Category: Misc

It's been a good week, people.

I made a point of cutting down on our outings from the house in the evening. We did a pool trip. We took a walk around the neighborhood. We had our friend and her boys over for dinner and the kids got to play. Tonight, my mom's watching the kids and we're going to D*Note to play Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz.

Work (office) has been a bit less manic (which I love and hate – manic days go SUPER fast). But I did get to spend a great day on a job-site visit. Those are always fun. It's incredible to see a building go from dirt to shell to nearly complete structure. I am also learning jquery for a project and I'm kind of in love (boy was that a nerdy statement!).

I spent a bit of time finalizing a client's website earlier this week. It's up and I am very happy with it. My own freelance site is basically done and I have almost finalized a business card design. Now I finally get to start on Ani's site and my hubby has also requested a new look for his much touted, often neglected woodworking blog.

Last, but certainly not least, a bloggy friend, Kjersten and her husband and their two children welcomed a new (and lovely!!) addition to their family, Sweet Miss Elizabeth. *swooon*

I am very much looking forward to the long weekend. Tomorrow we have no plans (other than the compulsory LONG RUN in the morning). I want to make cupcakes with Tabby because we're attending a 4th of July Pic-a-Nic on Sunday. Our friends are having all manner of acquaintances, neighbors, family, etc. over for a chaotic hoe-down. Food, fireworks over their small suburb and an outdoor movie to cap it off.

I also want to spend some time playing with my new toy … AND maybe take Tabby to see Toy Story 3. Did I mention I love summer?

Matt and I work very well as a team. Our strengths and weaknesses tend to compliment one another. He is amazing at research for any purchase we have to make. That stuff bores me to tears, but I am awesome at keeping an eye on the bottom line. He is amazing with the execution of any project and he always finishes what he starts with a great deal of perfection. I have an eye for design and a creative streak that provide him with many projects or refine his ideas.

But like any couple, there are some areas we struggle with. He is extremely high energy and while I fancy myself to be fairly high energy as well, there is no doubt that I prefer more of the quiet life. He would go-go-go nearly 24/7 if it were up to him. I would go not nearly so much. When you compound the situation with the fact that I work away from home and he works at home, sometimes we clash.

We have been monstrously busy lately, and honestly, it's as much if not more me than Matt lately. We've had plans many many nights, additional work to accomplish, and not enough of us to go around. So this weekend, I wanted some peace and quiet.

There was still plenty of go-go-go. I assisted in the hosting of and attended a party. We went for a hike in a new spot. We had to get grocery shopping done. But there was some nice quiet time too.

The kids went to stay with my parents on Saturday night while Matt and I worked on some individual projects completely uninterrupted. We then had popcorn for dinner and hung out, just the two of us, no movie, no restaurant.

Sunday after we got home from the errands we had to run, we worked around the house as a family. Then we spent a very nice hour and a half outside together. Tabby rode her bike while we pushed Ben in the stroller. We made dinner together and had popsicles afterward. It was nice and slow.

I want just a bit more of that. More time at home. More doing next to nothing. More playing with the kids. It's nice.

It was yet another fast and furious weekend. My darling mum had a birthday last week, so we had lots of celebrating to do. Friday night, my sis and I took her to dinner at Tamayo (*drooool*) and then we went to see Sex and the City 2. It was a fun flick and FULL of laughs.

Saturday we went for a hike (first of the year). There were four adults and four kids. You might think that'd be chaotic. And you'd be RIGHT. 4 miles in like 2 hours and that's because Matt and I ran uphill for .75 miles to GO GET THE CARS. And that makes it sound bad, but really it was fun. Tabby hiked a lot of it, Ben grumped (he's still sick).

After the hike and lunch, we put the kids down for naps and I got “girl time” with one of my best girls, Holly. We went GROCERY SHOPPING while our husbands assembled MY HUSBAND'S new ginormous toy (I know you're dying to see it). The kids started waking up about 30 minutes after we left, so it was peppered with distress calls as well. We're planning to abandon them sometime soon for REAL girl time. Then we made pizzas for a big crowd … our families, my parents, sister and our neighbors (who were also helping!) and their grandkids. Lotsa work, but lotsa fun. We ate outside.

Sunday Kelly and I went to the gym only to find out our fave instructor was off in the mountains. We put up with the sub (she was good, really) for a while, but it was TERRIBLY hot in the room, so we finked out on the second half and phoned in some conditioning instead. What? We did TEN burpees (with pushups). Of course after that, it was time to do our bit for the economy, in the form of a $200+ trip to CostCo. You're welcome, Mr. President.

