Green, Green, expensive Green

The cool thing right now is to go green. Well, I think cool has finally hit the mark. Nick and I have been trying to go green/organic for awhile now (I guess going to school in Bellingham rubbed off on us a bit) but green is EXPENSIVE!! Now, because of this cool "green" trend, prices are dropping. Yeah for OPRAH!!

I used to use the recyclable bags that you could buy at the grocery store (i.e. Safeway or Albertsons), but, to put it nicely, they SUCKED. You could barely hold anything, the straps broke, and they were a pain to wash. So I surfed the net to find another option. I found the most amazing bag, that is inexpensive and wonderful all at once. They are Baggu reusable shopping bags. I recommend them to everyone. They fold up nicely into a small pouch, so I can carry them in my purse, and never forget them. Even though I really wanted to buy pink (fushia), I bought grey (smoke), so that my husband didn't have to carry home a pink shopping bag. Get some, and save a plastic tree every time you go shopping.

I also want to try the products from the BioBag line, such as Kitchen Waste Bags and dog poop and cat box bags. Let me know if anyone has used them before.

Our goal is to try to make the smallest footprint we can, within our budget, so that our children will have room for their garbage in the landfills...he he he

Who ate my tulips???

Nick gave me these once beautiful tulips. When I woke up, this is what I found.



Now I have my suspicions, but so far no one has been charged with the crime because I have yet to see anyone (see below) on the counter that is not aloud....I think I am going to install a kitten cam.

It's been awhile.....

Life is good! But very busy. Things are pretty crazy right now. I am trying to get used to my new job and schedule. I love my job, and I know God has placed me there for a very special reason. But, off the lighter note... I have been blessed with back problems (darn snow I had to shovel). My left shoulder blade is numb 60% of the time, and when it's not numb it hurts. So I went to a massage therapist. It really helped, but she told me that she needed to work on my back once a week for awhile. Well at 50 bucks a pop, that's expensive. So I talked to our insurance and they will approve me going if I get a referral from my family doctor. So I called Dr. Peters and he said he would be glad to send me to one if I tell him who I want to go to. Well...my insurance had a list of 18 Massage Therapists in the area that they approve. So I called one (it was close to my house) and they couldn't get me in until July....yes I said JULY!!! Man oh man. So I preceded to call the rest of the list, including the ones in Post Falls. It turns out that since a few insurance companies have started to cover massage therapy, those massage therapists are a busy bunch. I finally talked to a woman that had a cancellation that day, so my first appointment is March 17th. So until then, its ibuprofen and ice 2xs a day. Pretty crazy. But $15 a week, is a pretty big difference from $50. Anyways...that's my story.

Also, Nick and I went to P.F. Changs and to a movie on V-Day. If you live in Spokane, and want some really great Chinese food, and really great service I recommend P.F. Changs. It's not light on the wallet though. We also went to Jumper. We really liked it! The end was very anticlimactic though...I think they were setting the idea for a sequel. But its a fun movie, so I would recommend spending the $9.50.


Does anyone really read this???

Oh the Snow!

It has snowed quite a bit here in Spokane, WA. Even the schools were closed for 2 days in a row. Pretty crazy, since Ice Storm '96 was the last time there was a snow day and only because most of Spokane had no power.

I was glad when the plow came down our street because the roads were full of snow potholes. The down side....our driveway was plowed in with 3 feet of snow, because this is the first time all year they came our way. So with cold toes and a tired back, my driveway is clear and all is well. Now all I have to do is clear a path from my car to my house. Knee deep snow and dress slacks just don't mix.

As much as I love the snow, I believe true bliss is seen only from a golden retriever's eyes. Gage is in doggy heaven. Between climbing snow drifts and burying his whole body under piles, every day is a new adventure.

Our House


My Car


Our Dog



So much fun to be snowed in...

Juno

Yesterday afternoon I went to Juno with a couple of girlfriends (we all left our husbands at home). I have to say it was definately the best movie I have seen in a long while. But I have to say it was anything but a chick flick, the boys would enjoy it as well. It was funny and refreshing. So long story short, go see it. I recomend paying $9.50 to see it (although we went to the afternoon showing so it was only $7.50). Have fun!

From last summer

I was going through old pictures on my work computer and came across these. These are classic. Gage is a Golden Retriever, that should love water. Well, he was terrified, and could not swim to save his life. So He and Nick went up to the lake for a week, and he finally learned to swim!!! Then of course we couldn't keep him dry.

Here Nick is trying to teach him to use his back legs, he was only using his front paws, and his bum was sinking.


When Nick got in the boat, Gage joined him. Who needs to swim when you can float.


And finally, he needed a little reassuring. Swimming is not an easy task to learn. Here he is with my mother-in-law, sunning on the dock. If you look closely, you will notice he is sitting on her lap.

Some days it feels like a zoo...

This is Gage. He is 13 months old.


This is Olive. He is 7 months old.


They eat...


They play...


And they rest together.


Everyone needs a best friend.