotte was reveled to the crowd and let me tell you...it was a SHOW STOPPER. My hands shot straight to my mouth, my eyes bulged as big as bowling balls and I just stopped breathing. Charlotte of course ran in and greeted everyone, like her usual self, licking and jumping and scaring little children...luckily, not knowing the drastic effect she was having on me. I looked at Nick and immediately scolded him for teasing me like this..."This isn't our dog...where is Charlotte?" His response: "Andi...yes she is...that is Charlotte." Hand still on mouth, I sucked in an even deeper breath and was caught between needing to face reality and running away. With tears welling in my eyes...I called Charlotte to me to get a closer look. Sitting in the middle of the kitchen, she happily waddled her self over to me and gave me a lick. Yep...this was in fact my dog. Mop dog no, more, she is now...well....different.

I felt bad for my gracious guests. They could tell I was still in shock and all responded in different ways. Kristen, sat with me on the floor as I battled through mental dialog ranging from...it's just hair to Oh my gosh...what did they do to my dog???!!! Trevor reassured me that Charlotte's heart was still the same. Right...check...got it. Beauty is only skin deep. Anne Marie just looked at me with wide eyes...knowing that eventually I would get over this and come to terms that my Charlotte is still my Charlotte. As for Nick...he was dancing on a fine line. Trying to be both supportive and realistic...that is a tough dance to dance at a time like this. So I worked through it verbally. Telling myself that I should have prepared myself better for the drastic change she would take. That it really isn't THAT bad...just different. That I would adjust. That I couldn't' allow myself to be feeling saddened and overwhelmed and shocked and outraged anymore because Charlotte is totally a vibe dog and would be able to tell that I was having issues with her. And because life isn't skin deep...

So now...15 hours later, I am still working through this. She is different. Still being Charlotte in having the same: mannerisms, cuddly ways, big stretches, kisses and enthusiasm for life. But it will take some adjusting. Nick laughs at me and inquires about my need for counseling. My laugh back because I know it is silly for me to still be feeling this way. But in a way, I feel like I have lost a part of the old Charlotte and have now gained a new dog. I am looking forward to time. Time seems to help with stuff like this. You get used to things. Then it becomes normal. So that will help. I am also looking forward to the perfumy smell to rid her body. It's just not very Charlottesk. I am excited to go on an adventure with her and let her run and get a little dirty like she should be. And mostly, I am excited for her hair to grow out a bit...to merge back (just a scooch) into a bit more of a shaggy dog and not the blunt, sharp characteristics that define her external appearance now. Don't get me wrong. I still love her as much as I did yesterday morning, before this whole debacle began. I still smash my face into her face and give her the love I desire to give. So, as I tell Nick...try not to judge me...just love me and let me work through this...as silly as it may be.

My Oma

2009-04-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

Oma's legacy:

A few weeks ago, I received a much dreaded phone call from my sister, informing me that my precious Oma ("grandmother" in German) had left this world. Though heartbroken, the realization quickly set upon me that it was time for her to go. To be set free from the physical burdens her 86 year old body had brought her and the mental strain that had been present for quite some time. Oma left quite a legacy: Her 5 daughters; the Kaczmarek sisters...who in turn married men, who then gave them children, who then have married (some not all yet), who are now having children (some not all yet). As simple as the story of life goes, I was taken aback at what Oma had given me: The sense of what family is...the power of love that just 2 people can create...the deeply rooted meaning of kinship. I realized, while speaking at her memorial service, of all times, that Oma is the reason why I LOVE my family with the deep passion and persistence that I do. She started it...she built a family based around Love and Togetherness and now it is deeply integrated into our familial system that will not be taken away...ever. Besides the many valuable lessons that Oma taught me throughout the years, this one will hold precedence over all. So I thank her and praise Jesus for giving me such a woman to admire.

Our family is still working through the loss of Oma. And though her earthly body may be gone, I rest assured that she is living a vigorously joyful eternity in heaven....embracing the peace, the absence of pain and PURE happiness or Our Creator promises heaven will bring.

What Oma loved most: Being in her chair, a crossword puzzle in hand, candy near by, with the TV blaring in the back ground:

She's always been a little whipper-snapper. This photo of Oma was taken about 80ish years ago.

Charlotte - Andi - Mower train

2009-04-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

Today's weather has been a mixed bag. Woke up to rain. Then it eased up and was darkly overcast. Then dumped like it has never dumped before. Now it is sunny and seasonably warm. Crazy, but I warmly welcome the variety if it ends up being sunny.

Due to the recent break of bad weather, I decided to ditch the car-dependency for an afternoon and run and errand via foot. Charlotte joined me, as she is very much an outdoorsy dog. My errand you ask: Pick up our push lawn mower from being serviced. We've had that sucker for a year, and just recently decided to take it in to be aligned and sharpened. Hopefully that will make the task of lawn mowing just a wee bit easier. Today it's repairs were complete. I humbly "pulled up" (as instructed) in the back with my dog, poop bag and sunglasses, to collect my mower, then begin my journey home. It was quite the scene: Charlotte pulling Andi, Andi pulling lawn mower. Luckily, there are about 100 ways to get home from the shop, so I picked the road least traveled. I didn't get any honks or people laughing hysterically and pointing...but I did get a few smiles from passer buyers, as well as a good laugh myself.

Cabin Adventure

2009-03-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Nick and I took a little get-a-way weekend to Chrystal Mountain. We hit the slopes on Saturday and had such a great time! The skies were clear most of the day allowing scenic views from the top. As the day progressed, I noticed Nick becoming more and more jovial. I have always known him to love the great outdoors, but it really hit me on Saturday: This man was made to be on a mountain, doing something...anything active. He seems to be at his best. I don't know if it is the fresh air, the activity, the freedom from the daily grind or a combination of all of those, but I do know that I will be much more proactive in getting us up there...anywhere.

When we got back to the cabin, mom had a simmering pot of delicious beef stew...the perfect hot dish to fill an empty belly. After dinner we played three very intense games of Taboo (rotating partners) then snuggled up on the couch to watch a movie. It was the perfect way to live a weekend...play hard then rest hard.

As a side note, Nick surprised me with a ski helmet prior to our departure. I have never skied with a helmet before, so once I had it I began to wonder why the heck not. For the following reasons:

1. You are going down a hill on wooden sticks at 30 mph with trees and people all around

2. It is so much warmer!

I welcomed the gift and encourage any of you who ski to get a helmet if you don't have one yet.

We also took our new Subaru on the trek to give her a test run. She was a champ...she drives smooth as butter!

Charlotte Update

2009-03-16T15:09:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's true...we LOVE our dog. Each day seems to get better and better with Charlotte being a part of our family. She is quite the trooper when it comes to hiking:

Dealing with the crazy snow storms (doesn't the snow look like leg warmers):

Working with me in the office (she often hogs my seat):

And, of course, being completely spoiled by Alpha Nick:

Now that she has passed her 6 month marker, Charlotte is turning into quite the obedient dog. Her traumatic chewing phase lasted about 2 weeks (for me that is), and though it wasn't completely financially or emotionally damaging, it was still very annoying.

She spends most of her days sitting on something soft (not the couch unless invited) and looking out the window or sleeping or following me from room to room as I go about my day. Ruff life. She has also graduated to a being confined to the kitchen area while we are gone, rather than locked up in just her small kennel. So far, that arrangement is working out for us all...except for the random times she decides the the throw rugs should entertainer her, rather than her chew toys and the ipod playing music. She responds quite well to her name (when other dogs aren't around of course) and is nothing but a little lover, which seems to make up for those moments of complete and utter frustration. It's all a learning process, but I am happy to report that I am more and more content with her overall temperament as she matures into a dog.

Delya Debut

2009-03-16T14:11:00.001-07:00

Week 3: "What the heck are you doing Auntie Andi...Another Picture???!!!"
A few weeks ago my parents hosted what my mom coined: "The Delya Debut." She invited the family over for a little show and tell of her new grand daughter. Nick and I joined in on the debut of course, after all Nick had yet to meet his niece. It was a great time and I really enjoyed seeing not only how much Delya had grown in the last 2 weeks, but also how Matt and Ami have grown in parenthood. I was taken aback at their love for their little one...let alone their enhanced communication with each other and complete sense of servant hood. Child bearing seems to be doing wonders for them!

Passed out in what Matt calls a "milk coma:"

Aunt Andi and Uncle Nick beginning the spoiling: Love, love and more love.

Aunt Andi starting the lessons on how to whoop Uncle Nick at Scrabble (I'm not sure she's too into it yet):

Ortho complete!

2009-03-02T16:02:00.001-08:00

Nick got his lower braces of a few weeks ago! It was a harsh 9 months...challenged with leafy greens wedged between his teeth, agonizing pain after doctor appointments (so tight) and learning how to live in the day to day life with metal in his mouth! But now the journey is over and his teeth are beautiful! See:

Delya Grace Lewis

2009-02-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

The Call:
It was 4:25am on Monday (February 16) morning and we woke up to a familiar tune playing playing from afar. Too early to be the alarm. Too tired to realize that is was in fact my phone ringing. I rolled out of bed, stumbled into the living room, scrambled for my phone on the coffee table and push *86. Just prior to hearing the voicemail, call waiting clicked in announcing incoming call: Dad. Then it dawned on me…it’s happening…baby Lewis is on her way. Sure enough, I clicked over to Dad informing me that Matt and Ami were in the hospital. Ami was 5cm dilated and rearing to go. I slammed the phone shut, threw on the lights, ripped my travel bag out of the closet and began to precariously through in clothes. Nick of course was less than thrilled to have all the commotion going on in the bedroom…until I educated him on the current status of my sister. He jumped out of bed and asked how he could assist me in my preparations. (We had agreed that both he and Charlotte would stay in Bellingham during the labor/post labor-at-home assistance.)

15 minutes later, I was in my car, screaming down I-5, gearing up for the 4 hour drive. Yes, I was a bit sleepy, but after all…how often does your sister have a baby??? At about the half way point, I decided it was time to caffeinate up…nothing a 4 shot Americano couldn’t do.
By 8am, I was on the home stretch. My parents were about an hour ahead of me in travel time, so they called me to inform me that they had just arrived. Then they called again to give me directions on the best parking garage to park in. Then they called again to scratch that parking garage and park in the lot next to the birthing center. Then they called again to check on my status. At that point I knew Ami had in fact delivered their baby girl. I couldn’t help but feel a pinge of sadness: I had missed the birth. I had been driving for 3 hours in the wee hours of the morning and missed the birth. A complete and utter selfish feeling. After my 2 seconds of selfishness, I confirmed with dad: “Hey dad…is she here…is the baby here?” His reply: “Yes Andi…you should see her hair…a full head of hair! But I don’t want to spoil it…you will see her soon!” At that point I was relieved; Ami had done the imaginable (in my mind)…had a baby and rather expedited.

