Summer dreaming..

The hot weather this week (80-90 degrees!!) made me a little nostalgic for summer.

Here is an old bike adventure that I never ever got around to posting.

My purple bike and I had so much fun this summer. Riding along the beach with friends really makes exercise, well, not seem like exercise.

The hardest part was all the little hills we encountered getting to the strand (beach). Murder on my thighs and calves!!

The riding on the strand was physically easy.  But it felt like I was driving! Although it was strictly a "bike path" and explicitly said "no pedestrians," everyone was strolling down the path. Gotta keep alert or else a collision is bound to happen!

This summer all the lifeguard stations were colorfully painted.  It really made them stand out on the beach! I liked it!! My family and I love visiting “statues on parade” things (like summer of snoopy or salmon parade.)

We ended up doing about 40 miles! It took us a long time and there were a ton of cyclists that passed us up. But, slow and steady was a-ok for me :)

Sigh, I do miss summer. It seems like the upcoming daylight savings (Sunday!), makes the end of summer seem so final. Oh, and the holiday Starbucks cups.. definitely means winter is here :)

I do hope that So Cal weather will finally make up its mind..scarves or shorts??

Which weather fashion do you prefer? Scarves, coats, and pants OR shorts, dresses, and tank tops?
I can't decide!! I love love love scarves, so I'm leaning towards winter/autumn. But, who am I to really "know" what winter really is. I'm a California girl through and through. I think 60 degrees is cold!

Thursday Five!!

Wanna play along? List 5 things that make you feel: 

happy, giddy, joyful, excited, appreciative

 

{one} Shortened work day! Thursdays are always killer at work because we have 1/2 priced vaccines. I'm positively giddy to be home and getting fun things done.

{two} I am so so close to buying a bicycle, and am super excited to go biking with my friends (they've been going without me!) and brother.

{three}Having Glee music playing on repeat... Good music and amazing singers are filling my room with joyful music (go JOURNEY!)

{four} The weather has been gloomy lately, and I get upset because its supposed to be summer for goodness sakes! But when I look at the news I'm appreciative of our slightly gloomy weather. There is far worse happening elsewhere!

{five} This weekend I might be able to pull my hiking boots out of retirement! The prospect of being able to go see some gorgeous waterfalls is making me very happy :)

 

Don't forget to visit MannLand5  to link up!

 

Camera consequences

This was Wednesday, parking my car at work.

The water was soo blue and beautiful that I had to snap a picture. Unfortunately, it was with my cell phone camera. Small, no zoom, and pixel-y.

The moral of the story is: from now on, I'm going to have to carry my regular camera where ever I go. I wouldn't want to miss another great shot of everyday life!

My Life as a Dog- part 1

Inspired by getting winded walking to my car (it was up a hill!), and having a thousand pimples pop up all over my face, I've decided to turn over a new leaf, adopt some healthier ways, start a new life... as a dog.

Screeech! Put on the crazy brakes. Woof, woof? Bow wow? Ruff ruff?

No, no. I am not literally going to sprout a tail, start panting, and walk on all fours. However, working at an animal hospital has shown me that our canine friends can teach us a thing or two about good living. So, here is what I've learn from the pups in my life.

Tip #1: Sleep when you are tired
Do dogs stay up past midnight to watch a "Criminal Minds" marathon, or write blog? Have you ever seen a dog look at the clock and decide its "too early" to go to bed? I constantly say I'm tired, but proceed to stay up until midnight simply out of principle.

If I were Max, a little Shih Tzu at the hospital, I would not be ashamed to call it a night at 6pm (before dinner!).

If I were Buttons, my snoring Lhasa Apso, I would wake up to eat breakfast and fall right back asleep.

If I were to start my new dog life now, I'd better learn how to turn off the TV earlier. Maybe I'll even start getting 8 hours of sleep a night. Gasp, imagine that...

Hope you all sleep well, and have wonderful dreams full of chasing cats and belly rubs! Good night and sleep tight!!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Poppity kettle corn

Yummy yummy yummy, i got love in my tummy.

I LOOVE food. ANYthing to do with it; cooking, eating, watching Foodnetwork. So I finally decided to let the food bloggin commence!

Or will it..?

Let's just say there are some key parts missing that would make it a good blog post. Like a recipe.. or measurements.. or fancy shmancy terminology.. or good pictures.. or bad pictures touched up with photoshop to look good..

For those wondering, here is what a food blog would look like if written by me. Get ready for a confusing and abusive post.


Heat up a large pan with enough corn oil to coat the bottom. (Note: no measurement of how much oil.. 'round here we just eyeball it). Test the oil temperature with one kernel.

Pop! Yup, its ready.

Measure out popcorn Rachel Ray style, by the palmful.

Here's the tricky step. Quickly add some sugar, before the popcorn pops buuut not too early or it will burn. Just for you, I have demonstrated what waiting too long to add sugar looks like. Yeahh, just sprinkle it around. What?? Too confusing? Want more details on when to add the sugar? Riiight, you won't get that 'round here.

Cover and swirl around the fire while it pops. Now, its listening time... Shhhhh... hear it slow down? Yup, its done.

Now its the easy part. But for my padre, it seems to require the most concentration and speediness. Ready? Pour some popcorn out.

Noow salt it. Some believe Trader Joe's sea salt works best. That same person prefers JollyTime kernels for their superior popablility. *coughDADDYcough.* Snob.

Here's where the real skill comes in. Toss to mix salty goodness with the sweet crunchiness. Shake it, shake, shake, shake it. OOHH, but don't let any fall out. Vulture-like family members will swoop in and devour those poor kernels.

Ohh yeahhhh.. That's what I'm talking about. What a good way to start a Tuesday.. Oops I mean Tuesday night.. Err, I meant movie night.. Meh, who am I kidding I could eat this anytime, anywhere.

Until I can write nicely and helpfully, I will be sitting in food blogging timeout. Hope they don't make me wear a dunce cap.