Skip to main content

It's Time For The Ultimate Blog Party 2014 - Come On Over!

Ultimate Blog Party 2014

Yay!  It's time for the Ultimate Blog Party of the year - UBP 2014 with 5 Minutes For Mom.  This is my, oh let's see, 7th UBP :->  Susan and Janice really know how to put together a fun, informative, energetic event so this should be another wonderful blog-hoppin' party!

If you have to time to peruse a few of my previous posts you'll see that I keep things light here.  I prefer humor and positivity as a way of dealing with life, and do my best to look for the positive.  Life is tough!  I hope to provide what ever lightness I can to someone's day.  If you have humor and lightness to share with me I'd love to see it.  Leave your blogs URL in the comments and I'll check it out!

My husband Rob is a Software Consultant by day, actor by night and just finished a run in King Lear (his favorite Shakespeare play).  Our daughter's are Katie, a high school Sophomore and Lily, a 7th grader.  Our conversations usually feature them trying to explain Manga and Anime characters to us with either Japanese techno-music or "Let It Go" from Frozen coming from their earbuds.  And, oh yeah, school is boring.  Whatever.
Ultimate Blog Party 2014 - Ann Again and again
Me and Katie


Living in the Pacific Northwest is indeed wet, but also very beautiful.  Last week a quick drive brought us to Multnomah Falls for a day hike.








Ultimate Blog Party 2014 - Ann Again and again
Rob with kite
And soon we'll take a quick drive in the other direction to spend a weekend on the Oregon Coast.  In the springtime the weather seems to change every 5 minutes so you'll eventually get something you like.








 
Ultimate Blog Party 2014 - Ann Again and again
Katie and Lily
We don't have to go far to enjoy the outdoors in Portland.  Most often we enjoy hanging out in our own backyard and getting into a serious game of Badminton.










So there's a bit about me and what my blog is about.  If you're a first time visitor from 5 Minutes For Mom's Ultimate Blog Party 2014 - Welcome!  I look forward to getting to know you :->

Popular posts from this blog

Miss Poodle Perm, That's Me!

Jill of Scary Mommy is doing a linky post about school pictures. You know the ones, possibly you didn't smile a sweet smile, just the smirk of panic. Or you didn't know it was picture day because you had been out sick for a week and you show up in your most comfortable shirt and bed-head. (Yep. That happened to me. The smile was good though!) Well, my scanner isn't working or else I would post a particular picture from Freshman year. Since I don't have a visual, here's the story: I remember my first day of High School. Actually what I remember is the picture taken of me leaving for my first day of High School. I'm wearing a brave smile, but the hair, the hair , my hair style was a nightmare. My two best friends and I were going to be attending a High School out of our district. That was stressful enough. To add to this new-ness we wanted new looks as well. K. was going to sport the Argyle and Alligator shirt look. W. was going for 'All Monogram

This Is Quite The Blog Party! Add Your Blog To Turn It Up Tuesday!

Ever dream of having a day when you receive breakfast in bed, not one lick of housework is done - by you! - and the weather matches the mood of the day, which is 'lovely'.  Well, I had such a day on Mother's Day and I am so grateful to my family.  ( Could we do it again soon?  I vote 'yes! ')  How was your weekend?  Do tell.  I'm so happy to be a guest host for the blog hop Turn It Up Tuesday.  Add your blog link and meet some terrific Bloggers! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Happy Mother's Day!!!! What did you moms out there do today? We'd love to hear it! Share it here on Turn It Up Tuesday! Welcome to the 34th week of Turn It Up Tuesday! Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this blog hop the best that it could be! As you may know, Turn It Up Tuesdays is all about being happy, excited, energetic...and having fun! Link up your favorite posts and meet some awesome b

My Questions Answered By Chef Pati Jinich - Video

Rob and I have been focusing on finding foods and spices that will help us take some weight off.  I've been slightly obsessed with staying on my exercise track (on week 8 now :->) and hope to get rid of this jiggly belly that has become wa-a-a-ay too comfortable on my body.  The older you get the harder it is to lose weight.  What I would say to my 40 year old self - 'See that pouch starting?  Do your crunches and planks now!  7 years from now it's going to get ugly !' I've found that spices cumin, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes and turmeric are noted to increase metabolism.  ( Yes please !)  After a good workout coconut water is more beneficial in regulating your electrolytes, and lower in calories, than sports drinks.  It also contains more potassium than other drinks which is an important component in helping to build muscle which, in turn, helps you burn more calories. And my most surprising discovery - eating avocados help burn belly fat! I&#