What I Learned in February

I saw this bumper sticker and I decided a lot of problems in life can be solved by asking yourself, "What would Scooby Do?"

Stressed out -eat something
Scared  - run away
See evil - unmask it
Saying Zoinks is fun
Kids can be meddlesome and  pesky
NEVER EVER SPLIT UP

I  am reminded that I love to create.  I am crafty not handy.  Just ask my friends. Below is a sample of my valentine cards. Directions

One of the quotes I have written on my to do list

There is value in the valley's -Seahawk Doug Baldwin after the superbowl.

Lastly, love endures.  It was my parents 45th anniversary on February 14th. They were married in the sweetheart city of Loveland, Co.  We got them a heart that hangs around the lake.

 

 

I am linking up with Chatting at the Sky - What I learned February

 

Link Love

Sorry, long time no blog. It has been beautiful here and really not good for blogging mojo.  Lucky not everyone else is feeling the same.

Scientific reason songs get stuck in our head. Who knew these are called earworms?

I Know What Causes Autism - Carrie sums up so much up what I feel.  I too don't feel like vaccines
cause autism. 

Emergency services deduce "Banana" is a geocache. I love a good geocache story

Loveland Still the Biggest In The Romantic Postmark Business

What I Read February

 

I decided to participate in Modern Mrs Darcy's "What I am Reading" aka quick lit. Check out what everyone else is reading. Well, I tackled 2 books recommend by family and friends and read some additional books as well.

Tracks is a book that was recommended by Nonna (MIL). The sub title of this book is one woman's journey across 1,700 miles of Australian Outback. Robyn travels with her 4 camels and dog from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean.  I wish before I read this I knew more about Australia and the abordingnal issues. That being said, this is remarkable story and like most adventure stories of Robyn is searching for herself.  I learned a lot about camels.  They really are truly amazing animals. 

Of course, my immature mind goes to The Hump Day Commercial.



The Maze Runner was recommended by 2 Colby's and is a young adult book. Of course, there is also the Maze Runner movie as well.  I enjoy this book in a way it reminded me a lot of Hunger Games  I can definitely see the appeal to teenage boys and even teenage girls. 

I also read The Rent Collector by Camron Wright. I really loved it. 




Below is my favorite quote from the book
"Literature's lessons repeat because they echo from deeper places. They touch a chord in our soul because they're notes we've already heard played. Plots repeat because, from the birth of man, they explore the reasons for our being. Stories teach us to not give up hope because there are times in our own journey when we mustn't give up hope. They teach endurance because in our lives we are meant to endure. They carry messages that older than the words themselves, messages that reach beyond the page." - The Rent Collector

Lastly, I read The Dept of Speculation by Jenny Offill.  I have never read a book written the way this one was written.  The story is basically told with snippets and observations mixed in with quotes and facts. You feel a little bit like a detective seeing how each piece of information relates to the next snippet. I am glad this was a short book.  I felt a little over my head in this one but overall a fast quirky read.

Happy 45th Anniversary

Today is my parent's 45th Wedding Anniversary.  Happy Anniversary!

 

 

Valentine Cards - A Stab to the Finger

I decided on my annual valentine card at the last minute.  I hate when I do that.  I got them mailed in just to meet the deadline.  So, I didn't send out as many cards as usual.  My inspiration for the cards were from Delightfully, Kristi. It would of probably much easier had I used embroidery thread but I had some thin crochet yarn. I did end up purchasing some blue and green yarn from Goodwill to make some Seahawk themed hearts. Each of the heart cards is truly unique.

Hopefully my Valentine's know I love them so much I stabbed my finger for them.  LOL

Caching Las Vegas

There is a virtual at the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign

On our last day of our ET Highway geocaching trip (Details here), we of course decided to geocache Las Vegas.  We did a number of virtual caches. There are quite a few virtuals along the strip.

A Virtual Cache is about discovering a location rather than a container. The requirements for logging a Virtual Cache vary—you may be required to answer a question about the location, take a picture, complete a task, etc. In any case, you must visit the coordinates before you can post your log. - Geocaching.com

We stayed at the MGM for the night and there was a virtual called "In the Belly of the Beast."

We also did the Welcome to Vegas. They were expanding the parking around the sign.  We even saw Elvis there on the phone.

We ended up exploring the industrial area around the airport as we still had our rental car. So before turning in out car, we did some caching. We did many nano (small) geocaches- some on mail boxes, light poles, parking structures).

Snoopy Mural
Cache nearby

Our long weekend netted us 307 geocaches bringing our lifetime cache found number to 1,700!

