makeover month

I am nominating April as the official Makeover Month. We all love a makeover, and for good reason: makeovers show us the path between before and after. Think of this month as a natural reality show with a big reveal at the end: the world made new and vibrant in a few short bursts of warmth. Only April can do that. Whether it's a change in season or in our homes, most of us are fascinated by makeovers. From magazines to television shows to websites, we eat up reinventions of every conceivable thing: rooms, wardrobes, cars, bodies, even relationships. Why? Because they offer a window into the process of transformation. So, as Makeover Month is upon us we should all decide on something in our lives that we would like to makeover. Whether it be as simple as organizing and de-cluttering a closet or as involved as rejuvenating an entire room, pick your project and breathe in the fresh air that is change. 

A few tips for a successful makeover:

-Take before and after pictures. After pictures are much more valuable when alongside a before picture. Often, the pairing reveals solutions that are reassuringly simple.

-In regards to room makeovers, begin by thinking about the mood you want to create, rather than specifics. Setting broad goals first will help you have tunnel vision of sorts as you bring the makeover to life.

-Be realistic. Have ideas and goals that are practical and attainable.

-Most importantly, have fun. This should be a project that is enjoyable and that you feel excited about finishing.

Keep me updated on your makeover projects and good luck!

monk on nbc

Monk is a fantastically funny show staring Emmy award winner Tony Shalhoub. I was introduced to Monk a few years back by Craig and Carol when we were on vacation in Washington. We spent a day in our pj's having a Monk-a-thon, I was converted. Unfortunately, Monk is on the USA network (which I don't get), but that's about to change on April 6th. Monk will be coming to NBC on sunday evenings! Curtis and I are really looking forward to watching our favorite obsessive compulsive detective. This is a great video I found on You Tube, I love the jump roping. Enjoy.

movie calender

The fantastic movie season is almost upon us. Those movies that have been teasing us since last fall are finally about to emerge onto the big screen in the next few months. I don't think there is anything comparable to packing up your vehicle with snacks and soda and heading to the drive-in to watch that movie you've been dying to see. (Make sure you get there plenty early to get a good spot and also to watch the freaks, drive-in theaters rival the county fair when it comes to that.) For those of you who have let yourselves wander into a warm summer night at the movies, here's a little movie calender so you won't miss any of the summer blockbusters.

• April 4--Leatherheads
• May 2--Iron Man
  
• May 16--The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
  
• May 22--Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
  
• June 13--The Happening (the new M. Night Shyamalan movie)
  
• June 20--Get Smart
  
• June 27--Wall-E
  
• July 18--The Dark Knight

Visit http://www.apple.com/trailers/ to check out all of these great trailers.

road trip report

Our Seattle trip was good times! We had a lot of fun and even learned a few things. For example, before passengers fall asleep they need to make sure that the driver and navigator know exactly where they are going and when to merge onto I-82. Our three hour detour did allow us to see parts of Oregon we usually miss, so that was a bonus. We also were able to participate in a sing-a-long that, had we not veered off course, might not have taken place. All in all it was a great trip! We spent one of our days in downtown Seattle checking out the aquarium and Pike Place Market. Pike Place is a gem for finding "teammates". In fact, I'm pretty sure we found most of Brian's team hanging out there. The aquarium was fantastic as most all aquariums are. Here's a little video I put together from some of the footage Curt took. I hope you like it.

video gamers unite!

I love to play video games, I always have. It started at a very early age and, Zac, I have you to thank for it. We spent a lot of our summer time together in his room, on the Atari, playing games with some of the sweetest graphics we'd ever encountered. Our personal favorites: Joust, Food Fight, Pole Position, River Raid, Pitfall, Yars' Revenge and, of course, Space Invaders. Over the years my palette of video games and gaming systems has definitely developed. One of my all-time faves is Lego Star Wars and this year we'll be able to re-dedicate ourselves to video gaming with the release of Lego Indiana Jones and Lego Batman. Game On!

What are your favorite video games?

spring things

Some of the most fabulous spring things!

What are your favorite spring things?

seattle or bust!

On friday, Curtis, myself, Paul & Alison will be venturing into the pacific northwest for a little vacation. Not only are we excited to get to Seattle, but we're also excited for the drive with our fellow road-trippers. Now, not just anyone can be a "road-tripper". It takes a special little something (especially traveling with Curt & I). A wide range of characteristics are involved when being considered a great "road-tripper", but I'd say the most important is an immunity to fussiness. Yep. Definitely.

Here are my top 5 reasons to love a road trip:

1. The amazing variety & quality of treats.

2. The type of games and conversations that are only entertaining when driving for an extended amount of time.

3. The little towns you drive through and are absolutely positive they were the location of a real life X-File or the bizarre string of murders you head about on the news.

4. The transformation that takes place among the passengers after about eight hours in the car together.

5. Last but not least, that undefinable funk that manifests itself when you pile out of the car at your final destination.

What are your favorite things about a road trip?

good monday

What a day of happiness! So, I have this friend (let's call her Alison) who had such a great day and was so enthusiastic about it that her joy has transfered to myself.  I can't blame her for her excitement, she got a new job and soup in her hair...and salad dressing, it was a big day. So I was thinking about things that make me smile and decided to share this little beauty with all of you.  Come on fhqwghads!

our little story

I've been thinking lately about how I usually don't blog about personal stuff or treat my blog like a journal and I've decided that it's time to get down to the nitty gritty. So I'm putting pictures of Curtis and myself and going to tell you a little bit of "our story". Even though it was not love at first sight there was definitely something there when he said, after tasting some of my wassail, "It's like there's a party in my mouth and you're invited".  To which I replied, "Curtis, do me a favor.  If you ever get a girlfriend, never ever say that to her." Lo and behold, we started dating a couple months later.  We've now been married almost five years and we just go together so perfectly.  Some people even say we're starting to look like each other, now I'm not sure about that but that's what some say.

biking at redfish lake

Today I was thinking about warmer weather and longing to do all that warmer weather stuff I love so much.  Particularly, I was wishing we could go camping... anytime soon. This is a little video clip of Curtis last summer at Redfish Lake.  It puts a nice grin on my face, I hope it does yours too.