Almost There!

I'm so checked out that seeing the Nutcracker tonight seemed like a distraction. I'm ready to leave this city! I'm about 1/5 packed and I feel like I should be stepping on a plane tomorrow. Ah! I wish. I haven't got too much to do -- which seems like a surprise considering I usually want to clean the house before I leave. (Thanks Mom.)

Get me outta here! I want Christmas break!

Happy December!

December 1 - The day I begin eating candy from my Advent calendar.

December 3 - The day I go to the Melting Pot & eat too much fondue.

December 4 - The day I drink tea & eat sandwiches without crusts with friends.

December 5 - The day I cheer for the Seahawks & watch "The Christmas Story."

December 8 - The day I watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on the CW.

December 11 - The day we have a Merry Herzberg Family Christmas.

December 13 - The day I have dinner with my love & a dear friend.

December 16 - The day I see "The Nutcracker" for the first time!

December 17 - The day I pack up all my summer & winter clothes for vacation!

December 18 - The day we fly to Green Bay!

December 25 - The day we fly to Florida!

December 26 - The day we depart on my very first cruise to the Caribbean!

December 31 - The first New Year's Eve I get to kiss my honey.

By the looks of it, this is the most amazing month ever!!

Surprise!

It's really lovely in Seattle today. I woke up and opened my blinds to find everything sprinkled with snow. How wonderful!

Miraculously, I was able to get to work today and even more miraculously, I was able to get home. Half of our appointments canceled. Not too shocking as snow shuts down the best of us in Seattle. These hills are crazy dangerous when covered in snow!

This weekend, I'm going to buy chains (for my wheels), a blanket, and jumper cables to stock up my car...just in case. Getting stranded is a real possibility here -- even more so than in the Midwest!

Here is a picture from this morning:


And before and after pictures of my new glasses:

BEFORE

AFTER

And one last picture of Jason, with new shoes, next to the gum wall downtown:

Cutie pie!

Happy Almost Turkey Day!

Snow in Seattle Today!

I feel like I've cheated everyone out of my Christmas list for the year!

I haven't really felt like putting something together - not because I haven't had time, but because it takes so long to find each item on the internet and to compose the entire list. It's more tiring than anything and I'm tired of wanting things. Know what I mean?

When I think of everything I want right now, I feel overwhelmed. So, I just like to forget about all that stuff. "Wanting" is mentally exhausting. But, just for fun, here's some of the "I'm dying for" items:

Tory Burch black flats
Frye brown riding boots
Banana Republic wrap sweater

And I want world peace.

In other news, Jason's birthday is coming up (27th!) and he has more right to a wish list than I do right now. In the next few weeks, we've got Thanksgiving celebrations, birthday celebrations, Christmas celebrations, baby showers, holiday events, Seahawk games, and lots of other things to keep us busy until we arrive in Wisconsin.

We'll be back in Green Bay, soon -- only 27 days from today!

Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch

It's November and it's autumn and it's gorgeous and it's time to eat banana bread!

Regardless of your views, I hope you voted today. It's so important to care!

Here's a recent photo for inspiration:


Kelly with a cupcake! What's better than that? I love me some sweets. :)

New Hobby

Jason did a Zumba-thon last night. He also wore pink in honor of breast cancer awareness month. He's a man of the future.

Ready for Bed

"Okay honey, I'm think I'm gonna fall asleep to House Hunters now. Good night."

-- Jason on the phone tonight.

Unfortunate.

It was my 1/2 birthday yesterday. No one remembered.

The Poison of Perfectionism

I just found this article about perfectionism. It's me to a tee and it's given me a lot of insight on the difficulties of being a person who values precision (to a fault). Sometimes, I'm more concerned about the details than the bigger picture and this can seriously hinder my progress in life and love and work.