My Arrival:
At 9:00am sharp I was running down the halls of the birthing center, looking for room 146. I was overwhelmed with so many feelings: “Oh my gosh! It happened! They have a baby! Here! Now! I’m an aunt! Ami is a mom! Everything is different now!” I knew I couldn’t go in there and scream or freak out or cry hysterically (all out of happiness of course)…I had to have at least have some composure at first. Finally, I found the room and when I walked in I saw a beautiful thing: My sister on the hospital bed, holding her hour-old baby with Matt hovering over her, both of them gazing at their miracle. I walked in all smiles and hurried over to hug (gently) and congratulate my sweet, dear sister. Then I saw Delya. Gorgeous, gorgeous little girl. She was still a little greasy, so to speak, from her journey and beautiful non-the-less. Dad was right…a head full of dark hair, plus a plump lower lip, small soft cheeks, invisible tiny neck, smooched nose and sleeping HARD. It was then that I got the story:

The Labor:
Around 1:30am Ami woke up suddenly with the realization that her underwear were abnormally wet. Since her due-date was still 15 days out, she decided to check her pregnancy guide which outlined the “symptoms” of going into labor and the contraction chart. After feeling some sharp pains, she told Matt “It’s time to pack…we’re going to the hospital.” In the car, on the way there, Matt began to time Ami’s contractions. They were gaining both frequency and intensity…not more than a few minutes apart. When they reached the Birthing Center at the hospital, they had to first check in at the admittance station. Ami knew full well that she was going into labor, but the nurses still had to confirm the fact before they let her into a room. Apparently, they have had a history of women thinking they are going into labor, so after getting to the hospital the nurses conclude that it is in fact just…gas or something else. Since this happens more often the not, they were taking their sweet time…all while Ami determined to get a room.
After about an hour and a half (who even knows what took so long), the nurses concluded that she was in fact 5cm dilated and would check them into a room. That’s when Matt made the call to dad, who then made the call to me.

The journey to their room was a tough one, as Ami had to stop every so often, grasp onto various objects to hold her up and breath through the contractions. Once in bed, the contractions came faster and faster. Ami was spending more time fighting the pain then resting in between. The nurses were buzzing all around, constantly coming in and out to check on Ami and get her room and body prepped for what was to come. She had yet seen a doctor. With the intensity growing and horrific pain, Ami decided it was time for an epidural. The anesthesiologist appeared and after administering the long needle into her spine, a beautiful “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh” released from my sister. She had in fact reached 9 cm in that short time and the intensity of the contractions had overcome her.

Once able to catch her breath, the hospital let them be so they could rest and regain their strength before Ami needed to start to pushing.
About an hour later, the on-staff mid wife appeared and told Ami it was time to bring her baby girl into the world. She was at 10 cm and ready to go. Since I was still in my car, between Olympia and Vancouver at this point, I can’t give you all the details. What I can tell you is Ami said the Epidural eliminated the excruciating pain, but still allowed her to feel the pressure of Delya’s journey. That Matt was amazingly encouraging, supportive and helpful. At one point Delya’s heartbeat began to drop to the 80’s so they had to make the appropriate corrections to keep Ami relaxed and baby coming out. Then finally at 7:50am on February 16th, 2009 she arrived. Fifteen minutes later, my parents walked in. An hour later, I walked in.
Ami successful and quite masterly brought Delya into the world in less than 7 hours of labor. We all chalked it up to the fact that my sister is:
1. Always efficient with her time
2. Fit as a fiddle. In fact, her and Matt were at the YMCA the day before exercising…then after, spent a few hours working in the yard.

Delya’s First Day:
Once the Mag 6, plus 1, were all together, the hours to follow were wonderful. Ami and Matt recanting the story with their awe-struck faces. Delya sleeping hard and being passed around to us all. Ami beginning to feel her legs again and walking around like it was any other day. Nurses coming in and out to check on Ami and Delya. Pictures, pictures and more pictures. It was really quite an awesome experience to be a part of. I felt beyond privileged to be in the room, watching it all happen. I was reminded that there are a whole lot of things to learn, comprehend and implement when you have a newborn. Each nurse brought new wisdom and personal best-practices to the conversation. I am sure having them as a resource was invaluable to Ami. At the same time, I also realized that very little rest occurs the day following the delivery while in the hospital. Delya was out like a light, but the constant checking in by the nurses was exhausting…and I didn’t even have a baby! A mixed blessing I am sure: Knowing that your baby is in good hands, while at the same time yearning to be left alone to rest.
Since Matt and Ami were permitted to stay at the hospital for up to 48 hours after the birth, they hung out and tried to nap when they could. After Dad assembled the pack-and-play, he headed back to Steilacoom and Mom and I headed back to Matt and Ami’s home to get it prepped for their return the next day. Since the nursery was still in the process of being painted I finished that up. Mom did a lot of laundry…washing all the things that were still in a package that Delya would need for her first day home.

Later that night, Mom and I headed back to the hospital for one more check-in, baby holding session and to drop off a few requests that came from the new parents, including goods from Taco Bell and Dairy Queen.

Delya Comes Home:
The next morning, Mom and I arrived at the hospital at 9am. Matt had a few work obligations that morning (labor is the one impossible thing to schedule), so we happily jumped in and did what we could to assist Ami and Delya.

Even in just 24 hours, I was amazed to see how much Delya had changed. A baby who couldn’t get any more beautiful, had. She was blooming into a baby in the day to day life, away from an unborn baby crammed in her mom’s body. She was also a lot more alert. Opening her eyes and looking ever so often at the things around her. Though still learning, Delay was trying to eat regularly…every 2.5 to 3 hours. Ami met with two different lactation nurses to answer any questions that she had and to teach her effective techniques so Delya knew it was time for food. From my observation, that was without a doubt two extremely valuable and important conversations.

Once Matt returned, Mom and I headed back to their home so Matt and Ami could begin the check-out process. Delya had received “low to intermediate” results on her Juntas tests (normal for newborns they say) so another test was being ran for safe measure. They also needed a quick tutorial of how to use the car seat…something that was on their to-do list but were shorted on those last 2 weeks of preparations.

By 4pm, the three of them had arrived…this was now their home, their life, their family.
My most memorable experience of the entire trip was witnessing my sister when she first came home. I was in the kitchen prepping dinner and I looked up to see Ami looking Delya laying snugly in her car seat carrier. Ami began to do her silent, face crunched up cry. I didn’t know what to do…so many things were running through my head. After all, this is a really BIG moment for her…her baby is home now. I don’t think she saw me at first, so I gave her a few seconds her self. Then I walked over to her and put my hand on her back. She looked at me and said: “I had no idea that it was going to feel like this. It is real; she is mine.” I could see the love that she had for her baby girl. I saw a side of Ami I had never seen and sometimes wondered while we were growing up if I would ever see: The body language, facial expressions and tone of a mother.

Mom and I stayed until the next morning. I am still thinking through the whole experience. The early drive, seeing Matt and Ami pour over their daughter, my parents being so in love and happy with each other and for their kids, the things to have learned and to learn, the unexpectedness of life. Really it is all just so….riveting. Like a good movie, only different because you are living it…not just watching it.

Delya's "almost firsts:"

Diaper Change:

Weigh-in:

Bath time:

Tummy Lay:

Tulips Galore!

2009-02-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

Last week I heard a knock on the door. I went to answer and discovered not a person, but a box on my doorstep. Considering it was my birthday, the inner kid in me did a little jump, then I happily grabbed my package, headed inside and ripped it open. I was beyond thrilled to discover a large bouquet of gorgeous tulips shipped from my parents. They were very Spring-like...bringing me ever more joy for my day of celebration. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that the once-was beautiful black vase was broken into a million pieces. Needless to say I was quite disgruntled. Not only did I know that my parents spent some extra dough on a nice vase, but as a consumer, items should always be in-tact. So, after watering my new flowers in a different vase, I sent an email to the ProFlowers telling how the vase had arrived. Within hours, I had received an apologetic email from a ProFlowers representative. Not only offering to replace the vase, but to replace the entire order. So sure enough, 2 days later, I had a déjà vu experience, with the door knocking, box arriving circumstance, only this time the black vase was in tact. Not only was I BEYOND thrilled by ProFlowers keen customer service and willingness to go above and beyond the line of duty, I was pleased to dress the house up a bit with tulips, tulips and more tulips!

In the dining room:

In the living room:

Even in the bathroom!

Thanks mom, dad and ProFlowers (www.proflowers.com)!

Party like it's MY birthday!

2009-02-08T00:39:00.000-08:00

Birthdays have always been a big deal for me. When growing up, my parents always had a nack for making my day special. From mylar balloons (always super cool when you are 10 years old) to presents wrapped in pretty paper and big bows to mom cooking my favorite dinner, they just knew what to do. I give them extra kudos for making my birthday feel like it was just for me...even with Ami's birthday being 2 days later. And the tradition continues to this day.

Thanks to my solid upbringing, my mentality for my birthday was no different this year. I still consider it a day to be celebrated...a day to treat myself to do whatever I darn right feel like. Last Friday was just that day.

It started like any other day...waking up with a healthy body, in a warm home, with an enthusiastic dog and a jovial husband. (As a side note, Nick has been outstanding in the learning about how special birthdays are to the Lopez girls. After I met him, I realized that not everyone puts such emphasis on such a day. Some just let it glaze by. I never understood this and have talked to many friends about it. Lucky for me, wonderful people like Anne Marie and Trevor are on "my side" of the birthday fence. So is Nick...now that he has got to experience a birthday or two of his own with me around.) A blessing in-it-of-itself. But then the calls started to come in; the many birthday wishes from those I love. I kissed the man goodbye and set off for a walk along the waterfront with Charlotte. After a few million raindrops absorbed by my jeans, a delicious cup of coffee from Woods, a little trip to the mall for some shopping, I was happy at home again packing for the weekend. Nick and I hopped in the car and headed down to Gas Works Park in Seattle. It had been eons since I had been there and a first go around for Nick. Though we arrived right at sunset...it was beautiful to see the city light up the sky from afar. t Soon there after, a short drive took us to a Greek restaurant in Freemont for delicious Gyros and red wine. Then to Steilacoom for a quick hello to the fam, a slice of cake and a warm bed. It was a great day.

