Great Minds Think Alike...

I must have been relishing in the "almost Valentine's Day" spirit this morning when I got dressed, because I put on a black pencil skirt and a red crew neck cardigan.

Apparently my Project Manager Shelley was ALSO relishing in the "almost Valentine's Day" spirit this morning too because she came to work in a red turtleneck sweater and a black pencil skirt.

I, however, am wearing my boots and she is wearing pumps.

This has not stopped all the boys in the office from commenting with the likes of "I didn't get the memo" and "Did you two plan this?"...In short, no, we did not, but its ok because we are cute.

The final straw came when our client (in the office this week) called me by her name and one of the IT people asked her if it was "Mother/Daughter Dress alike day"... Seriously people!

I told her that she should have told him to shove it.

But I digress, at least we both wore something cute to work, and my Project Manager is very stylish, so if I should be dressed like someone, I'm glad its her.

For fun, I compiled a little Microsoft Office Paint version of us:

Notice the subtle details here...

So, here's to the twins, off spreading Valentine's Day cheer! Enjoy!!

~Julie

Zen moments...

Ahhhhhhhh...

After an incredibly hectic weekend and start of the week (what with snow and work, etc.) I'm finally having a zen moment.

I spent the morning in a crazy haze of stuff to do and I took a break at lunch to walk down to the waterfront and eat with Shelly. It's amazing how getting out of the office at lunch time can really break up the day and make you feel good.

Now, I've relaxed with a cup of Creme Brulee flavored hot chocolate and I'm having a zen moment.

I pray this lasts.

Taking a tip from Kelly...

Bravo idea from Kelly Witty:

A few of my favorite things:

• A stop a Starbucks...for me its a treat and I love getting a coffee and a treat, whether its to start the day or a lunch time thing, not doing it all the time makes it special.
• Tea. I love it! It has to be decaf, and I'm always looking out to try new ones, but my recent loves are: refresh by Tazo, Good Earth brand (sweet and spicy!), jasmine (not decaf, but I love how the flowers bloom in the little teapot!).
• Cookies and Cake. Ok, I admit it...I'm a "sweet-a-holic"... I love carmel, chocolate (white, milk and dark) and pretty much sugar in general.
• My 'sleep socks' from bath and body works. I will do a load of laundry just to have these to put on. They are so soft and warm, a must have for chilly mornings before work!
• Multiple bath product options. This used to be a lot easier before my skin freaked out. At one point I believe I had over 10 shower gels at my disposal! I know that's a bit excessive, but a girl does need to have options. Right now, I love my philosophy "the gingerbread man" that I got for Christmas.
• Catalog shopping. After tv, this is my guilty pleasure. I love to get them in the mail, browse them and do a little mental "wish list".
• ABC Family channel girly movie marathons. When I was in school, I remember it being quite hard to motivate myself to do anything on Sunday. Often times I would lay on my futon and not move for hours. Now, I still do this, I just don't feel guilty about it anymore.
• Grandma's holiday veggie tray and homemade ranch dip! Nothing says nostalgia like dipping carrots and celery into the cool ranch dip...it takes me back to the days when we fought over who would get to sit in what chair and who's turn it was to go next on Grandpa's rope swing. Ahhhhhh, the good ol' days!

That's all for now, in no particular order.

Julie

Starting to get the hang of this...

So...January is half over. The wedding date is starting to loom as one of those deadlines that we're not sure if we're gonna make or not. Except that of course we're going to make it...it's just that all those little details are starting to rear their ugly heads.

We're meeting with a florist, finally, and I hope we can get that squared away. Then the major stuff would be signed, sealed and delivered...just those countless other small details to attend to now.

Other than that, we're having a great month of watching all the DVD's that Steven and I got for Christmas. Thank goodness too, because there is no tv on at the moment. We also got to play "Rock Band" with Keith this last weekend. It was amazing. I have to admit that I was skeptical of the whole thing at first, but we actually had a really great time and once we got the hang of it, we figured out that we weren't too bad (on easy mode). Keith's poor neighbors probably think otherwise though.

Enjoy the day,
Jewels

Resolutions!

In the spirit of trying to actually keep resolutions,...I thought that I would post them to see if helps me.

Here goes:

1. Get to target weight (for wedding and honeymoon) by exercising and cutting some calories (read: Chocolate).
2. Update my budget. I have a loosely based one, but I think its time to ramp it up a bit.
3. Try to read one new book every two months. Even if its an older book, I'd still like to be reading more. Especially in the wake of the writers strike. There is nothing on tv.
4. Get into a yoga/pilates class.
5. Do a movie a month with my girlfriends. This is what I forsee actually happening instead of a book club.

