Bill Wallace

Today, is a sad day in my world. This morning I learned one of my favorite authors passed away, Bill Wallace.

In fourth grade I discovered reading. Basically, the first three years of elementary school I wanted nothing to do with reading. NOTHING! I would spend hours crying over reading a 20 page book. Yes, be happy I wasn't your child. But in fourth grade something clicked in my A.D.D brain. I realized some books were interesting, and some books were pretty funny. Bill Wallace is the man to thank for that my fourth grade transformation. Below are some of my favorite Bill Wallace books...





Thank you Bill Wallace for introducing me to the reading world. Lord knows what would have happened if you hadn't!

I Love Australia

Blogger World, yesterday was Australia Day. Did you know that? I didn't.

I'm a big fan of Australia. When I was in college, I spent three weeks in Aussie land. Actually, it might have been two weeks. No, it was definitely three.

To all my Australian friends, I apologize for not recognizing your holiday on this blog. I do care for you guys. I love Australia! It's one of my favorite places in the world. I appreciate everything you bring to the world.

Thank you for him...
Thank you for these...
Thank you for this place...

Happy Australia Day!!!

Cookie Thursday

Back in the day my office celebrated Cookie Thursday. Every Thursday we would enjoy a plate of hot, right out of the oven, cookies. It was a great work holiday. I looked forward to it every week.

Today, we no longer celebrate Cookie Thursday. Sad I know. Everyone went and got all Dr. Oz on me. You know, the can/cannots of eating healthy. Cookie Thursday did not make the cut!

However, just because I no longer participate in the holiday doesn't mean you should be deprived of Cookie Thursday. Go forward and enjoy this wonderful holiday.
Here's to you Cookie Thursday. A brilliant idea that has slipped through the cracks.

A few of my favorite things

Do you realize it's been months since I've posted an updated favorite things list? It's true. I'm really falling behind with the blogging. I apologize. To make up for lost time, here is an updated favorite things list. Love them, hate them, whatever.

1. Snow
Where is the snow? Oklahoma has not been blessed with a single snow storm. Instead we've been blessed with temperatures in the 60s. I know, I shouldn't complain about temperatures in the 60s, but I like winter. I like my seasons. I'm a firm believer that winter should have winter temperatures. My allegories agree as well!
2. Stonewall Blueberry Jam
If you have not tried this jam, you must. It's simply the best in the world. It taste like fresh blueberries from Maine. True, I have no idea what fresh blueberries from Maine taste like, but I'd like to thing they taste like this jam.
3. My New Slippers
Normally, I am not a fan of overpriced slippers. Now, overpriced work shoes, running shoes, causal shoes...yes. While skiing, Canada Travis and I found ourselves in a pickle. You see, we needed to turn in our ski boots, but we did not bring shoes to wear back to the hotel. Our options were to walk around in socks or buy overpriced slippers. I voted for the slippers because the ground was cold, and I didn't want to get sick. Blogger World, I can safely say I made the right decision. These are comfortable!
4. My 1992 Dell Laptop
Ok, so my laptop is not from 1992. I'm being dramatic. It's actually the laptop I received when going to school for my MBA, back in 2007/2008. A few weeks ago, my laptop died. The Staples IT guy tried to save her, but she had a virus and there was no hope. RIP Dell laptop.

5. Bebe Chapstick
Bebe Young Care is sold in Europe; and despite my best efforts you cannot purchase it in the US. Six years ago, I went to Europe and brought back lots and lots of Bebe chapstick. Currently, I'm on my last tube and foresee no hope of replenishing my stock. I'm having a hard time parting with my last tube.
Well there you have it, my updated favorite things list. As I said earlier...love them or hate them.

Monday Musings

Sister #1 can take a decent picture....



Thank you, this concludes Monday's Musings.

The Year of Kava

After The Ski Adventure my life went back to normal. Well, normal for one day.

Blogger World, I don't know if you realize last weekend was Martin Luther King weekend. Here at This is my world, we are big fans of MLK weekend. No, it's not because I receive a day off work. It because for the past 5 years Sister #1 and I have been celebrating MLK weekend in Portland. It's our tradition; and I'm big on traditions. Therefore to keep the tradition alive, we jumped on an airplane for Portland.

When we arrived the first order of business was food and wine. Sister #1 and I might be the only people in the world who hit up grocery stores on vacation. What can I say...$2 wine and awesome granola is hard to pass up.

Friday night after dinner, we experience Kava. Do you know about Kava? No? Ok good because I'd never heard of it until Friday night. Let me give you the Wikipedia definition of Kava: is a crop of the western Pacific. The roots of the plant are used to produce a drink. Kava is consumed throughout the Pacific Ocean cultures of Polynesia including Hawaii, Vanuatu, Melanesia and some parts of Micronesia. Kava is sedating and is primarily consumed to relax without disrupting mental clarity.

Our friend Nathaniel took us to a place that served Kava as a drink. Below is a picture of Kava drink, which is in the salad bowl. Yes, you are correct it does look like dirt. Do you want to know a secret? It taste like dirt too! See the pineapple slices on the table? You have to chase the drink down with a pineapple slice. It's so you don't throw up. I'm not making this up. Promise.
Sister #1's reaction to Kava. True, she is laughing in this picture, but only because it's so gross. She's also laughing because we paid money to drink dirt. We find that slightly hilarious.
Brave Kava Drinkers who lived to tell the tale...
Every year we experience something new when visiting Portland. This year it was Kava. Sister #1 and I love Portland! Thank you Portland for being an unique city. It's the reason we go back every year. Well that and your awesome Columbia Employee store.

The Ski Adventure

Hello?

Is anyone out there?

Does anyone read this blog?

Hello?

Blogger World, I have returned from my two week sabbatical. I'm happy to report I had a fantastic time skiing at Lake Tahoe. The skiing was pretty good, food was great, and the company was wonderful.

The ski adventure started out as an adventure, which is why I'm naming this post The Ski Adventure. You see, when I announced this trip I might have left out a few minor details. For instance....

Minor Detail #1-Canada Travis invited me on the trip. You might remember Canada Travis? He lives in Canada and I went for a visit last month?

Minor Detail #2-Nine of Canada Travis's friends were on the trip as well. I did not know the nine other people.

When I accepted the invitation to go skiing, minor detail #2 was just a minor detail. It did not phase me that going on vacation with total strangers was weird. I thought it would be fun; an adventure. No big deal. However the day I was flying to Tahoe, Minor Detail #2 became a major detail. I mean who in their right mind books a vacation with strangers, total strangers? Sure I facebook'd stalked each of them, but I didn't know them. What if they were weird?

Thankfully the nine strangers turned out to be pretty cool. Not one made me feel out of place. Everyone was very welcoming and kind. The nine strangers were pretty fun to have as vacation partners and I think we all had a good time. I guess it is pretty hard to have a bad time when this is your playground...
Ok, so maybe this picture doesn't do justice, but just trust me when I say Lake Tahoe is beautiful!!! If you haven't been, I highly recommend it for your skiing or lake adventures. You will not be disappointed.

Ski Bunny

Blogger World, tomorrow I leave for a trip.
I'm pretty excited about this trip. I've never been to this town, and you guys know how excited I get about new destinations!

As you probably guessed, I'm going skiing. For the remainder of the week, I will be skiing at Lake Tahoe. I know, can you believe it!!!

What I'm really excited about is the fact that I will be able to ski into the state of CA. How awesome is that? Pretty awesome.

Everyone please pray that I come back in one piece and fun is had by everyone!!!

By the way, this is a picture from my last ski trip. I'm basically a pro...just didn't want to brag.