Heaven In My Mouth

Getting back to a semi-normal schedule is hard!  For 2 weeks, we got up at different times everyday, depending on what we had to do, so I've been in extreme need of a routine this week!

Monday & Tuesday I hit the gym for some elliptical time {it was easy since Josh Groban was co-hosting "Live with Kelly"} then did the weight machines for upper & lower body.  Both parts of my body are still screaming, in case anyone is wondering.

Wouldn't you do the elliptical for an hour if you got to look at and hear this guy the whole time??

I decided to take Wednesday easy, since we had Dish Network coming to do an install and did 30 minutes of yoga and stretching on my own.  Which means I did a lot of stretching with my bands ans did as many yoga poses as I can remember {not a lot}.  

I honestly thought I would be fine with that, but my body is craving more activity lately.  I think that being active everyday for 2 weeks made my body realize that it WANTS to move!  Well, if that is what it wants, that is what it will get from now on!

Meals this week have been simple.

Lots of this:

 

 And this:

We have so many wines in our collection that we finally had to say "NO!" to buying anymore before we actually drink the ones we have. Mission accepted, sir!

Today I picked up my mom for a mani/pedi {thank you for the early birthday present}, lunch & shopping!
3 of my favorite things {4 if you include my Mama}!

My toes are bright!

Love the pearl color.  Hate that I already screwed up a nail!

For lunch we headed to BJ's.  It is one of my favorite places toe at, but sometimes the menu scares me because it is soooo big!  I stuck to the Lunch Specials and got half a sandwich, half a wedge salad and some skinny fries {I shared the fries and salad with Mama}.

One thing I DIDN'T share was this:

A Watermelon Mojito!!

Don't feel bad for my mom.  She had a Strawberry Mojito!

What goes well with eating & booze??  SHOPPING!

We hit Sephora, The Body Shop & ULTA to pick up things I absolutely needed and a few I didn't, but wanted {thanks for buying me the Jennifer Aniston Gift Set in spirit, Gary}!  

Before we headed home, Mama & I stopped off at Village Baking Company and shared a slice of this heavenly mocha cake.

It was so good, it deserves 2 pictures!

Absolute Heaven in your mouth!!!!!!!!

***What's the best dessert you have had recently?***

{Almost} Back To Reality

Our bags are unpacked.


Our fridge is full.


Our puppy is home with us again.


We are {almost} back to reality!


I say almost because, luckily, I am on my last week of summer break from work.


That leaves me time to do piles of laundry

Time to get my sweat on

1st day back!

Time to eat my favorite healthy snacks

Greek yogurt with cocoa powder, coconut flakes and blueberries

But then I forget about making a proper lunch, so I have to buy a salad while grocery shopping {better than a Butterfinger}!

Surprisingly filling!

And time to look around all the stores I want to without feeling rushed...

TOO SOON!

...then leave when I realize Michael's is already stocking Halloween stuff in the front and CHRISTMAS stuff in the back.  

You KNOW how I feel about that!

What have you been up to this week??

Oregon/Washington Road Trip: Days 12-14

I could have easily titled this post "Tsunamis, Heat, and HOME."

Day 12 we drove from Albany to Newport, which is a 2 hour drive, but so worth it.  It was 90+ in Albany that day and neither Gary or I wanted to be in weather that was so similar to home.  Newport was a nice 63 degrees that day.

My cousin Lisa had suggested we check out Newport and while I was researching I saw that a Japanese dock from the tsunami back in 2011 had washed ashore in nearby Agate Beach.  At the end of the month it is going to be destroyed, so seeing is was a once in a lifetime experience that we did not want to miss!

We were prepared for the cold, but NOT for the wind!!  From our car to the dock it was probably a .75 mile walk, but the wind was at least 15-20mph.  I felt like I was walking in a desert {except it was cold and I've never technically been in a desert before}.

So glad I did my hair that morning!

It is so hard to believe that this came across the ocean in just about 13 months.

There was a constant stream of people coming to see the dock.  The local news station said they were getting about 5,000 visitors A DAY!!!

One last look at the dock

Now THIS is what I call crazy beach hair!!

Once we shook off as much sand as we could, we drove to Newport.

We couldn't visit Newport without trying out Mo's!!  We each had a bowl of clam chowder and shared a plate of fried calamari....holy yum!!

They top their chowder with a pat of butter & some paprika

We even bought 2 of these glasses to have at home!

After lunch, Gary & I walked around for about an hour before heading back to the hotel.

Day 13 was spent driving from Albany to Medford....surprisingly we didn't take any picture that day.  Gary & I were both so homesick and had the mindset that if we were going to suffer in the heat, we may as well do it in California.

But we were also looking forward to visiting Ashland the next day, so we stuck it out.

The morning of Day 14, I woke up even more homesick, but was glad I sucked it up once we got to Ashland.  I AM IN LOVE WITH ASHLAND!  It has such a cool, laid back vibe that I totally connect with.

We checked out Lithia Park, which a 93 acre park in Ashland...we couldn't check out ALL 93 acres, but we spent at least 45 minutes walking around & being amazed at its beauty!

Look how LONG these branches are!

Same branch from the picture above!

After Lithia Park, we walked around Downtown for a few hours, had lunch and did some shopping.


Then we headed back to Medford, checked out the mall there and made a decision - we were going to head back to the hotel, pack up and go HOME!  Honestly, it was the best decision to make.  It was only 4 in the afternoon, so we could either hang out in the hotel until bedtime, sleep, wake up and drive home with Gary needed constant coffee stops {my husband is NOT a morning person} or we could drive home during the time of day that Gary is in his element, be home by 1am and sleep in our own bed!!  Easy decision!


Homeward bound!

No, thank YOU, Oregon!

Smiles on our faces....we made the right decision!

Gary loved this truck!

We arrived home around 12:45am and were in bed by 1:30.  I slept until 11 and Gary until noon.


There's no place like home!