Saturday was sandwich day - the day between Ami and I's birthday, which was dutifully celebrated by a chill day around the house and a birthday dinner at Marzono's Italian Restaurant on Garfield Street by PLU. If you haven't been there...you must go. You must. Make a reservation, put on something sassy and go. Then order the Gorgonzola Chicken. It is everything creamy, rich and delicious. I am actually still reflecting the fantastic meal. Actually it is the best dinner of 2009. Even though it is only February...I know it will be the best.

So, needless to say, it was another successful birthday: I felt joy in my heart for life, I got to see and do something new with Nick, I spent wonderful time with my family, and received many birthday wishes from friends. Yes indeed, I am a blessed woman!

Lewis Baby gets Showered!

2009-02-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

The star of the party: BABY!!!

Last weekend Mom and I threw Matt and Ami's Baby Girl a shower. Twenty-eight adoring fans arrived, making the Lopez home, a full house. The gathering was a 'couple's shower' so any of the invitees (women) were welcome to bring their significant others. I was beyond interested to see if any manly-men would show, beyond the mandatory Matt, Dad and Nick. Would they willingly endure an afternoon of women chatting about breast milk, diaper rash and cooing over the "teensy-tiny, pink socks!" ? To my great pleasure, two confident men swaggered through the door and into the estrogen-filled party...smiles on their face and beer in hand.

Mom created a bountiful spread, as usual...pulled pork sandwiches, pasta salad, various dips with crunchy accompaniments, fruit and cheese trays. Pure Bliss Desserts provided three Ami-inspired cakes: Layered Pumpkin cake with white chocolate shavings atop whipped white chocolate ganache, Spiced Banana cake with cream cheese frosting, and Creamy Coconut cake with freshly-grated coconut flakes. Full bellies for all!

The games were interactive and rowdy, but the men created the best entertainment by showing us the best technique for tying their shoes while sporting a full-term belly. A riot!

Matt and Ami's Baby Girl will be the fashion icon of Ridgefield, Washington...adorning a different outfit three times a day for her first two years of life. Sweaters, pants, onesies, socks & dresses to boot!

Oma and Ami catching up on life.

Getting 26 people's attention is a tough job!

Who said plastic cones aren't in?

2009-02-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

Charlotte is adorning some new neck gear this week after coming out of major surgery. Even though the idea of having adorable little Wheaten puppies running around the house crossed our minds, the time, effort and frustration just didn’t seem worth it to us. So she got fixed last week and now has the pleasure of wearing the cone when we aren’t around and at night.
She is such a trooper and is healing well!

Snorkeling

2009-02-02T16:19:00.001-08:00

Of course we did some snorkeling. I wouldn't say it was the best snorkeling in the world, but hey...we were in Hawaii...like I am going to complain about ANYTHING???!!!

This one reminded me a lot of rainbow sherbert (my childhood favorite ice cream flavor):

Tiger fish...I think:

These things freaked me out....got way too close for comfort...being all skinny and pointy:

Hike #2 - Na Pali Coast

2009-02-02T15:39:00.000-08:00

After that oh-so-adventurous first hike down Wiamea Canyon, Nick and I were beyond confident that our next hike would be a winner.

I will have to ask Nick what the name of the hike even was...since I am terrible with all the Hawaiian names. But anyways, this hike was known for it's extreme beauty, great views and a waterfall at the end. The first two miles paralleled the coast line. After hiking up some cobblestone, with a few switchbacks, the trail opened up with a view of the Pacific Ocean. It was gorgeous. All around us were tropical plants, little trickling streams and vocal birds. I really enjoyed walking up on the cliffs, looking around at the high peaks and just saying to myself: "wow...I am hiking in Hawaii!"

At the 2 mile point, you reach an unswimmable beach. There are endless signs as we approached the beach, warning us not to swim. Once we got there, we understood why: Gigantic waves, folding over onto themselves...one after another after another. Another magnificent demonstration of God's creativity and mother earth's power.
We continued up the trail, heading another 2 miles for the waterfall. Winding trails with many river crossings, bamboo bushes, and crazy shaped trees kept us visually entertained. As we approached the waterfall, we heard it before we saw it. Stretching at least 400 feet high, it came crushing down into a pool of cool water. Surrounded sharply steep cliffs, covered in mini ferns, it was really a sight to be seen. We stood below it, looking up in awe and getting drenched at the same time. A small price to pay to see such beauty. Though I had worn my bikini under my hiking attire, I declined the swimming opportunity. Believe it or not, I was a bit chili and jumping into a rocky pool of waterfall water, just didn't appeal to either of us. So we soaked it up for a bit longer and headed our way back down.

After eight miles round trip, on an "advanced" trail (not too steep, just lots of rocks to crawl over and technical terrain), Nick and I were whopped. As we approached the car, I thanked God for my husband. I always enjoy a good hike with Nick. It is an uninterrupted time to chat endlessly about anything we feel like...since time is on our side. I like to watch him in his element too...so graceful on his feet and respectful of the earth. He takes the time to point out the small things in life that I too often blaze by: the tiny bugs building domes, the discreet pink flowers, the patterns on the leaves. Such a nature guru...much like my father...something I am very grateful to be influenced by.

Kauai - Hike #1

2009-01-27T21:44:00.000-08:00

Kauai is known for some awesome hiking, so Matt did a little investigating and picked a hike that was both family friendly and gave us some great scenery.

Waimea Canyon takes up a rather large area on the Western portion of the island. It offered a range of trails for any level hiker. From a scenic flat 2 mile loop to a multi-day backpacking trip along the base of the canyon. The hike Matt chose was somewhere in the middle: 5 miles round trip into the depths of the canyon, and then of course back up.

My sister being the rugged, sporty woman that she is, warmly accepted this 2,000 foot elevation gain challenge. The rest of us followed suite...and we were off! About a 10th of a mile into the hike, the nice compact trail turned into a wet, slippery, rocky, rooty mess. This wasn't enough to turn us around, but it certainly slowed us down...a lot! Down, down, down we went into the canyon...all of us thinking silently to ourselves that in a few hours, we are going to have to hike back up this steep, slick trail. Yikes.

The scene was gorgeous...wide canon walls covered with tropical trees, long waterfalls and even a few goats. About 1.5 miles in, the trail was closed in by a canape of trees. Any hiker knows that where there is shade, there are mosquitoes. All it took was one bite as mom was outta there. The bugs and mud was enough to send her and dad back up toward the car. Looking back on the trip, Matt, Ami, Nick and I gave props to mom and dad for their wisdom and fine discernment at that pivotal moment. But the kids did not follow suite, so we charged on ahead for the end goal: a pool of water flowing from a warm river at the base of the canyon.

With each step, the trail got muckier and muckier. Gone were the attempts to keep our shoes clean and dry. In fact, I lost sight of my shoes more often than not, due to the sloshy mud. The foliage had overgrown the trail maintenance guys, so we were soon bush whacking our way through the forest. I felt more like a native explorer than a day hiker. Keep in mind that by now, my back was so full of bites that it officially lost it's shape and was just one big welt. After many, many exasperated "Are we on the right trail? Should we go back? Do you want to keep on going" from all of us, we arrive at our destination. No, no this wasn't it exactly, but the end result was a bit depressing: A dirty river, no natural pool to swim in, 8 other backpackers crowding the river ledge and even more mosquitoes than on the trail. We stayed long enough to was our legs in the river and get an apple out of the back pack. Then we headed back...retracing our steps and wondering why we didn't turn around when mom and dad did.

Nick came up with a great idea for a guide book on that hike. He would call it "As good as it gets; when to stop on a trail because it just doesn't get any better than where you are right now." We agreed that it would be a great sacrifice on our parts, but at least it would inform the general population when to stop exerting their energy and not waste their time on the whole hike. I certainly don't want to be a downer. The hike was actually really fun, because I like to walk, be in nature and spend time with my family. And it was great watching my sister push herself and her bump up those steep hills...such a trooper...but isn't it true that hikes can be slightly less climatic that anticipated?

Either way, we all made it back to the car with a dirty lower torso, tired legs and a good story. After diving into the cooler for lunch, we headed to Salt Lake Ponds Beach to wash away the trail encrusted on our bodies and enjoy some nice laying time.

All in all, if you go to Kauai, I definate recommend seeing Waimea Canyon...just skip that hike and do the nature loop.

Kauai - The Beaches

2009-01-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

Momasita gearing up for a swim:

The highlight for me while in Kauai (and probably 99% of the general population) was the beach. I love a good beach. The warm sand, the clear, blue water, the shrills of happy little people splashing in the waves. It is just a really good place to be. But before I get further into the beach seen, I thought it would be a good idea to explain the geography of the island. Let me paint you a little picture:

The eastern portion of Kauai is all state park property...or better known as the Na Pali Coast. No roads are permitted to be build in this area, therefore only accessible by hikers or boaters. Just south of the Na Pali Coast is the Pacific Missile Range Facility, so rightfully so, no public access is allowed there either. Most of the central island consists of Mt. Waialeale (the wettest spot on earth). With it's impressive, sharp peaks and foliage covered hills...there is no way to build roads through that area. So, the rest of the island (southern, western and northern-ish) is outlined by a series of highways (which is really just one, long connected highway) that parallels the ocean shore. It is shaped, if you will, like a sideways horseshoe. Our condo at Poi Pu was located on the south-western portion of Kauai. A nice location to explore either the Northern beaches or the Southern beaches without a terribly long drive.

As previously mentioned, Poi Pu Beach was a mere 10 minute walk from our condo. So on the days when hanging around the local area sounded good, we packed up our towels, snorkel gear, lunch and strolled down there. But on the more adventurous days, The Mag 6 worked our selves around this island to check out the various beaches that Kauai had to offer.

Haena Beach Park was one of the furthest beaches we could drive to, North of the island. Believe it or not, swimming was not permittable there during the winter months. HUGE, and I mean HUGE waves and undercurrents ruled the seas this time of the year. So we enjoyed our lunch on the beach and watched those crazy waves crash down hard onto themselves. During the summer, this is known for on of the best surfing beaches on the island; where many competitions are held. Tunnels Beach, adjent to Haena Beach, is also known for great snorkeling due to the vast coral reefs and active marine life during those months. Of course we did not opt to override the lifegaurds request to not swim, so no snorkeling in the tunnels for us that time around. And though it was nice to be there and explore for a bit, but we were ready to swim, so we hopped in our cars and backtracked to a calmer shore.

Kilauea Bay brought a nice sandy beach and a cute little hippy-ish town for some shopping. That town brought my first taste of Kauai's homemade ice cream (who's name escapes me at the moment). Delicious but still not as good as Mallards!