What is saving me- BIG and small

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy- What is Saving You?  We are at winter's half way point.

What literally saved me this past month was having my Gall Bladder out on Jan 1.   Yes, I know how to ring in the new year.  It was a wake up for me to change up my diet.  Who knew that 3 ounces could cause so much pain and anguish.  I can't believe how much better having my gall bladder out.  It made me realize that I had been in distress for a long time. I haven't walked up to anyone yet and said, "Wanna see my scars." I have been eating a lot of oatmeal in the mornings. 

The small thing that has been cracking my Husband and I up and making our day lighter is simply an observation. This has been literally the year of the random odd sock. 

Don't have any pictures of our random
sock finds so I decided just to share a
bright sock picture

What I mean, as we were in the ER parking lot we spotted a sock on the ground on our path on the first day of the year. You know the day, I had my worst gall bladder attack EVER.  My husband at once began to notice a pattern of the random odd sock and it seems like hardly a day goes by without a sighting - freeway, airport parking lot, casino.   My hubby and I have been noticing them.  It is our inside joke.  There are a lot of bigger things we could be paying attention too but this is cracking us up.

Rooting for the Seahawks has been a lot of fun.  It is amazing how much 12th man spirit is out there. Seahawk fans are the BEST! The whole family has gotten into it.  A lady just gave my hubby a knitted Seahawks hat.

 I am not sporty but I do enjoy watching the Seahawks play.

Marking something off my travel bucket list - Geocaching the ET Highway.  It is something that both my husband and I have wanted to do for a while and we made it happen. We ended up in 4 days getting around 307 geocaches.  (Travel Details)

Lastly, the winter's here are dark.  They haven't been as cold this year.  Thank you El Nino! Books are my light in the dark.  I finished Boys in the Boat but I have been working on Tracks, Maze Runner, and The Rent Collector.

What I learned in January

I am linking up with Chatting at the Sky.  Check out what everyone learned this month.

January started with a bang. I learned so much this month.

Charlie and Me on New Year's Eve

I learned you can live without your gall bladder. I also learned that your gallbladder only weighs 2 ounces. I got mine out on Jan 1st.  A bacon, bacon, bacon pizza the night before was my undoing.

I also learned that I LOVE road tripping with my husband.  We got to get away for long weekend to Geocache the ET Highway.  We are total geocaching nerds. We had a terrific time. We haven't done that ever without our kids. (Trip Details)  I am so grateful that Nonna and Pappy could take care of our minions. 

Hubby and I at the Start of the Highway

I learned I still love the SEAHAWKS even though they lost the big game.  It was a great game to watch.

10 Easy/cheap Ways to Decorate and Celebrate Valentine's Day

EASY WAYS TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY

 

1. Heart Construction Paper Garlands. I have done these in many different styles - No tape/staple, Martha Stewart Style, and Clothes Pin/Makeshift. I also like this quick one, 5 minute Dolly Garland at Stay at Home Artist. If you can cut out a heart, you can make one of these. I love that I can put these in the recycle after Valentine's is over.

2. Make Valentine's with craft supplies on hand. Kids love to make Valentines even boys. I have some friends that look forward every year to getting a homemade Valentine from me. Corny is OK too. It is good mail and who doesn't enjoy receiving some of that. Owl Directions

3. Send Good Mail. If you really want to impress your Valentine have your Valentine remailed from Loveland, Colorado aka the Sweetheart City. Directions here.

4. Make photo cards. You don't have to have to have any fancy editing software. You just got to be creative. I've done Lego, Eye love you, Be Mine, and Kiss this. Here are some examples.

5. Use what you have to decorate. In my case, that is lots and lots of Legos. We have made Lego hearts. We have spelled LOVE with Legos. You can make a lovely heart out of conversation hearts and put it into a dollar store frame.

 

 

6. Make a Yummy Treat. Since Valentine's Day is on Saturday this year, what about a special breakfast. Waffles with strawberry sauce is calling my name. Chuckles thinks we should make cinnamon roll hearts. I saw this great idea at Life is a Party for cinnamon roll hearts aka love buns and pink hot cocoa. I might give that a go.

7. Write a love note. A couple years back,  I did a heart attack on the boys bedroom doors. I cut out hearts and taped them to their door with their special qualities written on them.

8 Class up the Joint.Set a fancy table for dinner or just dine by candlelight. Break out the good dishes.

9. Celebrate. Have a special dinner or in our case that is Pizza. It is a tradition for us.

10. Share the Love. Spend time with those you love because that is really priceless.