Touching Base

nothing better than….

There is nothing better than the real thing like Starbucks Vanilla Creme Frap. I tried a Seattle’s Best Vanilla Creme blend and it doesn’t have all the vanilla bean flakes or the real vanilla flavorings, it’s actually quite bland on the vanilla flavoring.

There is nothing better than real live sex, why watch porn when you can get the real thing.

There is nothing better than real Nutella, not some chocolate flavored hazelnut spread that doesn’t spread really easily or the chocolate seperates from the hazelnut spread. If you want real chocolate hazelnut spread, you have to go with Nutella. It’s sweet and savory if mixed in with a crepe and real strawberries- YUM!

There’s nothing better than a Haas avocado, why skip and save a few pennies for something that isn’t that sweet and a little smaller when you can indulge in a ripe Haas avocado.

There is nothing better than real chocolate. If you have the cravings spend a little more for real dark chocolate or real milk chocolate, skip the carob chocolate- it’s not fulfilling and leaves you craving for more.

Finally, nothing is better than having a real cat. There are these fake cats that they sell in stores and I am not talking stuffed animals. It looks like a real cat sleeping in a cat bed, when you rub the cat’s stomach, it’s stomach moves up and down like it is breathing. Nothing is better than a real cat like my Peanut.

it’s been a while…

I broke a sweat with as little as 20 minutes of cardio and strength training. I had forgotten how great that “sweaty feeling” feels like. It kind of reminds me back in college when I was swimming for my JC. After a hard workout, I would break out in a sweat in the pool. It’s exhilerating, it’s refreshing, it’s revitalizing. After the swim workout, you know you pushed your body to the max capacity. I am half way to “that” feeling but it felt good.

a belated birthday wish….

So, Juli went to go work on her “nightales” pilot featuring Flava Flav, Gary Busy and I can’t remember the guy that played  “candy man”, she left bright and early at 7:30 am.  I on the other hand, got to sleep in.  Yippee!!

Woke up, packed, got dressed and got out the door at 8:50 am.  Drove towards Tower Cafe’.  I was a bit early to meet my friend Chris for breakfast (not until 11 am).  I walked to the Super Asian Supermarket and picked up some fresh supplies.  Then, bought some items that I needed at Walgreens.  Then headed over for some yummy breakfast.  I was really craving breakfast at 9:30 am but by the time we ate breakfast, a bowl of soup, fresh bread with butter, seems to suit my palate.  Chris celebrated his birthday last week and I bought him breakfast.  It was really great visiting with Chris and catching up.  I had a great time.  It was a bit chilly outside considering the weather the whole weekend has been quite warm- in the 70’s.  Global warming, someone is working overtime this year.

With my tummy full and time to go, we departed.

 It’s been a great weekend.

Today was a busy one…..

Woke up, got dressed, watched part of Justin Timberlake’s new video on Yahoo.  Picked up Jennifer, went to the bank, picked up Jason L and Pete…. of to Katrina’s Cafe’ we went.  Juli stated that Katrina’s in Auburn has these Lemon Yogurt Pancakes that are really good.  I just wasn’t feeling the lemony thing this morning so I ate a Ginormous Ortega Chili omelet.  This place is also known for their Volcano.  Since there were six of us, Casey- Jason L’s friend showed up too, we split a large volcano.  It was a huge pile of homestyle potatoes, cheddar cheese throughout, salsa, avocados, sour cream and green onions spread all around and piping hot.  We each served ourselves and then realized we each had another plate of food coming.  This place is quaint, stuck in between a car lot and the grocery outlet strip mall.  It’s was probably a little house in the past.  Good food. 

Casey went his way and the rest of us journey back and decided to go to the mall.  Jason L and Pete decided they needed Fat Boy pants and us girls did some window shopping.  We left the mall, parted ways, said our Goodbye’s- “see you in a couple of hours” :)  Dropped Jennifer off, went back to Juli’s.  Whew, I am pooped at this point. 

Jump in the shower, get ready a bit, take a 45 mintue nap, get ready some more, leave the house at 4:50 pm.  It’s time for Pete’s Welcome Back dinner.  So, I got 13 people together for Pete’s dinner.  A couple canceled last minute but dinner was a blast.  Robert, Dale, Pete, Scot, Casey, Jason L, Me, Jaime, Juli, Bruce, Su, Robin and Cliff.  Macaroni Grill is affordable for all people and most people like pasta. 

After dinner, Scot went off to DJ in Elk Grove, Jaime went to take care of her dog, Robert went to pack for Kirkwood the following day, Jason drove Pete back to his place because other than 1 glass, Pete drank a whole bottle of Chianti to himself.  This is larger than the average wine bottle, he had the 1.75ml.  It was ginormous.  YIKES!  Good thing Pete didn’t drive.  tee hee:)  Dale, me, Juli, Pete and Jason L, all spent time at Pete’s playing Scattergories.  It’s a fun game to play and watch especially when Pete was getting sloppy.  He proceeded to drink, he was drinking rum with a splash of coke.  Hilarious, you had to be there.

Dale, left at 11 pm because him and Robert were going to ski at Kirkwood.  Pete’s friend Jason (yes another Jason) showed up.  We continued to play Scattergories until we finished all 16 cards. 

It was great to see Pete it was a successful day in meeting all friends and doing things we enjoyed.  Pete seems happy.  I am happy for him.  I saw pictures of his fiance’ Elsa- she is really pretty.  She’s a lawyer.  They will have a good life together.  :)  Went back to Juli’s and crashed!!!!!!

 

Settled for everyone at the end of the night

Drove up to Sacramento to see my friends this weekend.  I first stopped off at my favorite little store called The Mixed Bag on 21st & N in Midtown, Sac.  Bought some little fun things. 