Then the kids had naps while I worked on the new webdesign site (it's going slowly). Later that evening, we went to my parents for a fab home-cooked meal to celebrate mum's birthday. I think (hope) we spoiled her proper.

All too soon the weekend is gone. Hope your's was lovely and slow as molasses.

• I'm thinking about running the Bolder Boulder on Monday. I hesitate only because it's something of a mob scene, and also the $63 entry fee – not so bad on its own, but they just add up, especially with two of us running! But I wouldn't bother with the cheaper one. The tech T is way cute.
• Had dinner at BJ's (seriously, best lettuce wraps EVER) with a couple of friends last night and chatted for a couple of hours. It was nice. I missed Matt and the kids though.
• I am attending the graduation party of a young woman I used to BABYSIT for. I've known her since she was a baby. It is a bit surreal. She, incidentally, babysits for my kids now. She is all kinds of amazing and I know she's going to love college even if we all miss her like crazy!
• I went to the dentist this morning. I have a clean bill of dental health. Hollllla!
• My dental hygienist told me she's going to Macchu Picchu next month. I am hella jealous.
• If it weren't for the dentist appointment, I would have taken today off. As it is, I might still take a half day. I need more hours in the day.
• I am working on a couple of sites right now. I bought JKNDesigns.com for my own business and I'm working on a project for a coworker's daughter. Ani has also graciously allowed me to work with her on a new design for her food blog, and I'm psyched about getting started on that!
• We are having a b'day party for my sweet hubby this weekend (only 20 days late, what the hay!). I have absolutely NOTHING for him, gift wise. He is ridiculously hard to buy for. I like things like books and shoes, things that you can get shipped two-day from Amazon Prime. He likes things like clamps that come from Canada and anything with a $500+ pricetag. I will probably have to give him socks.
• Our friends want to camp out with the kids in the backyard this weekend. Sounds like fun! Now Matt will want to buy Tabby a sleeping bag.
• Our pool opens this weekend too. I cannot wait to get the kids over there. Tabby is excited too. She's asked me when the pool opens at least 10x now.

It is a lovely grey day here in the Mile High City. We don't get a ton of them so I try not to mind them too much when they do come along. Yesterday (well this whole week, really) was grey as well and I was grumpy, but today I'm at peace with it.

I received my copy of Adobe Creative Suite Web CS4 yesterday (don't ask how much THAT cost). I ordered it on Tuesday and was shocked when Matt told me it showed up on my doorstep around 11 yesterday. I've been limping along with Photoshop 7 and an ancient copies of Dreamweaver and Fireworks and it is so nice to have programs that are CURRENT.

Speaking of current (and web design), I am in the midst of a redesign to the site. I think it is going pretty well. It's been almost 3 years since the last go, so it was time. Though as I updated my “about” page to reflect life now and then, it kind of shocked me how much things have changed in three short years. Tabby is no longer a chubby baby, but a long-legged big girl. *sigh* At any rate it is going well and you can see a sneak peek here. I considered purple as well … whatcha think?

Maybe I'll be back again with more to say… and maybe not. In any case, have a happy weekend.

The things that have caught my eye in the past couple of weeks … a complete list of my shared items is, as always, here.

• trade in unwanted gift cards or buy fresh ones cheaper than face value at Gift Card Rescue
• XKCD recently did a very interesting (and funny) survey on color and people's perception of it and names for it
• this one was a LOL for me: fun with identity verification “secret questions”
• a nice post about finding your online running community
• Romp.Com might just be my new favorite online store … check out the blank board books and the glitter letters
• cool hack for drilling upwards without mess
• 12 things you can do with your microwave
• the web has now brought us a service that endures musical hold for us … oh internet, what CAN'T you do?
• unusual, cool, foldable, reusable water bottles and a good deal cheaper than those SIGG ones
• love the idea for these personalized cookies – many possibilities
• Matt and I are turning (*gulp*) 30 this year, but a Great Gatsby Birthday Picnic might just take the sting out of it!!
• oh the cuteness: hobbit doll house
• from hipster to hippie, tee-he-he
• beautiful felt dahlia corsage, for Mother's day or any day
• Say it ain't so!!!
• Maragarita Cupcakes, need I say more?