A few days later, we were itching to get out once again and headed to Lydgate State Park. A great beach for kids. Supper calm, supper long and rather shallow for yards and yards out into the water. My sister loved this beach best due to the ease of getting into the water. Most of the beaches have waves that crash right onto the shore, then the strong currents pull back out into the ocean. These conditions aren't the best for a 7.5 month old prego woman trying to go for a swim or float. So Lydgate was a good pick. But alas, we were getting a little antsy for more shopping and town exploring, so again, we hopped in the cars and headed to Kap'aa.

Kap'aa was my all time favorite town. Not only because I liked to say the name (pronounced: Ka-pa-a), but it just gave off a great island town feel. Low key, nice people, a good strip of trinket shops and boutique shops to wonder in and out of, food carts and all right smack on the water. My dad decided to skip out on the shopping (big shocker there) in order to get more boogie-boarding time in at a beach up the street. That man was glued to his boogie board the whole trip. Hours and hours of kicking and paddling for a short, but thrilling wave ride. Once we all met up again, dad reported that while at this beach, he was privileged to see Spinner Dolphins. Those that shoot up out of the water and do 4 or 5 360 degree turns before diving back in. I took a mental note of that for later.

(you can see dad heading out there to hit up some wave action)

We hit up a few more beaches here and there on our trip...including Shipwrek Beach which had some rocking waves to boogie board on. One thing I did want to note, was that no matter what beach we went to, we always saw a Monk Seal sunning him/herself on the sand. The first time I saw one snoozing, I was so very sad - thinking that he was dead...washed up from shore. As I walked closer to the roped off section, I read the signage: "Monk Seals are napping. Please do not disturb as they are likely to bike if feeling threatened."

As it turns out, Monk Seals are endangered species due to the depleting food source (over-fished waters by man). There are only about 30 left in that area, and usually choose the same beach to worm themselves on the shore and nap. Pretty cute and sad at the same time.

The Garden Island - Kauai

2009-01-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

Take a moment to imagine this: It is 7am and you rise to a warm breeze and the sound of palm trees swaying in the wind. You swagger down a set of stairs and walk to a balcony over looking the vast Pacific Ocean. It is just before sunrise, and after glancing to the left, a sliver of bright light breaks through on the ocean's horizon...almost blinding, yet oh-so beautiful. You continue to gaze in that direction and watch the sun rise inch by inch over the waters and realize that you are witnessing the beginning of another sun-kissed day. That, my friends, was my life for the past 10 glorious days in a place called the Garden Island, or better known as Kauai.

Yes, that's right, us "kids" (Matt, Ami, Nick and I) were yet again completely spoiled with a trip to Hawaii by the ridiculous generosity of Momasita and Papa-Lo. We shacked up in a 3 bedroom condo overlooking the ocean in town called Poi Pu. The nature of this trip was just like any other excursion the Mag 6 take: to live life together, creating memories and enjoying the majestic beauty that the Good Lord has blessed us with.

Our condo was elevated on a bluff, but a short 10 minute walk got us to one of the best beaches on the island. The bluff:Every day brought something new: Sometimes it was just a beach day with the fam...coming and going as we pleased; reading, swimming, snorkeling, napping and eating were the main activities for the day. Other days brought great adventures...hiking, boogie boarding, exploring the different towns and viewing with great wonder that majestic island holds.

I decided to break up each blog a little bit...so the posts to come will show a snippet of our vacation. Words and photos are really quite insignificant to illustrate just what a vacation can be. I will do my best, but really one's self can only internalize just how gloriously relaxing vacation can be when you let-go of everything else and just BE in the moment. I am first to admit that it is a tough thing to do...especially within the American culture of go, go, go...do, do, do. But man-oh-man...it is so worth ditching that and living life as it should: Footloose and Fancy Free!

The fancy-smancy Hyatt Hotel was a short walk from our condo. It was HUGE and Beautiful...you can see a bit of it behind Ami and I.

Andi Chill Day

2009-01-24T09:04:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I declared it Andi Chill Day. I decided to run errands (something I actually love to do), but without the hurry, hurry, rush, rush mentality that I usually put on myself. My main goal was to pick up groceries along with a few other household items. Since we just returned from vacation (blogs to follow of course) our fridge was looking beyond barren. I decided to keep Charlotte at home which was better than taking her with me, which I usually do. Sometimes I worry about her being in the car. For two reasons:

1. Being in the puppy stage, she still has a knack for finding non-descript items and chewing them up. Foil was her last discovery...something her intestines don't agree with. I have proof.

2. I tend to have a slight paranoia that someone will think she is too irresistibly cute and want to take her for themselves. This may sound egocentric: "Oh yes, my dog is the cutest, and best dog ever and Everyone wants her." It's not true...I know lots of people who are content with their dog or having no dog, but obviously I have some attachment to her, therefore I get a little protective.

Anyways…due to a current food funk (finding nothing in the house that sounds good to eat) and after watching Iron Chef America, I decided to throw my old shopping patterns to the wind and go after it! Since we operate off a monthly itemized budget, I tend to be very practical with what we purchase and consume each month. Food in our home has a purpose, besides the obvious nutrition factor. I try to diversify each ingredient for as many different recipes as possible. Luckily I am an avid recipe reader - just for fun - so throwing something together doesn't take too much brain power. However…month after month…year after year of buying the same staples…I am done. I want something new! I want something exciting! I want my taste buds to say “WOW! Thank you for that!” I want to sizzle it up a bit. So I did!

Being the ever devoted Costco, Trader Joes and the occasional Fred Meyer shopper I happily and willingly filled my cart with luxuriously different food for our shelves and fridge. Flank steak, mushrooms, pork loin, shrimp, pineapple, ham, red curry paste, basil, tofu, whole wheat pizza dough…it was great! Now this may or may not seem to “out of the box” to you, but that just explains my point: it is so very easy to get stuck in the chicken and spinach rut in life and not mix it up enough.

So last night, once all of our goods were settled (mostly in the freezer…thank goodness for that), I spent some time flipping through my Cooking Light magazines (a subscription gift from my sister last year) and found about 30 recipes that could work with the ingredients I had bought that day. And that was just in 4 issues. I have 12 more magazines to prod through! You may laugh and shake your head…but I love doing this. I find it relaxing. I love the challenge, the journey and, usually, the meal itself. Oh and if you are ever on vacation with me, you will much appreciate it, because I promise to feed you well...on the cheap!

The good news is I didn’t blow our entire food budget and I know I can make it last the whole month (February that is). PLUS, I there was a magical discovery made on my outing: I am proud to announce that Costco is now selling organic apples! I basically did a back flip in the produce section when I saw this. It's been a long time coming!

Christmas

2009-01-03T21:24:00.000-08:00

It has been an interesting past week and a half. Nick's office shut down completely the week leading up to Christmas. This was an unexpected surprise...though a bit worrisome at first (financially), I quickly got over it and considered it a blessing. It has deemed to be such a blessed time in our marriage. For me, Christmas has always resembled excitement, joy and total, internal, child-like glee. With Nick and I having the opportunity to spend more time together...especially day time, where we aren't worn out from the ins and outs of a usual day...I feel it has refreshed our marriage and brought us closer together. Plus, I got to share the responsibility of carrying the Charlotte load, which Nick does magically, therefore bringing me that much more happiness and holiday cheer!

Due to the extended vacation time, we headed down to Steilacoom to be with the Lopez clan (or as my dad says, the Magnificent 6) before the big storm blew in the weekend prior to Christmas. Though the heavy snow and ice prevented leaving the grounds via car for few days, we found ways to pass time rather quickly. Games, movies, walks, meals, chats, naps, crafts and all the other things holidays brings to family gatherings. Such a tough life.It was a joy to be with Ami and watch her belly grow with each day. There is something so special about having a sister. I have spoke of this before, but I continue to be amazed of our friendship every time I think about her.

It was an especially unique Christmas, because this year will be the last year being foot loose and fancy free as the Mag 6. Next year there will be a 7 month old chilling around the house (Ami and Matt's daughter, just to be clear). But life goes like that...things change and we must change with them, and in this case, it will be a warmly welcomed change by us all.

Santa Bunny (as my sister says) spoiled me yet again this year. After 10 years of dreaming of owning a VitaMix of my very own, it finally came true. For those of you who are unfamiliar with said gift, swing by your local Starbucks and check out the apparatus that creates those gloriously smooth Frappacinos. That my friend is a VitaMix...or something close. Please don't be deceived, this is no ordinary blender. It can do a lot more than you think. It can make: Ice cream, peanut butter, fondue, soup (yes, that's right, hot soup) and of course any fabulous blended drink of your liking. It blends whole fruit...whole fruit...like a lime or a lemon cut in half! It lives on our counter now and is eagerly awaiting your arrival to show off it's mad skills!

Nick and I decided not to exchange gifts in the traditional fashion this year. Instead we flipped through World Vision Gift Catalog (http://www.worldvision.org/) and purchased goats and chickens for families in Africa to improve their livelihood. We were excited about finding a way to help others...plus I like saying I gave Nick a goat for Christmas.

Nick and I also went outside of the box for Ami's gift and gave her a "Bump and Baby Photo Session" courtesy of Taylor Swedberg Photography (http://www.taylorswedbergphotography.com/). For those of you unfamiliar with this (I was in the same boat just 4 weeks ago), it consists of two photo sessions. The first of a pregnant mom showing off her "Bump." The second, a few months later, of Baby. Hence: Bump and Baby. Ami's first photo session was on Sunday and Taylor did an awesome job. He posted a few shots of her on his website, so check out the link above.

Celebrating Christ's birth and His miraculous life he lived was an amazing way to wrap up 2008. We hope that your Christmas was full of love and joy as well.

SNOW!!!

2008-12-18T10:03:00.001-08:00

Bellingham is swimming in snow, snow and more snow. I still can't believe that we have gotten this much:

Saturday: 3-4 inches

Wednesday: 5 inches

Thursday: currently snowing, therefore, more inches

When I heard "Winter Storm Blast" on the news, I said to myself: Yeah right. But low and behold...here it is and it isn't going anyware, anytime soon!

I have always loved the snow. I prayed and prayed for it to snow each winter when I was younger. I even thought singing: "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..." would prompt those beautiful white flakes to fall from the sky. Needless to say, my hopes were annually crushed...living in a town directly on the Puget sound coast didn't allow much snow. But this year, it has blown past that barrier and now we are basking in white fluff everywhere. Piling up on the fence posts, clinging to thin tree branches and covering the streets thick.

Sunday's sunny shot.

