Fall-To Layout #260

Car Troubles: After spin class this morning, I went to Target to buy a tire pressure gauge for my car today and drove to my parents' house to check them.  I suppose I could have driven home to do that but a) Mom's house was on the way and b) what if I had a question?  I'd have to drive to their house anyway.  While I was checking them, I found a screw in my right rear tire!  WAH!  Dad suggested a tire place that I could check to see if they could patch it up.  Nope, no luck.  They suggested that I call the dealer to see if they could give me a new tire.  I'll have to go on my day-off tomorrow (after my reward massage) because the dealer's service desk is closed on Sunday.  Fortunately, with the current work teleworking arrangement, I don't have to drive very much these days.  I'm telling myself that this isn't something to stress over since this'll probably be covered under the warranty.  Still, blah!

Shopping: Being at Target was fun today.  In addition to the tire pressure gauge, I found some comfy capri athletic pants, athletic shorts, and earrings (all on clearance...the earrings had several clearance stickers on top of each other.  It pays to be patient!).  It'll be nice to wear these to work...whenever that'll be, given that renovations could take longer than expected.

Card: Here's my take on Fall-To Layout #260.  Super easy design with minimal supplies (and effort).  This design would be perfect if you had a variety of washi tape available, but since I only have 2 rolls, I had to improvise with strips of paper that I punched out.
Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Charcoal
Stamp: Hero Arts- Sending Smiles
Paper: American Crafts- Letterbox, The Goods Ceremony
Punch: EK Success- Lattice Chain border punch, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper
Other: Black Sharpie Ultra Fine Point marker

Song of the day: Man in Motion from St. Elmo's Fire.  I heard this on the radio when I was driving to the gym this morning and it was stuck in my head all day.

Family Dinner

Yard Sale: I didn't really have much luck getting rid of some stuff this morning.  I sold a gently used computer bag for $4 (the guy was trying to go from $5 to $3...no, I can meet you in the middle with $4).  And another person bought a Nintendo DS game that I bought at a yard sale a few weeks ago.  I sold it for $5 which was the price that I bought it for, so no profit there.  But at least it's out of the house.  The rest of the day was spent indoors making food and camping out on my couch.

Book:  My sister Julie recommended the book Click, so I finished that while I was outside babysitting my yard sale table.

I made a large salad for lunch, while the yams that I bought last night were in the oven.

This was the spread at my aunt's house when I went over there for dinner.  Lot of veggies, salad, steak and seafood alfredo.  I'm glad I did my workout DVD before I went to dinner because afterwards, I didn't feel like doing anything.  When I sat down to dinner, my aunt told me that she had a dream recently that I showed her a picture of my boyfriend.  Um, what boyfriend?  Clearly this was a dream as I'm not dating one at the moment.  "He looked like Sean Connery."  I looked horrified.  "Akim, he's old!"  Then she explained that it was Sean Connery when he played 007.  Still, that's weird!

My aunt got this Galileo thermometer.  And its reading actually did match the thermostat in the house.

Happy Mail Received

The care package that Meg, Robyn and I put together last weekend for our friend Page was well received.  We even got a group text message with Page with a picture of her trying to match which gifts came from which person (per challenge in the card that we gave her).  With a little help, she was able to separate the gifts into 2 piles that matched the right person.  You'll notice that this card that I made a few weeks ago was included in the box.  My items are the ones on the right: lemon scented lotion from Bath and Body Works, chocolate, Swedish fish, pearl and silver earrings, a cat toy and a lint roller (since she recently got a cat).  Meg's stuff is on the left and if you move the tube of tea to the center, that would make Robyn's contributions complete.

Currently enjoying TheSchuermanShow on YouTube.  What a cute little family!  I wondered why Jay (the father of the family) seemed to be around all the time.  Ah, it's because he doesn't work anymore.  All the family's income is through YouTube.  That's amazing!

New Nails

I tried out a new nail polish today.  I'm so happy that I found it at TJMaxx not too long ago because it's a dupe for a Revlon nail polish that I had to throw out because it was getting goopy (can't remember the name) and OPI's Don't Toy With Me (which was holiday limited edition).  This is 2 coats of China Glaze in Vertical Rush. 

Yes, I'm very content here.  Thanks for asking.  Oh, you gotta pee?  No, you can't get up.

Today was Day 4 of the 30 Day Shred, Round 2.  I also did 30 minutes on the spin bike as I was watching the season premiere of Law and Order: SVU.  That, paired up with last night's NCIS, I'm so glad that new episodes are back on TV!

Water Weight and the 30 Day Shred (Round 2)

I got on the scale this morning and WTH, 155 lb blinked back at me.  I had that moment of like in cartoons where the "camera" pans in and out really quickly with a "boing" sound effect.  UGH!  Granted, I finished the rest of the avocado chocolate chip cookies yesterday, but that shouldn't have contributed to like a 2-3 weigh gain overnight.  I will chalk it up to water weight.

I did get back on track today by eating apples with peanut butter as a snack and some frozen Greek yogurt.  Sweets are definitely my vice and I really need to get real with myself and get it under control.  Otherwise, it's serious self sabotage.

I finished the 30 Day Shred last Monday, and while I happy with the toned up results that I saw, I figured I'd try the series again.  However, this time, I'm going to really make an effort to eat healthy and less stuff that comes from a box.  I'd like to think of it as stuff that you'd see around the perimeter of the supermarket, rather than what's in the center (which is usually stuff in a box or plastic bag).  I've had a few days break from the DVD,  so whew, here we go again!  Note: Day 1 was yesterday.

Fall-To Layout #259

Card:  Here's my take on Fall-To Layout #259. The top strip was looking a little empty, but I couldn't find any patterned paper that would match that Pool Party color.  My solution (and I've learned this from watching other card makers' YouTube videos) is to take the ink pad and swipe it directly onto some white cardstock.  I trimmed off the strip and instant match!
Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Charcoal, Rose Coral. Stampin' Up in Pool Party
Stamp: Inkadinkado- Wellspring.  Hero Arts- Year Round Sentiments
Punch: Martha Stewart Doily Lace border punch
White Gel Pen: Uni-Ball Signo Broad White Gel Pen

Song of the day: "We Were Us"- Keith Urban featuring Miranda Lambert.  Heard this on the way home from Meg's place last night.

Candy Crush update...currently on Level 91. 

Domestic Day In

I did my weekly grocery shopping last night, which was perfect for my domestic day in today.  I baked mushrooms last night and baked avocado chocolate chip cookies to share with my friends Meg and Robyn later and roasted sweet potatoes in the oven with salt, pepper, oregano and cayenne pepper (so delicious, healthy, easy and budget friendly...an excellent combination!). 

For dinner, Meg, Robyn and I went to Piola.  I got the chicken parmasean.  We also enjoyed a carafe of red wine sangria and the waiter gave us a free sampling of "sgroppino al limone" (lemon gelato and Vodka).  Everything was delicious!  When we got back to Meg's place, we looked at all the loot each of us got for a friend that's going through a hard time right now at school.  There's not much we can do from this far away, but at least we can give her some fun stuff that will hopefully cheer her up.