In other news, one of my girlfriends from college visited me today and I took the entire day off of work to show her my version of Seattle. We had a wonderful day. We talked nonstop from 9:30am this morning to 10:30pm tonight. My mind is reeling, but happy. I feel content and supported. Sometimes, God or the Universe knows exactly what you need when you need it. And then things just happen! We spent a lot of the day catching up on the past 5 years since college and dissecting our lives. We ate at a French bakery for breakfast, a "Washington, DC" themed pub for lunch, and an Indian restaurant for dinner. We snapped pictures, shared laughs, and enjoyed salted caramel lattes. Overall, it was a mighty delicious day.

Full Moon

Sometimes, I just have to tell my mind: "SHUT UP!"

My thoughts turn into obsessive thoughts which turn into fears and those fears run away with any kind of logical brain functioning I may have.

This year has been one of those "SHUT UP" years. Ironically, it's also the year I'm learning about love. Yep, that's right. January 1st, I decided on 2010 as the Year of Love, sure that I needed to work through my deep complexes of independence and mistrust. Well, it seems that I'm still working on that. In fact, I think I could rename my lifetime in honor of love. One year doesn't seem like enough time!

So...instead of thinking about living, I'm just going to live. Okay?

But that might mean I make some mistakes. Perhaps 2011 can be the Year of Mistakes?

	“Contemplation often makes life miserable. We should act more, think less, and stop watching ourselves live.” ― Chamfort

Friends for Dinner

I almost mean that literally.

Tonight, I had my old roommates over for dinner and I was so excited to see them that I just about ate them up. Lately, I have been so hungry for old, familiar, comfortable things that I was practically salivating at the thought of seeing them again.

And they didn't let me down. They showed up on time and smiling, and I thoroughly enjoyed their company. What a lovely night.

I feel really happy right now. I love when friends are the remedy.

Catch Me

When I allow myself to search the depths of my heart and linger on some of the sadness that lies there, this is what I find:

"Things are different. Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I think about all the things that haven't happened yet. Leaving my family for the city, graduating college, moving to Seattle, searching for new friends, entering a new relationship, marrying off my brother. Instead, I sit in a time where things are familiar. My heart refuses to accept the reality of my life now; it still yearns for the comfort of my childhood home, the ease of no responsibility, the simplicity of first love, the stability of obeying parental orders. As an adult, I supposedly have more freedom, but I'm still trapped in a place to which I can't return, trapped in a fantasy of time gone by.

I'm not sure at what point time seemed to stop for me or when I started dipping my metal present into the gold lacquer of the past just to see it glitter again, but I do know that the present is laced with my memories -- some thick and intricate, others only fleeting as though a few curls of smoke have gotten tangled in my hair. I also know this: I am afraid to move forward in my life due to unforeseen consequences of past decisions. Did I want to move to Seattle? Yeah, sure. But the outcome of a making a decision that seemed to take only a few minutes has been far reaching and brutally affecting. Did I think I'd stay here beyond grad school? No way. And further, I didn't think I'd meet someone. Is he more important than my family? Sometimes. Do I want to move back to Green Bay? No. Yes. Maybe. Do I miss my family? Terribly. I miss them more than I ever thought possible. I miss them as though the blood is missing from my veins -- as if I no longer have life pumping through me without them. I miss them because I can't dull the loneliness or fill the hold that their absence creates. I pretend to be fine, and many times, that is enough to get me through my days which quickly become my life. But when the feeling of their distance creeps up on me, there is no telling when the pain will subside."

Pictures We Send to Each Other at Work

Another One-Liner

But this time, it's not in his sleep:

"I would like to watch a documentary on fruit flies."

- Jason during dinner tonight.

Jason's One-Liners

"I feel like...a delicate butterfly." - Jason, while rolling over in his sleep yesterday morning.

Doldrums

Life has to be better than this! If I'm not enjoying the day-to-day work, then what the hell am I doing?

I'm sure that everything ebbs and flows...and this is certainly a time (day? week?) that I'm feeling not-so-satisfied with my life. I'm not sure what I expect -- maybe a different city every night? That job didn't feel like too much to me. In fact, it was exhilarating and seemed like the epitome of freedom.