Nick and I have ventured out on many walks with Charlotte and quickly discovered that she, in deed, is a snow-loving dog. Being a natural burrower, plus a pup with tons of energy, she frolicks to and fro with great pleasure. Charging up hills, cramming her face in the walls of snow, spinning around quickly to run back to us to say hi...then heads off to do it all over again. It is really quite refreshing to watch her excitement. I brings back all those childhood memories of me hanging out with my cousins and spending hours sledding, snow mobiling, fort building, snow man building and slushy making. For some reason when you are a kid, you just don't feel the cold. It interests me to know why the novelty of it wears off as we age. Yes, I do love to do a snow angle here and there, and sled on little hills, but the overall gut-wrenching excitement has definitely simmered down significantly. Now a' days, I enjoy keeping the blinds open at night to watch the sky glow and drink hot cocoa and snuggle with my man in our warm home.

Today I will go on a walk with Charlotte...perhaps my inner-child will come out for a little snow frolicking myself. She's always excited to head out there!

Is there more to life than a dog?

2008-12-13T10:57:00.000-08:00

Little bear LOVES to kiss dad.

I know I have been blogging mostly about the dog lately...but truth be told, I honestly had no idea that I could actually love a dog this much. I guess I am shocked by my very own behavior and adoration for our new puppy. I never wanted to be one of those people who doted over their domestic pets...talking about them endlessly to anyone who was willing to listen. Last weekend I was afraid that I was in deed turning into one of those people. I had to candidly ask the bf, Anne Marie, her honest opinion if the above was true. She ever so confidently confirmed that no, I am not yet at that point. After all, Charlotte is still very new to our lives...she is still a puppy and learning new things each day; how to appropriately live in the Vann household. PLUS, people are still asking about her. So...AM says...it's OK for now; just be sure to check yourself in a few months when the newness wears off. If I'm not careful, I could easily be one of "those" people.

Lately, I have been wondering if I talk to the dog more than I talk to Nick. After a objective look (as objective as a girl can get with herself), I have deduced that it's situational. Sometimes I just want her to sit on the floor and entertain herself for hours as Nick and I share life together. Then there are times when I just wanna scoop her up and never let her go. To me, this is normal...just like all the other things in my life; all things come in cycles. At times I have a high need for daily exercise, then other times the mere idea of exerting myself exhausts me. Or those one-off days when I NEED to a certain type of food that I usually never crave...like Chinese food or oranges. Either way, I am sure a balance will be discovered.

Nick and I have noticed a pattern with Charlotte's preferred resting spots in the house. She has a tendency to settle in anywhere that resembles a cave. Her favorite place when we are in the common area of the house is under the table:

Then sometimes, when we can't find her, we head towards the bedroom and often see this:

During my working hours, Charlotte sits at my feet under the desk:

And of course during movie time, she gets the best seat in the house.

She's a funny, funny doggy.

Ring that Bell!

2008-12-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks have been quite the ride with our new little addition to our family. I would say that the three of us have found a nice rhythm to daily living. Granted there is still LOTS of things to teach, learn and adjust to, but overall, the past 5 weeks of having Charlotte has been nothing but a blessing. Nick and I have continually been impressed by her quick learning and people-pleasing tendencies. In fact, it is a no-brainer to say that Charlotte lives true to the reputation Wheaten Terriers uphold: Stubborn, yet loving. She responds to her name (most of the time, though, not outside where those leaves, rocks and 1,000,000 scents reside), sits when demanded (yeah, so it may take 4 or 5 stern "SITS" but she gets it), chews only on her chew toys (besides Anne Marie's slippers) and takes good care of the house when we leave (in her crate). The biggest accomplishment, without a doubt is her bell ringing. For the past 3 weeks, we have hung a bell on our back door that we ring every time we take her outside to go potty. Last week, the association finally clicked, and she nudged the bell with her nose, then turned, sat and looked at me like: "OK mom...it's time!" This was such a big accomplishment, I was ready to bust out the champagne, shoot off the fireworks and throw a party! You have no idea how much mental space this tiny behavior modification has freed me. Knowing that Charlotte now has the ability to communicate the #1 house recking problem I was worried about, is a tremendous accomplishment. Ever since we have had her, my productivity has decreased by 85%. The divided attention of working and watching the dog SLOWED everything down. She sniffs and sniffs and sniffs everything, all day. So I was constantly convinced that the minute I turned my head, she would decide it was time to do her duty. But alas, now I feel like a free woman! A woman who can go about her business throughout the day and take her outside when she decides it's time. Granted we are still on the 2.5 to 3.5 rotating cycle, but hey...she's only 15 weeks old, her bladder is still growing.

The next task at hand: Charlotte walking on a lease. Right now, our "walks" are more like us either dragging her and being extremely frustrated OR us trying to reign her in being extremely frustrated. Any suggestions are always welcomed. Otherwise, we are going to end up with a home-body puppy who runs tracks in our house due to lack of exercise.

Look! Matching beards!

A trip to the beach in Steilacoom.

Poux meets Charlotte!

Ami visits

2008-11-25T11:26:00.000-08:00

Almost at the 6 month marker:

This weekend my sweet sister came up for a visit. It was so great having her here. She is one of those people who require no entertainment, no plans or no elaborate agendas. I have noticed through life, that there is quite a range of need for entertainment for people: From constantly at your side to "I haven't seen so-n-so for a while...are they still in the house?" I am forever comforted knowing that if she needs something she will get it and if she wants to do something she will tell me. Self entertainers are my favorite.

Ami arrived on Friday afternoon with a belly waiting to be filled. She spent some time getting to know Charlotte, then we were off on foot to Bellingham's finest burrito joint: Banditos Burritos. Afterwards, we did a little window shopping, which included a trip into Mi Shoes to see what was new on the shelves. Unfortunately our downtown excursion was cut short due to a puppy at home with a 2.5 hour bladder limit.

Saturday was quite different. Apparently Ami caught a bug during the night and after a few hours of "unpleasantness" woke up on Saturday exhausted and weak. She spent the majority of the day either in bed or on the couch. Selfishly, this was a bummer for me, due to the fact that Ami is so very fun to explore with, but my deepest concern was her and the baby's health...so I did my thing and checked in on her every once and a while. To her great credit, she was able to muster up enough energy for a short stroll in Fairhaven to check out a few baby stores.

Sunday, she was all healed, but a las our time had come to an end. She had a date to pick up Matt in Seattle in the early afternoon, so after church, a light lunch and a few last minute "tasks" that were planned to be a part of the weekend, she headed south. My heart was saddened because our time together felt so brief. But the beauty of timing was knowing that in 3 short days, we would be together again for the long Thanksgiving weekend!

I must mention that my favorite part of the weekend was late on Saturday night. Nick was reading in the living room and I was getting a creative burst of energy and decided to make Ami's baby shower invitations. After about a half an hour in the office, Ami came in all bundled up in a blanket and copped a squat on the floor next to me. We listed to a sermon on line (about the book of Revelation - so good, yet really intimidating to read by myself: "what do you mean 7 headed dragon???!!!) then chatted for a few hours about life. Times like these remind me of when we were young....living together in our parent's house. I wouldn't say that Ami and I "played" a lot together, but when we did, I remember it being so much fun. I looked up to her (and still do) so very much, that I warmly welcomed the opportunity to be near her at any chance. Though now that we are older and have our own lives, I still get the tingling feeling when we are together...that I can't believe how lucky I am to have such an admirable woman at my very disposal, to my very own, at that moment. Our times together may not be as frequent as I like (she is always welcome to move to Bellingham though), but when we are it brings so much joy in my heart!

Thank you Jesus for my sister!

My Sleepy Bear

2008-11-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

Charlotte (AKA...my little bear) is rather sleepy today. To me, this is a gigantic blessing. We have been working diligently on what it means to not pee in the house, how to walk on a leash and appropriate room edict. In other words, not licking, chewing or biting everything that even slightly resembles grass, sticks or her play toys: carpet, chords, the "boot cut" feature on my pants, socks, calculators, my stamp collection, oh how the list goes on. To give her credit she is an exceptional puppy, but honestly, I am whooped and have been craving a day like today.
To paint you a picture: Charlotte always goes outside 5 or 10 minutes after a meal...she is like clockwork and does her duty. After that, we take a walk to release some of that puppy energy. Once we get home, we spend some time playing, then (when behaving) she can follow me around the house as I go about my business, and a bit later, she goes back into her crate for a little nap. Well...today she has absolutely no motivation what-so-ever for any of the above except for napping. She will eat and then fall asleep by the time I get her to take her outside. She is rather resistant to the idea of peeing, and seems her preference is to hold it as long as possible (you know you have done this on a really cold morning while all comfy in your bed). Unfortunately for Charlotte, I know better, and insist that she follows me outside. When she finally straggles out of her crate, she looks like the worse bed head you have ever seen, but ALL over her body. With her hair is every which way, her slow blinking and straggling manor, I can't help but laugh...as this is such a perfect picture to a really, really tired and out of it human. After 3 or 4 full body stretches she finally makes it outside, squats in instant she is one the gravel, and heads back inside. Sometimes I wonder if she is even awake or just sleep walking. After that hugely laborious task, she straggles back inside to her crate, plops down and is sleeping again in 2 seconds. I have a feeling it must be growth spurt day and she needs all the rest she can get to keep up with her body working hard.
Today is the first day she has had the privilege to sit along side me in the office as I work. Typically she is chewing at random things (this is not a puppy safe room - too many small objects to chew on, not to mention the carpet that looks like grass...bad for many reasons). My favorite part is when I reach down to give her a little pet, she makes these really small squeaking sounds...as if to say..."Wow Andi...do you really have to interrupt my slumber...I was getting so cozy." Just now I tried to call her over to sit by me. From 5 feet away, I got a glance, a sigh and an immediate full body sprawl on the floor, eyes shut. Her back legs are fully extended behind her rear end and front legs tucked under her head. She looks like a real person laying on a couch. Amazing. Unfortunately Nick has the camera so I can't post a shot of her body position right now...but there will be many more opportunities...I am sure of it!

Kitchen Aid, Maytag, Kenmore, Oh My!

2008-11-19T15:54:00.000-08:00

Nick and I decided not to get the Kitchen Aid oven. Instead...I bought a $47 coil to replace the one that burnt out on Monday in our current oven (what started this whole mad oven hunt in the first place). I don't know if I should be discouraged regarding the 8 hours I dumped into research...or just chalk it up further education: I am officially savvy on Consumer Report's analysis regarding ovens.

Will keep you posted when we do take the plunge.

"Would you like room in that..."