So here are the measures that I'm taking to fulfill these goals:

1. Bought scale. Weigh in once to twice a week. I really need to start tracking it in a journal though... I need to create a schedule for myself on what kind of workout and which days.
2. I need Steven's help here. I have done nothing...
3. I made myself a little wish list on www.amazon.com this way, whenever I'm looking for something, I can just click and see what I've already bookmarked for myself, then just click to put it in the cart and PRESTO! Book on the way!
4. I have scoped out some studios...but I'm looking for suggestions. I really have to do the whole "class thing" because I just can't be trusted to actually "do" the dvds.
5. I'm working on a list to hang on my computer. In all actuality, this is where I notice it the most and I'm more likely to send out an email and plan something if this is the case. Need to get to work on it. First pick is 27 dresses with Katherine Heigl!! Yaya.

If you've got resolutions and you want to share 'em, put them in the comments!

Here's to the new year!!

-J

Can't Hardly Wait...

For 2008!!!

How about we recap a little bit of the year?

January:

My resolution was to study my butt off for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam. I decided to get into a review class at PSU that was on Thursday nights. Poor Steven was stuck recording Grey's Anatomy for me for like 10 weeks. For this reason alone, our apple tivo purchase was well worth it. Much whining ensued...

February:

Birthday months have officially begun, Marlene, Shelly, Mom... More studying, more whining...

March:

More Birthdays, Chris and Tara...More studying, more whining...

April:

More Birthdays, Dad and Iva... More studying... cramming!!! A lot of whining...

Steven and I cooked Easter dinner for Mom, Dad, Shelly, Chris and Colin. Marlene and Larry stop by for dessert.

Test day!! Poor Steven was stuck shuttling Me and Darren around Eugene, picking us up lunch and hitting up Best Buy and Costco while we hit that test hard! We ended the day with a stop in Corvallis to enjoy some American Dream Pizza with Tara and a visit with Keith!

May:

Birthdays: Larry...NO MORE WHINING!! Test is over, Bridesmaids Party with Shelly, Engagement and Dinner at Portland City Grill with Steven, beginning of wedding planning! Lindsey's Fourth Annual 21st Bday party.

June:

More Birthdays: Steven and Colin, The start of the Baby Showers! Test Results: I passed!! Wahoo!

July:

Vacation!! Keith's Birthday/Our Anniversary... Fourth of July...

The infamous Rib/Back incident. I managed to sneeze so hard that I popped a rib out of place in my back. If this sounds painful, that's because IT IS! I was in the Chiropractor's office twice and spent the better part of a week on my back on the floor, trying to watch TV sideways. I think Jesse turned 25 in here somewhere... The Fray Concert!!

August:

More baby showers... Reunion, My Birthday/ Mandy Moore concert. Steven gets new job, house hunt and move... Mom and Dad buy new house, move in, ooohhhsss and ahhhsss...

September:

Labor day (spent moving with no TV! Stupid Comcast)...Steven starts new job! Bought dress for wedding...

October:

I believe we spent most of October lounging around the house, catching up on TV and hitting up the Beaver Games... Oh, and I went to Moses Lake for work.

November:

Wine tasting, Turkey Day, Black Friday (!!) and another Moses Lake trip (snowy!)...

December:

Full swing in the holidays!! Visits with Friends, Family and baking, decorating and celebrating! What a way to end a full and busy year, and tonight we're going out with a BANG!

On our list for next year:

A couple of big things: The Wedding!! The Honeymoon!! and Steven and Julie both turn the big 2-4 ( not really spectacular, but still) and possibly some mini-vacations not to mention to infinity and beyond!

Have a great New Year's Eve, be happy and safe and we're both wishing you all our best for 2008!!

Xoxo, Julie

Its beginning to look a lot like...

SNOW!

Time for a little update...

Since Thanksgiving (my last post) has come and gone, we've been pretty busy. I had to go to Eastern Washington for work the last week of November. I was traveling by myself, so Mom came along with me for the ride. We managed to make it to Leavenworth, despite the snow, but forgot our cameras :(. The picture above is of our trip back, just over one of the passes. It was pretty cold out, but we had our down vests, uggs and lots of gloves and extra water/starbucks.

After coming back, Steven and I went to the JHI Holiday party, which was very fun. I made a gingerbread house out of foam parts that were on the table. It was pretty spectacular (sorry no photos of it).

We got our tree and a wreath last Saturday from Larry and Marlene. Its up, with lights and wrapped presents under it (pics of this later). Steven and I were pretty dissapointed that we don't have a mantle above our fireplace, so we went to Target and bought a shelf. However, we have a bone to pick with their "shelfing system"...it does not support its own weight. Steven had to go to Lowe's and pick up some supports for it, but it does look pretty awesome with our stockings hanging above the actual fireplace.

Well, its been a busy December so far, Steven and I are both busy at work and before we know it we'll be needing to pick out flowers and tuxedos and bridesmaids dresses.

Until then, the countdown has begun: 13 days* and counting until Christmas!!

Have Happy Holidays!!!

~J
*Only 10 for when I get to start opening presents, you know I can never wait the entire time, I have to open some early.