What to do?

So last night I couldn't think of anything to write about. I brought up the idea of my husband maybe writing on my blog for one day. This seemed very logical because in the past he has said he has wanted to write a blog and of course he is a way better writer than I am. I asked if he would honor me and be a guest writer on my blog! He was too tired and told me to write what Becka wrote about, I guess I was suppose to re post and didn't know it. And then I read Alexis' blog and she did it so now I really feel like I need to! So here is Lauren's MeMe

I Am...

a lover

strong

weird

hugable

dependant

funny

and sometimes depressed

I Want...

a goal for my life

to be content with what I have

to be truly happy

I Have...

a loving husband

the quirkiest dog alive

I Wish...

too much

I Fear...

death

life

not living to my fullest potential

cancer

I Search...

for better ways to express myself

a new wardrobe whenever possible

buried treasure!

I Wonder...

if my dad thinks about me

what if..

why people do the things they do

how I can do the things I want to do

what our country will be like when I have children

I Regret...

trying so hard then failing

I Love...

the smell of fresh laundry

when little kids laugh

knowing I am loved

I Ache...

for women in Africa

starving families

and tortured animals

I Always...

fall down, but can't always get back up

make people mad

feel judged

I Sometimes...

lie in bed and want to stay forever

wish I had special powers

I Dance...

to forget

to feel like a child again

to impress!

I Sing....

in the car to all the songs even if I don't know the words

too much for Nate

silly

I Never....

care enough

love enough

do enough

I Rarely...

tell people what I am really thinking because they would think I was crazy (just ask Nate)

I Cry...

into my pillow

under the sheets

in my car

I Am Not Always...

there

I Lose...

at everything, except Nert's for some reason

I'm Confused...

by our world and what we have done to it

I Need...

hugs

someone to tell me it will be alright

an exploring partner

I Should...

love myself more

love others more

live in the moment

I'm Thinking...

so now people know me

man this took a long time

Etsy Finds!

So I am just going to feature this amazing artist I found on Etsy.  You can find her at Helloberlin her jewelry is very vintage and her love for metal really shows through her work!

Check it out yourself, here are some of my favorites!

My Drunken Monday!

I randomly got really sick last night and it followed into today.  I am starting to feel better, but not a 100%.  Since I didn't eat at all yesterday and logically thought I should at least try and make myself eat I called my friend Becka and asked if she wanted to go to our new  favorite cafe, The Drunken Monkey, she of course said yes and off we go.  We needed to stop by target first to get the much need items of a sweater dress and heart rate monitors! (which I will probably be writing about again when I have a chance to use mine!)

While at target we had a strange feeling of being stocked and then out of no where Jeremy (Becka's husband) pops around the corner!  We invite him to lunch and now we really are off to lunch!

Before arriving I wanted one of their delicious vegan soups, but none sounded appealing today.  They switch them out day to day so just depends on your flavor.   I decided to go for there homemade turkey panini's!  Becka got their eggplant marinara sandwich and vegan zucchini bread and Jeremy got the turkey panini and a cup of crab bisque!

If this is making your mouth water you need to head over to the drunken monkey and try out all of their delicious sandwich and soup choices. Or you can just go there for a great cup of specialty coffee!

Look for my photography's business card and Becka's Arbonne card which we left today!

Hope you had a great Monday!

Good Morning!

Since I have been working out a lot more than usual I decided to make a hearty and healthy  breakfast for me to eat every morning.
I wanted to share the recipe with you guys. It is super simple and can be frozen and reheated to eat whenever you want it!

Egg, Cheese, and Broccoli casserole

what you will need:
-10 eggs (you can add or subtract from the recipe depending on how much you want to make)
- 1/3 cup of half and half
- 3-4 cups broccoli
- 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese ( use whatever cheese you like the best)
-salt, pepper, and additional seasonings if wanted (I added a little bit of spice, because I love it!)

*Fill pot with broccoli and water and bring to a boil
*pre-heat over to 350
*let broccoli come to a bright green and then drain into a colander. ( Broccoli will be undercooked, but will bake later in over)

                      
*mix eggs, half and half, and add salt and pepper and spicy seasonings if wanted
*Put broccoli in bottom of casserole dish
*add cheese on top
*pour egg mixture over broccoli and mix with a fork so the cheese can mix in
* place in oven and bake for 45 min.
* I let mine come to room temp. before placing in freezer.
*slice and microwave once ready to eat
* ENJOY!!!!!

Woohoo

So I have had over 100 visitors to my blog and I am so excited.(I know I am a dork) It really makes me feel excepted, and that I am not just talking to myself online!
When I started the blog I didn't think anyone would even look at it, or even take time to read it. Thanks guys, makes me motivated to post even more!
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I am starting off the weekend right, I am going to the Eisley and Mute math concert tonight! SO EXCITED!

Our Mother

I went to Veg Fest 2007 last weekend with my friend Alexis and my dog Dakota. I wanted to take photos, but trying to hold my 70 lb dog at the same time just wasn't working. On the way back to the car I saw some beautiful trees lining the street, here are a couple of them. There is also a Spicy Sweet potato recipe at the bottom!

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

*Use one sweet potato per person

- pre-heat oven to 430 or 450 for crispier fries

- slice potato into thick wedges (steak fries size)

- put all the slices into a bowl and add some EVOO

-add oregano, cayenne, and chili pepper (or everglades seasoning) to the bowl (season as much as you would like)

- mix with your hands until seasoning is all over potatoes

- put potatoes on a baking sheet until they are evenly spread apart

- sprinkle with a little bit of cinnamon

- bake for 30 to 45 minutes until brown
Then you have some very yummy and health fries!

Happy Holloween?

Lets start off on Tuesday night when a light bulb went off that tomorrow was going to be Halloween. I was astonished that I really forgot about it. Halloween is was one of my favorite holidays. I love, love, love the color orange and pumpkin spices and how the leaves are falling, well in some parts of the country!
I realized that this Halloween was going to pass right by me and I would probably not even eat one piece of candy or carve a pumpkin.
In the morning on Wednesday I decided that I would dress up a little and when I mean a little I just grabbed some cat ears from my closet that I had worn last year. I got to work and come to find out I am not the only one that forgot it was Halloween. It makes me sad because as we grow up our priorities change and some things that were at the top of the list, aren't even on the list any more.

I spent Halloween literally going through hell. I was with the Orange County Firefighters recruitment process. They had us doing push ups, leg lifts, and jumping jacks on the cement road. I was hauling wet fire hoses back and forth in mud that was filled with spiders and ants. Which I have several bites to prove! I was constantly on the verge of throwing up.
As I was washing the grass and dirt from my aching body I realized I have a long way to go to become a Firefighter and right now that is my priority that is at the top of my list, not Halloween. I did get to spend some time with some great friends, even though I probably wasn't very fun to be around! So I hope some of you had a Happy Halloween!

Here is my costume for next year!