2008-11-19T15:47:00.000-08:00

Fall is my favorite season...I am sure I have said that in the past. But not only are the colors outside enticing and the cool, crisp air invigorating (and down right chili in the AM), but there is another perk to this season: Eggnog comes back! The funny thing is I hate eggnog...in it's straight in a cup form. But not in coffee.
One of my favorite things is a good Americano or really strong drip coffee with some eggnog in it. It gives it it's own little zip of flavor, plus I feel like I am embracing the season that much more by celebrating seasonal flavors. So go ahead...try it. At any coffee shop...just ask them for a splash of eggnog rather than cream or milk in your Americano or drip. OR if you are on a budget (like us) get some at the store and make it yourself. I even add it to Vanilla tea instead of milk...delicious!
Karen Norris...if you are out there...I know you can attest to this delicious combination!

Varying opinions can really confuse a girl

2008-11-18T13:19:00.000-08:00

I am feeling a bit irritated at the moment. I just keep on shaking my head and wondering: Why? Why does it have to be like this? You yourself may be asking what the heck are you talking about...so here goes:
There are times in life when purchases have to be made. I am not talking about the day-to-day stuff...like a cute shirt or yogurt or a plant. But I am talking about big, important stuff, that may or may not break and would be expensive to fix: like ovens for example. Nick and I have decided that it is due time to get a new oven. Obvioulsy, since I am the head cook in our household, this gets me really excited about picking one that is just right for me! Yesterday I spent some time on consumer reports getting the overview of what brands are out there, how reliable they are rated and how much they run. If that wasn't overwhelming enough (not to mention completely unsatisfying since I am a kinisthetic person who likes to touch things), I decided to do a little on-line shopping to see what was available. From Sears to Home Depot, Lowes and Deward and Bode...I was up to my head in ovens. Being completely overwhelmed, I shut off the computer and walked away. I needed a break.
This morning, I decided to actually go touch a few...so I headed out to the DeWard and Bode scratch and dent outlet. Turns out they only had 2 viable options for me, one of which was very enticing; a Kitchen Aide - even with it's big ouchie it has on the left hand side. I started drilling the sales guy (who by the way is younger than me - not that it discredits him at all...I just begin to wonder..."how long have you worked here...how many ovens have you seen come in and out of this joint due to failure etc...do you even care about your job or are you just trying to sell me anything to make a buck?) with questions that once answered I can begin to compare with what consumer reports had to say. As it turns out, he strongly disagrees with what consumer reports reports on some equipment. He says he sees more GE than anything else coming in there for repairs than any other brand (CR rated it lowest likely to be repaired). He then took it upon himself to educate me on the difference between the European Convection and the American Convection, on the style of the coil, the durability of the knobs and the elaborate features ovens have...all of which I greatly appreciated. He even discouraged me from buying a more expensive oven because the one I had leaned toward may be a better fit for what I am looking for. I am beginning to really like the sales guy and begin to wonder if CR is really as good as they say they are. I ask him about their delivery fee, how quickly I can get it and the extended warranty plan. I ask him to put it on hold for me and I will let him know...then I move on to the next victim.
Now that I have a pretty good idea of the standard Q&A exchange, I feel well equipped when I walk into Home Depot. I began to wonder through the oven section...opening each one and checking out the options. This behavior obviously attracts sales people, thus "Larry" (the names have been changed to protect the innocent) approaches me. He asks if he can help me and I begin to probe him with a similar line of questioning that I just experienced at D&B. Contrary to what the other dude said, Larry has quite a different opinion: GE to him is the very best. In fact...when he redoes his kitchen next year, everything will be GE. Now I am getting a little concerned. Is he going off of personal experience? Is he just going off of consumer reports? What are his qualifications? So then I ask about delivery/warranty/tow away of the old oven, etc and he gets really salesie on me. Starts talking about 0% interest for one year (Dave Ramsey would have a fit) and how "he" has 2000 more ovens on-line, "he" just doesn't have the floor space to fill it with ovens. I don't mean to sound horrifically judgemental, I am just getting a little confused and information overloaded on the varying options out there. So I thank him for his time and head out. Next....Lowes.
Now I am really determined to drill this oven guy to see how he feels about different brands. I feel well equipped with the 2 conversations I just had and hope that this guy can keep up. As it turns out "oven guy" was not much of an information supplier. First he had to look up if the Kitchen Aide they had on display was an European or American convection (unlike the other two guys...they could tell by looking at it). Secondly, he thought all the ovens did "pretty good" and don't really test the difference between the baking vs. cooking capability (obviously he had never been on consumer reports because those are two big comparisons, as well as broiling, low heat and high heat). But he did raise a good point...the more bells and whistles you get the greater chance of needing to repair it. Especially now a days with the internal computers that operate the digital temperature mode. Yikes! Guess the extended warranty is a good idea...I have a hard enough time with the computer I am typing on, I couldn't' imagine an oven computer. I thanked the guy and went on my way.
When I got home I pulled up the specific model from D&B that I really liked from consumer reports. Low and behold: not tested, therefor no report. This bummed me out, then I got to asking myself the "Why does it have to be like this" question. I mean really. There are as many opinions out there as there are people. To each their own as the saying goes...but how is this supposed to help me make an informed decision? Do I trust the information from the guy who is most likeable? Do I trust the guy who takes the most time to teach me stuff, even if it is different from consumer reports? Can I even make a good judgement from consumer reports if they don't even analyze the product I am wanting to purchase? Ahhhhh....it is all just so frustrating!
So now, I have resorted to the best decision making process that works for me in the past: I ask people I know and care about for their opinion...and...not only listen to what they are saying, but also listen to myself asking about it. I can get a pretty good gut check by verbal processing things....sometimes I will be in the middle of asking Nick something and they stop mid sentence and say I have figured it out; never mind. This of course doesn't bode well with him so I give the whole thought process just to give him mind rest. But really and truly, saying things out loud really helps. Thus far, I have talked to my dad and Nick about it. And thus far, I have felt good about the Kitchen Aide option. Nick and I are going to check it out once more tonight before we commit. This will help me too...seeing things for a second time always reinforces my decisions. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for listening...blogging is another way for me to "verbally process."

Charlotte update

2008-11-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

Life in the Vann household gets a little better with each day. Charlotte is learning how things roll around here: Nick and Andi are in charge, she is not. It's a slow lesson...sometimes it is clear as mud to her, but in order to reinforce the #1 rule, we persevere, hoping that SOME ground is made each day. She is pretty much on the two and a half hour schedule...doing her duty outside that is. This is a great relief to me (well to us both...I am sure) because it allows me to get some work done, catch up on house stuff, as well as hit up the gym and run other errands during her crate time. We have gone on a few walks around the neighborhood. I use the term "walk" very loosely as it is more of a sniffing fest for her and a "Charlotte Come" chant for me. But no more...today I read up on how to walk with your dog, so hopefully a stroll around the block with take 10 minutes rather than 30. Yes, yes...book knowledge is very helpful when it comes to these sort of things. Luckily, I am wisely reminded by my loving husband that puppies don't go by the book, so I must remain optimistic even if she isn't perfect. Yeah, yeah...OK...I got it.

Charlotte has had a lot of interaction with people this week as we hosted our couple's group on Monday night and a church plant meeting on Tuesday night. She has taken to everyone really well, including Belle, Kristen and Trevor's 2 year old daughter. It must be "your the same size as me, therefore I will chase you around and sniff all over," kind of thing. It is so wonderful to see her interact with others. I SO badly want her to be a friendly to all kind of dog, yet obedient to her Alpha dogs. I realize that all these blogs about this dog may seem a bit over zealous and a perfectionist...which may or may not be the case. I am trying to balance the desires for having a well behaved dog, letting a puppy be a puppy, yet implementing the wisdom's that these books portray. I am sure that in 3 months from now, I will look back and laugh at my nervousness and compulsive attitude, but until then I will just persevere without overloading myself.

She is a bit of a lush when it comes to being in Nick's arms. I try not to get jealous.

Women who inspire me

2008-11-11T16:34:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, my dear friend Cory stopped by with her kiddos on her way out of town. She is a Tupperware rep and a friend hosted a party at her home in Bellingham the night before, so Cory came up on business. I try to snag any opportunity to see Cory since she and her fam live in Port Townsand and our visits are few and far between. Kristen stopped by for the short visit as well and I was thrilled to have 3 of 4 old roomies together in the same room again.

I am always amazed when I reflect on how much can change in 5 years (we were all roommates our Junior and Senior years at Western). We had a lot of laughs back then and also helped each other through some tough times. I never would have imagined a few years later Cory would have 3 kids, Kristen would have 1 and I would be married and running my own business. Life changes so steadily, so quickly sometimes.

It encourages me so much to know that these women have taken what life has thrown at them and succeeded with flying colors. God absolutely has guided them, but it also takes a certain amount of faith and trust to persevere through the "stuff." I was sitting on the floor with these women and admired their strength. Being a mom is a tough job (not speaking from personal experience, but as you already know...I am challenged enough by the puppy). Cory has her 4 year old, 2.5 year old and 9 month old all in check. You can tell in the first 10 seconds of the kids playing that she is great mom...they aren't out of control or recking the house but instead enjoying their time at a house that is so not cool for little people - AKA: no toys. They listen and respect their mom when she is directing them and she even makes a game out of getting themselves ready to go. At the same time...Kristen swoops in, a natural mom, and sees how she can aid her friend in parenting: Picking peas off the floor, offering Cory some water, asking Zoey and Zac questions. It is really awe-inspiring to watch. I am honored to have these women in my life and even happier to see their enthusiasm for, what seemed to me, hectic and overwhelming lives (I think the photo above is an excellent snap shot of what everyday in the Feren's (Cory's house is like). How lucky and blessed am I to have their wisdom so very accessible.

I Got my Sanity Back!

2008-11-08T15:09:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, Charlotte and I spent another full day together. By 5pm, I was done. Again, the mental preoccupation was enough to send me to the hills in hysterics. Instead...Nick got a phone call from a wife in hysterics. To sum that conversation up in a nice, neat, calm little package, I relayed that what we were doing wasn't working and I needed a little break. Lucky for all three of us, Thursday night was my first bible study with a new group of wonderful women from Oikos Church (thanks Kristen!). I not only had the chance to be re-grounded with the Grace of Jesus, but also spoke to the woman hosting the group who also just got a new puppy. We swapped stories and I probed her with pottie training questions. She also passed along a book that worked well for her 10 week old, well trained "pees ever 3 hours, poops twice a day" puppy. What a dream.

Friday came, and Nick wisely decided to work from home that day. We shared the responsibilities of taking care of Charlotte which absolutely helped my mind frame. I was more relaxed, happy and well-balanced. A combination that any husband wants for his wife. We also decided to switch things up a bit more regarding Charlotte's schedule. We put a box in her crate which minimized the space for her to live. (Don't worry, she still has room to be comfortable).

