{ramona williams}

September RoundUp

Following are a few photos of moments from September:

 (1) Beautiful Wedding Reception

(2) Mini-Bootcamp warmup exercises

(3) getting ready for fall decor

(4) trying something new -  lamb. tasted delicious.

(5) think tank - our meeting on the first day of the month to discuss business goals, objectives, personal goals, etc.

(6) grocery shopping.  plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables!

(7) My birthday cake :)

(8) tug of war on labor day.  boys vs girls.  looks like the boys are winning this round.  (the girls won the first round.)

(9) roasting marshmellows on the grill.  LOL

(10) preparing something different for Labor Day - kabobs.  success. everyone loved them. :)

A week of photos - March 2010

Following are some photos that I took the second week of March.  I'm finally getting the opportunity to upload them:

 
Shopping at the Whole Foods store for vegetables.  The fresh, organic vegetables are a part of Marc's Juicing Presentation.

 
Getting ready for the presentation.

 
"Juicing: Healthy & Delicious" was the presentation that Marc gave at the home of one of his fitness training clients.  Everyone was interested in the info and had a great time. 

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Since Friday was the beginning of Spring Break, we decided to take the afternoon off and take in a great lunch (sushi) and afternoon movie. 

 
Nothing like a cup of coffee on a wet, rainy friday afternoon.
 

At the moment, we are the only ones in the movie theatre. 

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I eat M&M's twice a year -- Christmas and Easter.  Love those pastel colors! 

OK, back to being healthy again.  Saturday afternoon lunch -- salad.  :)

Thinking of Spring

Is it Springtime Yet?!  This Winter has been long and cold.  I took some pictures around home yesterday that made me think of Spring. . .

 
Both of the photos above are of recent thrift store finds.  It wasn't until recently that I became a fan of thrift store shopping. 

 
I think I am slowly aspiring to becoming a food photographer.  I'm noticing that in more and more of my photos, food is the subject.

Making a Few Restaurant Favorites at Home

On Tuesday, we (should I say Marc) made a homemade version of a few restaurant favorites.

 
Homemade salsa to be included in burrito bols "a la chipotle" style.  The burritos were good, but the seasonings I added to the chicken needs perfecting. :)  I was amazed that he was in the kitchen cooking preparing this for us.  Especially on a day when the refrigerator and pantry were just about empty and we needed to go to the grocery store.  Creativity. . .

Green Tea Chai Latte -- my favorite drink of choice.  Made with the following:

• Sweet Green Tea Matcha
• Lowfat Milk
• Original Oregon Chai (reduced sugar)

 Top with a few dashes of cinnamon!

The Story of the Table and Chairs

 

This table has a bit of history.  Beyond going to the furniture store, making the selection, purchase and bringing it home. (There’s nothing wrong with that.)  Each time we sit at the table or walk past it, we remember the journey.

The journey started 5 years ago when we closed our business and had to sell everything.  After a brief time with family, we were excited and thankful to start over and move into an apartment with our personal belongings and a few pieces of furniture.  The dining room sat empty for a long time before we found a table.  We found this table, scratches and all.  The scratches, we thought, gave it character and an antique look. J

The table sat in the dining room for a few more months without chairs.  After a few weeks of searching for the right style and price, Marc found 6 barstool chairs online on Craig’s List.  We made arrangements to see the chairs and make a decision.  At first glance, I thought the chairs needed A LOT OF TLC, (to say it nicely). But Marc could see the potential, and convinced me likewise while standing in the owner’s garage.  We purchased the barstools, but didn’t have room in our car to bring all of them home.  The owner was cool enough to bring the other chairs in his SUV.  I thought it was kind and considerate.  I guess we seemed trustworthy enough. J

We unload the chairs; bring them inside only to realize that they are 2 inches too high. Ugh! We had to think of a plan to resolve that and fast.  Thanksgiving was less than a few weeks away; we had invited both set of parents to have dinner with us. (We invited them first, and later thought – “where is everyone going to sit??!”)

How did we resolve that issue?  A friend of ours owns a trailer packed with construction tools.  He offered to come by one evening with the trailer and cut the legs of the chairs down to the correct size.  Wow!  Talk about a blessing.  After that, we were ready to cover the chairs with new upholstery fabric.

Needless to say, our Thanksgiving Dinner was a success because everyone had a comfortable place to sit around the table.

We kept those chairs for almost two years before moving last October.  (We purchased new chairs -- seen in photo).  The “craig’s list” chairs relocated to a new home with my Mom and Step-Dad.  I think she covered the chairs with a different fabric (I see where my creativity and craftiness comes from) and now they (chairs) are in their basement/recreation area.

{Staying on Budget}

On Sunday afternoons we like to go out to dinner. It's a great time for food, fun and fellowship.

This year, we have set a few goals.  To accomplish those goals, we need to stay close to the budget.  As a result, we will probably be cooking more at home on Sunday's this year.

 

Last Sunday's inexpensive yet delicious menu: steak; potatoes; cucumber, strawberries, and walnut salad.  Ariel De-alcoholized wine.  (If you're looking for a great non-alcohol wine, check out this SITE .) 

{Thoughts for Today}

 

This week, I have had many great ideas for writing topics, but each time I sat down to write, I ended up with writers block.

Then I came across a wonderful blog that gave me inspiration of something to write about.  The Simple Woman's Day Book.

Outside my window. . . it is cloudy, wet and cool.

 

I am thinking. . .  of the tasks that I have to complete today (packing, laundry).

 

I am wearing . . . jeans, tshirt, socks.

 

I am remembering. . . the first time we moved here about 3 years ago, and the experiences in our life since then.

I am going. . . to the park this afternoon to take photos of the fall foliage.

 

I am reading. . . The Yada Yada Prayer Group Get Rolling, by Nita Jackson.

 

I am hoping. . . for the sun to shine today.  It has been almost a week since the sun has shone.

 

On my mind. . . decorating for the holidays.

 

Noticing that. . .exercising regularly again is producing good results. :)

 

Pondering these words. .  from a conversation that Marc and I had about clearing out the clutter in your life and staying focused on your purpose in life.

From the Kitchen. . . tacos.

Around the house. . . There are boxes everywhere as we prepare to move.

One of my favorite things. . .Green Tea Chai Latte.