Date Night. Every Week.

Every week I go on a date with my all time favorite person...my husband.  Tonight is the night of the week that I look forward to every time my Friday night ends.

We're always glad to get a way for some fun and good times together.  A chance to be somewhere without the kids, away from the cares of the world, and to just get to be us.  We love this time and absolutely feel that our week is not complete if we miss it.  It fills up our hearts and our buckets...especially after a long week.

We've done all kinds of things.  Tonight we'll be getting something to eat (and I'll be leaving a little on my plate...), go for a walk, and then later maybe the movies. 

Other times we've gone to Barnes and Noble, gotten a steamed milk, and played a game in the cafe.  We've also gone ice skating at the ice sheet, hiking, to the movies, a picnic, to the theatre, dinner theatre, walked around downtown, gone the gallery stroll, and so much more.

If you're not dating your fave person...start.

If you are dating your fave person but are stuck in a rut, plan ahead.  Occassionally, we end up doing the same thing every week (especially in the middle of the winter) so we take turns planning the date.  If you want to spice things up you definitely have to try this.  Whatever the person for the week plans, you both do.

We've considered getting twenty $1 bills and just going to the mall and giving one out out to anyone we see...just to do a little study on everyone's reactions.  We've also given ourselves each $1 and we go to the dollar store and see if we can find something the other person would like.

Whatever you do...usually the cheaper it is...the more fun it is.  Find your true love and sweep them off on a date...tonight!!!

love. LIFE.

you.

Women try to be so much to everyone else in their world.  A mother, daughter, sister, wife, taxi driver, nurse, comedienne, chef, laundress, maid, psychologist, friend, lover, den leader, soccer coach, philanthropist, entrepreneur, cheerleader, home room mom, dog walker, and.....

There are times when it feels like you've given every last ounce you've got to all of the people who need a piece of you.  Your tank is empty. Your bucket is dry. Your energy is gone.  There's nothing left in you but there's still more you need to give.

I was first introduced to this book when I saw information on one of my artist friend's door about a workshop being offered that said "For when you're feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from who you are and how you'd like to live."  I immediately knew I had to be part of it.  I think so many women want to feel like there is great meaning in the life they are living, in the person they are becoming.  Sometimes we lose touch with that (which is why I'm a huge advocate of journaling...it gives us the chance to tap into our real self, our real wisdom).  Somewhere in the jumble of it all we lose the meaning, that real person that we are.  I signed up for the class which is offered in person or online (email: Alison at  benjali@msn.com  for more information).

Just reading the book is an eye opening and soul searching experience.  I loved the opportunity to explore love and healing and become more of the person I'm meant to be.  Even if you can't do the class the book itself is completely worth reading.  (With the class you get homework every week so it makes you take the ideas in the book and put them to work.)  I highly recommend the experience and the book to everyone.

"Do the things that really delight your heart." 

Fill your tank.  Overflow your bucket. Give energy to your life.

full. LIFE.

goodbye.

So I've been traveling so much and sitting at a computer for too many hours it's time to put a stop to this ridiculous nonsense.  It's true.  I've gained waayyyy too much weight over the past year or so.  It's got to come off.  It's time to say goodbye to it!!!  Especially by the time Love Affair gets here!!!

This is my plan.  I walk every morning for at least 20 minutes (until my body can handle running).  Then 10 minutes of lifting weights.  I know this sounds like a wimpy plan but I need to start somewhere.  Just to do this I have to get up at 6am.  I love walking and getting out into the fresh air just as the world is waking up and the sun is about to come over the mountains.  My main desire here is that I just be consistent.  I just want to make sure that I stick with a plan continuously for the next year.  To me, continuity is what takes the weight off for real.  I'm not about losing weight the fastest---just about doing something everyday.  Also, I'm trying to take smaller portions and then leave just a little food on my plate.  If I want chocolate...which I always do!...I get to have one small square of dove milk chocolate (that would be a huge cutback from the 1/2 bag that I usually eat these days...ummm...yes, that's embarrassing....)  And the after 8pm eating has got to go too....

Who is with me?  All you need to do is at least 20 minutes of exercise 6 days a week and eat smaller portions.  If you want to do more than that go for it but that's the minimum.  We're going for being consistent.  And doesn't 20 mintues totally sound do-able?  Maybe we could make a contest out of it some how.  Any ideas?  Tell me in the comments if you're interested and then we'll see how we can make it into a fun, friendly competition. 

get. LIFE.

stories.

My Grandma died 10 days ago.  While I was in New York at her funeral two weekends ago I was in charge of helping out with pictures for the funeral.  As I was looking through all of the pictures I realized that she was once young, in love, happy, excited about the life ahead of her, that she had dreams, plans, and hopes for her life.  I wondered how I could have never asked her all of the questions that flooded my mind as I saw so much in her eyes while I thumbed through her memories.  I felt like I was looking at wonderful memories that I had come to too late to know what was really going on. 

There was a picture of my Grandma, probably just around the time when she married my Grandpa and one of my Grandpa (who died a couple of days before my 12th birthday).  I wanted to know how they met, what they first thought of each other when the caught one another's eye, what they did for their first date, and how they knew they had to spend their lives together. 

My Grandma in a fur collared coat looking extremely happy...why was she happy?  Was the coat new?  Did she go somewhere special?  Did she buy the coat for an extra special outing? 

All of these questions I wanted answers to and I don't know if they are available to me now.  What do you not know about your loved ones that you want to know today...not tomorrow...

know.LIFE.

sneak. peek.

Everything about Karly and Curtis's wedding day was absolutely perfect!  I'm very excited about their pictures and just wanted to post a picture really quickly.  Make sure to check back very soon and there will be more to see of Karly and Curtis. 

If you want to see more fun pictures of Karly and Curtis here on the blog click here and here  (Karly's bridals). 

Wedding Guests and Family and Friends click here to see all of Karly and Curtis's wedding images.  Make sure to sign the guest book to receive an email when all of the pictures are ready.  Also, to get updates when pictures are posted to this blog, including when Karly and Curtis's wedding pictures are posted, subscribe to this blog.  Just scroll down a little and put your email address in the subscribe box to the left. 

beautiful. LIFE.