This means that she would be less likely to pee in the crate since she would also have to be sleeping in there. We also decided to take her out every hour and a half no matter what to avoid accidents. Both things worked beautifully! Charlotte has officially had her first day of no accidents in the house...AND slept through the night. Chalk it up to a great day in the Vann household.

This morning was Charlotte's first doctor's visit. We decided to sign her up for Banfield's Wellness Plan (thanks mom!). This is basically an insurance plan for your puppy. For a monthly premium she gets all her vaccinations, a full examination, free office visits, a discount on meds if she needs them, a free flee treatment and will be spayed at no charge (I can hardly make it through the day with one puppy, can you imagine me with 6 of them!). Charlotte cleared the exam with flying colors, plus got two more vaccinations, which is leaving her rather cuddly and sluggish this afternoon. I reeled the doctor with my 1,000,000 questions ranging from how to clean eye boogers to why does she hiccup so much. Though the books that we read are helpful, they seem to skip some very important day-to-day details that a girl like me must know. The people at Banfield were great and I would highly recommend they to anyone (they also have adult dog wellness plans!).

The rest of the day is a chill one for us. Nick and I are catching up on house stuff and just enjoying a slow weekend. We usually slam our weekend full of activities, but with this new life of living in two hour increments, we are a little more confined to the boundaries of our yard.

One thing I have to say is I LOVE this dog. I call her my little bear because...well...she looks like one. She is so well behaved, always wanting to please, always wants to cuddle and is rather cooperative when it comes to things that could be irritating, like clipping her nails. One of my favorite things about her is how she pushes herself back when sitting. Apparently our hard wood floors are rather slick for her cute little bootie! My blogs may get a little more balanced with time, but for now...she inspires me to write.

Just the Girls Today

2008-11-05T15:30:00.001-08:00

Today, I am mentally exhausted and it is only 3:30pm. The puppy...she's racking my brain. Let's start from the top:

Last night when we finally hit the sac with Charlotte settled in right next to us (in her crate on the floor). Without a whimper, she was down and out for the count. It was a big day after all...she got new parents, a new home, new smells...oh life must be exhausting for a puppy. I woke up several times throughout the night...hoping that she was alright. I think scary SIDS (Silent Infant Death Syndrome) thoughts were running through my head. I mean, I know Charlotte isn't a baby, but still...she is so little and cute and relies on us so much. I just didn't want anything to happen to her. So when 6:30am rolled around, I was relieved. The morning routine (take her outside immediately, then feed her, then take her outside again, then play with her, then put her in the crate - See I am very By-the-book) was supposed to be Nick's job. But I was just so excited about this new creature that I had to be apart of it. We quickly discovered that this "feed her then take her outside to pee" thing doesn't really happen like that. She peed in her bed during the night. She has been after all, peeing in her bed her whole life up until now...so it's up to us to break her of that habit. So as I clean her bed...Nick takes her outside to see if she has any left. Nope...she's empty. So, he brings her back inside to eat breakfast. She takes a few bites and considers it done. She is not interested in water, so we pick her up out of her bed so she can poop, but alas...she has already left us two lovely little nuggets (for those of you who don't have an animal...I hope I am not discusting you too much. As a matter of a fact, I probably wouldn't have even read through this whole blog last week, for I had no knowledge of what life is with a puppy. But for those of you who have had a puppy...you are with me...I know you are). I am in shock and beginning to freak out at this point (note that it is 7:05am)...I mean...dogs aren't supposed to POOP in their bed right???? The book says so!!!! So, this time I take her out to see if she has any more and Nick cleans it up. Shockingly enough, Charlotte is all about playing and not about doing her deed. We try to be stern, but when she is running all over the place and frolicking in our garden, it's tough to keep her to focus on "going poddy." Alas, we figure she once again, emptied her tank inside and we head back in.

By this point I am both freaking out and trying to remain strong. I have the "day shift" with her all by myself and am trying to syke myself up for this adventure. I am reminded by Nick that he is just a phone call away, so if anything comes up, just call him. Nick has had 10 puppies in his life, so this is cake. I, on the other hand, am summoning all the strength I have not to quiver and cry in the corner.

By 9am it is time to take Charlotte out again for another pee. I take her out of her crate to take her outside, and bam...instant puddle on the floor. I figure this is better than in the crate, but not quite up to par with the backyard. I take her out anyway, so she can associate that that is the poddy place. Nothing gets through to her...she is running all over the place...deciding to test the limits and head to the front yard via crawling under the deck. Tricky little thing. Now it is confirmed...it's time for a leash. So...I gather her up, her crate and head to the PetStop for a collar and leash. With her, my purse and canvas bag (be Green!) in hand, I am realizing that trying on collars is going to be a bit of a challenge. The nice worker lady helped me after a 10 minutes of analyzing of which one fit Charlotte's' personality best. Pink collar with little bones it is - adjustable! We discover that she can kinda get out of it, but by next week...it will be the perfect fit. On the way home, Charlotte is not too fond of the car ride, but this may be a blessing, because she hardly even realizes she has a collar on.

Once she is in the house, in the crate, I realize it is time for a run for me. I gather my stuff up and am really anxious about leaving her alone. What if someone breaks in and steals her? What if she just stops breathing? I am frantic, but trying to get a grip. After all, I am so fortunate that I can be at home with her all day anyways! So I go on a super short run and pray that she is alright. Honestly, I don't even think she missed me. She has taken to her crate quite well...her chewys and christian rock music is all she needs it seems like.

The lunch routine is pretty much exactly like breakfast, except this time, she can't get away while outside because I am loosely holding the leash...much better for us all.

After lunch, I realize that puppies are mentally exhausting. Yes...they take up time to feed and pee and play and clean up their messes, but really my mind is always thinking...is Charlotte OK? Sometimes, I walk past her crate to pretend to be getting a pen or something just to make sure she moves. We are trying to teach her to hold herself (yeah...that's working great....) and independence. So for now, she stays in her crate between meals and after play time. But that doesn't stop me from going over there every 4 minutes just to check...see I just did it. She's fine. She's actually amazingly sweet. Just lays in there...so very content...waiting for the next go around.

I am discovering that it is tough for me to balance between wanting to raise a good dog by being firm and just wanting to just play with her all day. I know that it won't be like this for much longer (hopefully 3 weeks max), but it is almost like torture to know that my little furry, bear like creature is in there. But then I remind myself that this is good for her (they like to have their own den) and for me (she realizes that we are top dogs around here).

I am just relieved that Nick will be home in an hour or so and we can tag team this together. Can you imagine if I ever have a kid??? I am going to be freaking out! Ohhhh...now THAT makes me tired just thinking about it. Oh and just as a side note...I haven't gotten a lick of work done today. Ahh well, I pretty much knew that was going to happen. Tomorrow is another day!

Charlotte Is Here!!!

2008-11-04T21:59:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen....
It is our esteemed pleasure...
To introduce to you....
The newest member of the Vann household...

Charlotte Autumn Vann!!!

That's right folks...it has been a long time waiting, but we finally have our dog! Some of you may be scratching your head intensely, wondering if what you are reading is a joke. After all...this is Andi right??? The girl who doesn't even like dogs. The girl who would just walk on by a puppy without a mere glance. The girl who took 2 years to adjust to the fact that her mom has a dog and that petting her might be a good idea. Well, I am here to say that it is not in fact a joke.
It all started around this time last year with a letter in the mail from my mom. Attached was a photo copy of a "mop head" dog and a note saying "I think you two should get one of these." I laughed it off and shook my head at her persistence. After all...her getting a dog was a shock to all of us...we never had animals in the house growing up...in fact, my dad used to throw gravel at the neighbor cats who tried to poop in our driveway - talk about reinforcing the fact that domestic animals are bad. I told myself, no way would we get a dog. They are expensive, they poop, they shed, they are an inconvenience and they tear apart your house. Nick reinforced this fear last Christmas by surprising me with a puppy. A fake puppy of course, but due to my response, he was more than relieved that it was a test rather than the real thing.

Come early summer, I started singing a different tune. Nick and I began talking more about what would it mean for our family to get a dog. I liked the idea of having a permanent running partner...a companion throughout the day as I worked at home...a cheery creature to greet you at the door no matter what the day had brought you, what the weather was like or how you felt at that moment. A dog started to sound really, really good. So we investigated and turns out that my mom was right...a "mop head" was quite appropriate for our family. More formally named a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, it carried all the characteristics that fit us to the T. First and foremost, Wheatens have hair not fur...so no shedding. Secondly they are extremely physical animals so enjoy running, biking and just plain being outside. Very apropos for the Vann's. Thirdly, they are smart dogs...hard headed yes, but completely loyal (some (Nick) may describe me being like that). They are active when we are active and chill when we are chill. And lastly, they are friendly...greeting all people and other dogs with an excited hello. That was enough to convince me it was time to start looking.

In mid-July we stumbled upon a breeder in Everett and met 3 of her pups. They were adorable and at the perfect age for adoption, but due to bad timing (remember last summer was the busiest time of my life), we decided to wait it out.

In October, we decided to give it another whirl and were extremely disappointed to find that most Wheaten breeders in the Washington/Vancouver, BC area had litters in the Spring. Even more so disappointing, our back up, the breeder we met during the summer originally planned on having another litter in December, decided not to put valiant efforts in impregnating her female Wheaten due to her increasingly busy schedule. We even went as far as considering having a puppy shipped to us from the mid-west, where they seem to be in abundance. After deciding that we are not in support of what could have been a puppy mill, we moved on. If God wanted us to have a dog, then God would deliver a dog.
He did...through my mom. During their last visit up here, my mom, with all her Internet savvy skills found an add in the Seattle Times listing Wheaten puppies. She passed along the number and I chatted with the breeder that very night. After a 20 minute interview (the breeder questioning me on the conditions of our home, yard and lifestyle) we decided that we should meet the pup and see if we were a good fit. We met up with her and the pup on Sunday night on our way home from Ridgefield in Bellevue. As it turns out, this is the one and only time she bred her Wheaten. She said that it is a lot of wear and tear on the mother, plus a lot of work for her to take care of the pups. Due to the owners care and attachment to the pups, she insisted on meeting the potential owners AND viewing their home before allowing the transaction to occur. Well...tonight was the night that Nick and I learned we passed the test. Charlotte was hand delivered after a thorough evaluation of our fence, kennel (thanks Diana!) and bushes that acts as the barrier between us and the freeway. We signed the contract, got the papers and was handed our puppy.