Had dinner with Gina at Spaghetti Factory, we were there close to two hours while we drank our large decantur of Chardonnay.  I was a little loopy after that.  My dinner was good.  All my dinners at the Spag Factory are really good and what a bargain.  Then we headed our tipsy butts over to The Streets of London Pub on 19th & J St.  We each drank a glass of red wine before Gina’s underage friend Rachel showed up.  We walked down the street to Mikuni’s to get a couple of drinks.  Note- I did not buy nor did I have a drink at this point.  Two were bought-  hhhhmmmm.  Walked back to Streets of London Pub before waiting around for 30 more minutes before I drove to see Juli.

Got to Juli’s, then we drove to Denny’s to hang out with Jason L and Pete.  Pete is back from Mexico- having been gone close to 10 months.  So, Denny’s was the place to sit back and chat and catch up.  It seems that Pete was a lot more settled mentally, probably since he is engaged now, has a new job, wants children (up to 5), has a house and knows what he wants to do with all aspects of his life.  It really is life altering once all these factors fall into place.  I am really happy for him.

Yawn, it’s late, gotta go to bed.

Organized…. :)

Yippee!  Our office is finally organized.  I have been searching Craigslist for a 4×4 IKEA Expedite Bookshelf for over a month now.  I fnally got one.  It’s dark brown and it compliments my office.  I vamped up our office yesterday after moving the piece in.  It’s 4.11 feet long by 4.11 feet with 13″x13″ cubes.  It’s perfect.  My friend Sheli has a 5×5 but it’s too big.  The 4′x4′ is perfect, I can’t state it enough.  It fits all my clutter and I organized them with “like” colors.  The wood is dark brown, the baskets are red with white/red striped cotton material and all the accent pieces are either, white, clear, black and all have red labels clearly describing what is in the container.  It’s plush. 

My office was in shambles before.  I still had Christmas tissue sitting in various piles, Christmas bags lying around, my gift bin was not organized (Yes, I have a gift bin- it’s yearly not seasonal).  Albums, scrapbook stuff, purses.  I put all my purses in a clear tote so I can see what I have).

I just started two new things for 2007.  Aside from my full time job doing Sales, I signed up to be an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay and I am trying to jump start a juggling group with my friend Kevin and the website needs lots of work. 

With my new organized office, I should be able to find everything at ease, work on Mary Kay- access products more easily, wrap presents more easily, access the gift bin, scrapbook, pay bills, etc.  I am so excited.  Maybe this is only a girlie thingm, but I can’t get things in order or completed especially if one aspect of my life is in shambles.  Does anyone feel my pain?

if you could….. would you?

So, my old cell phone back in early April 2006 was a piece of junk and I just couldn’t wait until November 2006 to get a new phone.  So, I upgraded and paid $120 for my new phone and accessories- not a bad price.  Last month, my husband upgrades his crappy phone which was the same as my old phone last April and gets this sleek new LG phone.  He gets all these new attachements and his reception is somewhat less to be desired in certain portions of our house.  Overall he is happy with his new phone, it’s black, it’s shiny, it’s sleek, and you can feel the numbers when you dial unlike the Motorolla Razor phone.  So, he lets me know last Month that even though I upgraded before my free upgrade was up (does that make sense), I can still upgrade my new phone for a new free phone.  So, I am stuck here thinking, I really like my phone, it has all these great features, but in the back of my mind, I am thinking……. a new phone would be cool.  This is my last opportunity to get a new phone.  Unless this upgrade can happen anytime before my next upgrade since I haven’t utilized this yet.  I will have to check on that.  In a way, it’s going good with my phone service and I dont’ want to mucky it up because I want something new.  I think I made my decision plus reading my friend Jennifer’s blog (www.allupintheair.com) really shed some light on what could happen- UGH!

Breaking News………

Anna Nicole Smith….. dead in hotel room?  I can’t believe this but in a way I can.  Her poor body has been through so much in dealing with the death of her son Daniel.  Plus, with all those meds she is currently on.  I don’t know how many but it has to be a lot.  Every interview I have seen her on, she looks heavily drugged.  Her poor baby, without a Mommy!  How sad?  It’s really sickening that the media probably did this to her.  All the accusations, all the headlining news, all the fake people out there trying to get $$ from her.  (yes, we all know about the millions she inherited from her ex-husband and maybe she was one big faker).  I can’t talk bad about those that are deceased.  Everyone has their flaws and it’s a shame that she let the world get to her.  Her life should have been about what there is to live for; to honor her son Daniel by letting him go but living for his soul, to nurture her newborn and to live for her new husband.  May she rest in peace.

 

new sweet treat…

My friend Sheli introduced me to this small sweet salty treat.  Now if eaten in moderation like 1-2, you won’t feel all yucky from too much sugar.

Ingredients:  Ritz Crackers, Peanut Butter and Marshmellow cream. 

Directions:  Spoon half a teaspoon of peanut butter onto one ritz cracker, spoon half of a teaspoon of marshmellow cream onto the other ritz crackes.  Put two halfs together, eat, *sigh* and enjoy.  Total Bliss!

Freebies

Once becoming a resident kicks in here at Vegas, it will be so fun to pick up all my freebies from casinos like my parents do.  I will just have to watch my spendings.  Being a vacationer to this State, at first my $$ did end up at the casino but every time I come here, I get smarter and smarter and the $$ tends to roll in a lot higher.  Wait I am trying to find a piece of wood to knock on so I don’t jinx myself.  knock, knock. Whew!

Yesterday I lost $80.00 and today I walked away with $415.00 which is a nice $335.00 gain.  Today was more fun not because I was winning but I had the fun company of my Mom to share my winning spirit with.