Tonight has been completely dedicated to showing our new puppy the digs and at the same time, reading fervently through the How to Raise a Puppy book (again...thank you Diana) to ensure we are doing everything right. We are happy to say that she has already had a successful pee outside. And believe me for the anal, by-the-book-when-it-comes-to-new-and-unknown-things me, this is a big deal. I would say Charlotte is adjusting well to our home. She slides around a lot on the hardwood floors chasing from one toy to another. We can tell equal time spent with Nick and I is important as she scurries over to Nick for a hello and belly-rub then back to me for a hello and a face-lick. She likes it best to be sandwiched between the two of us while sitting on the floor, but mostly she is content if we are in eye site. They say that the first night away from their mom is the toughest. We will find out very soon. I predict lots of whining in her crate next to us and every ounce of my body wanting to put her in bed with us. But alas...the puppy book says no, so I too have to say no.
The first few days are a big adjustment for the pup...afterall...we ripped her of the home that all she knew and is now living with 2 strangers. But, by this weekend, I am sure she would love a visitor or two. So please feel free to stop by anytime this weekend to say hello. We want her comfortable around people and need you to help her get there!

Halloween

2008-11-04T13:33:00.000-08:00

Halloween took Nick and I to Ridgefield, WA this year...to hoop it up with my prego sister and her hubby. After a 5.5 hour car ride from Bellingham (rush hour traffic in Seattle, Federal Way and Tacoma...go figure), we arrived just in time to watch Ami finish up sewing her costume. She has always been the "creative one" out of the two of us. So of course after getting her and Matt pirate costumes from Value Village...she felt compelled to buy some fabric to add "just a few things" to their get up. Low and behold, 6 hours later slaving in front of her sewing machine, she had created a brand new costume for both her and Matt. Yep...that is my sister. I, on the other hand, opted to ditch my two potential costumes that I brought for Ami's masterpiece 2 years ago: Poison Ivy. With a fully leaved tube top, skirt and mask, along with ivy earrings, green fishnet stockings and green boots...I was set to go in about 45 seconds thanks to her. Nick dug down deep into his Texan roots and discovered his "inner hick." Overalls, flannel top, a roped chicken and a nasty mullet that was enough to keep him at an arms distance most of the night. We hopped in the car and headed to Kennedy School in Portland (http://www.kennedyschool.com/). A super cool renovated school that now operates as a few different restaurants, bar and theater. Dr. Theopolis! (that's him in the photo above - FYI: not in a halloween costume...that's just how he rolls) took over the stage and for a price you can't beat (free - the perks of being 2 hours late) we rocked out to their oh-so-funky tunes for an hour or so. I started to bonk quickly and my family decided for me that I was hungry (which was true) so we hit up a bar which overtook the school boiler room and enjoyed some nice late night snacks. We had a great time...but what may have taken the cake was people watching. Portland is known for some extravagant people in the first place, so WOW were there some funky costumes!

Isabella Marie (not to be confused with Isabelle Marie)

2008-11-04T12:56:00.001-08:00

Nick and I were fortunate enough to have our friends, Ron and Cathy over last week for dinner...their 3 month old Isabella Marie totting along with them. It was such a blessing to see them for the first time as parents. They were absolutely GLOWING...truly happy parents, soaking up the joy that their baby gives them. I of course did my fair share of drilling questions to Cathy throughout the night about labor. This is a big, scary, somewhat impossible feat that boggles my mind. So while I had a candid audience, I thought I would take advantage of it. Cathy is a trouper. Believe me...I know...I have gone hiking with the woman...she is tough as nails. So of course it didn't surprise me one bit to hear not only did she have her baby al' natural...but also standing up. She said laying down hurt her back...the tub just wasn't working out...the big ball helped a little, but what truly worked the best was standing up. And a few hours later...there she was.I mean...really they probably could have put her up on some bricks, left her in a cave being flooded with water and a 2 year old on her shoulders (you must see the movie Apocalypto to appreciate this imagery), and she would have just survived right through it. But alas...Isabella is here, healthy and loving life. She has officially doubled her weight in just 3 months. She has begun to strengthen her neck muscles, but still enjoys being swaddled as tight as can be. But I have to admit, the best part about their visit was I have never seen Ron and Cathy so happy...what a blessing it was to see this.

I just love how little they are.

Get 'r Done Round #2

2008-10-28T16:59:00.001-07:00

As if you didn't know it already, I really love my family. My amazing parents visited Nick and I this weekend with a mixed agenda of business and pleasure. The business/pleasure ration is very much 3/97 but still...we did have a few projects to get done around the house. Luckily my dad's livelihood and hobbies are one in the same: fixing stuff. So we had at it and got a lot done. Lamely, I did not take a single photograph while they were here (I have no excuse...I need to train myself to be more picture orientated), but I thought a bullet list of our accomplishments could take place of a picture. To be fair, my dad did 97% of the stuff, but because he is an inclusive kind of guy, he would say that in a matter of 2 days Mom, Dad, Nick, Brea and I:

Rewired the garbage disposal so it doesn't blow the breaker every time we turn it on
Replaced weather stripping around our front door for higher efficiency during the cold months
Repaired the wood base one of the french doors...the wind can be harsh around here
Fixed the shower door to stop the water from leaking out
Re-caulked the kitchen and bathroom sink
Tuned the locks on all the doors for easier functioning
Partially built the air filter replacement system for our furnace
Replaced broken shingles on the roof (see that wind is fierce!)

There were times when Nick and Dad were working together on a project and there was no room for me...so I cleaned things that I typically put off...like washing our big bay windows...inside and out and vacuuming under the couches (I really try to avoid this at all costs...). It was great! Plus, dad helped me with quarterly taxes...yuck!

But don't think we didn't squeeze any fun in there. We toured the town on Bellingham and Fairhaven on bike, had a celebratory birthday dinner for dad (steak, potatoes, corn, salad and dessert of course: Buttermilk Yellow Cake, layered with chocolate pastry cream, bananas and whipping cream), hit up Hellingham at the Up-Front Theater (improv show) and went to church. So...not too bad for a weekend with the folks. Nick and I know we are spoiled with such great parents (including ours in Texas!!!)...what a blessing God has given us!

Fall is Here

2008-10-28T16:28:00.001-07:00

I was reflecting about my blog today and found myself a bit frustrated with it. I seem to fail in the "blogging often" category. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if any one even read this anymore because my blogs are so few and far between. I figure this is OK considering in a few years, it will be nice to look back and see where I was (sometimes it is so easy to forget) and where I am (sometimes so hard to imagine).

I admire my consistent blogging friends...like my dear friend Anne Marie who is traveling through Italy right now and posts every day, if not multiple times a day to write in great detail about the adventures she has taken part of. Or my incredibly creative and amazing photographer friend Shannon, who posts often the most beautiful pictures of her kids, nature and so easily blogs about the perks of life (like kids cocoa at Starbucks). I doubt I will ever be an everyday, creative photo posting blogger...but as I tell myself so many times throughout the day about many things..."compare and dispair Andi...compare and dispair."

On a different note....I have been enjoying the beautiful Autumn weather. Fall has always been my favorite season. All the color changes, the crunchy leaves that are so fun to stomp on and the crispness in the air. I often look out our front windows in our living room and see the leaves from the neighbors yard dance their way from the branch to the ground. It really is quite a sight. I also love to add a few Autumn accents to the house.

I wouldn't call myself a seasonal decorator, but I just so happen to have a lot of brown, red and orange stuff. Chalk it up to buying my condo a few years ago in Kirkland in the fall and needing to turn an empty place into a decorated home. It didn't even dawn on me until the following January that most of the stuff I bought were fall colors, because that was what was available in the stores. Ah well...I don't mind...it just gets me even more excited when this time of the year comes so I can switch it up a bit.

Today I am particularly cheery because I my work-space is bright and warm. Our house is a comfortable 69 degrees without the furnace running (thanks to a passive solar home design).

My "office"

It's the little things in life that makes the difference. Speaking of which...make sure you vote! I sent my ballot out today!

Wedding Season 2008 Comes To A Close

2008-10-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

A feeble attempt of my photography to portray how Steve can transform a tent into an elegant wedding reception. Check out his website for real pics of his talent.

Late on Saturday night, another season came to a close in my life: 2008 Wedding Season. After the bride and groom had made their vows, cut their cake and danced their first dance as husband and wife, I made my quick rounds of goodbyes to the families, vendors and staff, slipped on my jacket and drove myself out of Semiahmoo Resort. It was a joyful drive home...a 30 minute trek of reflecting over the summer's festivities, experiences and well... nightmares.

I learned a lot this spring and summer as a wedding coordinator for the oh-so-talented and amazingly gifted Steve Moore (http://www.stevenmooredesigns.com/). Like how to ensure a wedding will start on time when the bride arrives an hour and a half late to the venue for pictures, and has yet to apply her makeup and put on her dress. (Please note that the groom was impeccably timely....come to think of it...all the grooms and groomsmen this summer were ALWAYS attentive, helpful, timely and courteous. Too bad society has given them a bad reputation for being just the opposite of that.) Or the time the groom disappeared during the garter toss and I sprinted up and down the halls of the resort to locate him while his bride sat patiently in the middle of the dance floor with 400 eyes on her and twenty single men swarming her. Or the SEVERAL times a weather call had to be made 20 minutes before the ceremony because of the dark clouds and gusty winds felt like Washington's first typhoon approaching. Don't think for a moment that weather-calls are easy decisions to make when thousands and thousands of dollars have been committed to these outdoor venues, rented chairs, string quartets, sound systems and flowers, not to mention the hours dumped into finding the "perfect spot," laying out the ceremony floor plan and practicing just how the processional will transpire.

Don't get me wrong, of all the nightmares that happened this summer, the beauty, elegance and charisma that a wedding brings out far out-weighed the traumatic, dramatic and sporadic moments. For example, seeing the happy couple stare longingly into each other's eyes throughout the night...knowing that this wedding is going to last. Or the times when not a single glitch occurs (logistically) during the night and the MoB, FoB, BM and MoH all come up to you to compliment the workings of a well-ran wedding. And of course...the most important of all...being surrounded by such an amazing team of professionals who love what they do and do it well. Nothing makes a wedding coordinators job easier than having vendors who are reliable, consistent and enthusiastic. Wow! I do feel so very blessed to have seen what I have seen, done what I have done and I look forward to another season of it next year. Until then, I will continue to do behind the scene stuff, building up my business, oh and enjoying my Saturdays OFF!

Growing my Computer Knowledge

2008-10-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

Man oh man...it only took me a year and a half to understand how Blogger works, but ahhhhh....now I can rest at peace because: I GET IT! That whole side bar thing really through me for a loop, but see what can be done with a Saturday morning (as your husband is at Whistler, riding his heart out)...an updated profile and new picks, links and blogs!