Freedom: Somehow, I don't ever feel "free." I think that's what I'm always trying to achieve, in some way or another. Freedom. Freedom from what? Money? Mondays? Narrow mindsets? Not quite sure. Freedom from something.

Aw shit. Life is just passing me by while I sit and type away. I'm going to the pool!

Thunderstorm!

It's raining today and I'm alone and I like it. It's been sunny lately and while I LOVE the Seattle sun, I also feel obligated to "use" it. So, it was delightful to drive back home today and turn on the heat in the car and stop at random garage sales along the way. (I've been meaning to garage sale all summer long!) It felt like a good break from life.

I've found that I really like to acquire stuff. Sure, I like to buy pretty things just as much as the next girl does, but even more so, I like to find stuff or get a hold of something that seems special and unique to me. Today, I picked up a beautiful mosaic-like mirror for $5. I couldn't believe my luck! I can't wait to find a place for it in a new apartment or start to renovate my current place. I feel like it's time for some changes!

It's funny how I learn about myself every day. I feel like at the end of it all, I know myself better and somehow, I'm more informed about how I want to live my life. It's all pretty enjoyable, though. I don't always think life is enjoyable, but I'm working on it.

Right now, I'm in bed with my computer, alternating between watching the Bachelorette finale, eating applesauce, looking at expensive jewelry, and blogging. It's pretty relaxing if you ask me.

I think I'm gonna get back to doing nothing.

Is This Boring?

I'm not sure I love this design. I'm having my doubts. Is it too simple? We may have to change it since it doesn't seem to fit my personality as well as I thought.

Oh boy! Look at me, I'm so boring.

Which is why I have more photos. I promised a rundown of the last few weeks and so a rundown is exactly what you're gonna get. So, continuing on from the weekend in Ocean Shores, we have Mother's Day, fun adventures in the city, lots of peeling, and running for a good cause!

A very important moment:
I found my ring after a YEAR of it being lost!!
(It was in the pocket of my old sweatpants. Doh.)

Oh pretty ring, I love you.
And I shall never lose you again.

Mom's Day brunch spread at Jason's brother's house

Jason and I went on an excursion in Bellevue and found a view!

And then we saw Mount Rainer peaking its head out from the clouds.

A few days later, Jason's ankles started to peel.
(This is a full two weeks after Hawaii!)

A little closer...

And even closer...
Yummy!

The view from Gas Works Park.
(We're cliche and cute and we had a picnic.)

And the view of the city from the same spot.

A few days later, I ran a 5K for "Girls on the Run"
which is an organization that empowers teenage girls
to respect and nurture their bodies.

The theme was "Superheroes" and my team
dressed as, you guessed it:

CAPTAIN PLANET!

(Wind! Water! Earth! Fire! Heart!)

And to finish it off, a brunch of eggs benny.
Now there's a REAL meal.

There's still a few more weeks in May that I have to showcase. :)

Ta-ta for now!

New Look!

I was bored with the old format. So we updated!

After we got back from Hawaii, we spent the next week in Ocean Shores which is an adorable little beach town right on the Pacific. So fun!

Here are some highlights:

The huge cinnamon roll I had for breakfast.

The boys decided to take a little bike ride.
Aw, cute.

The living room of our beach house.

We went to dinner at a fish 'n' chips joint.
While we waited for our food, they had some helpful tips on each table.

The fish 'n' chips...and chowder.
Yum!

After lunch, we rented mopeds!

And rode on the beach!

Oh so pretty...

Let's race!

The sign reads: "Motor vehicles prohibited."
As you can see, we did not obey.

Then, back to the house for sunset drinks.

As promised, the sunset.

As promised, the drinks.

And then, because I hadn't charged it after returning from Hawaii, my camera promptly died. At least I got a shot of the damage! :)

Hawaii!

Here are about a million pictures from our trip to Hawaii:

They started the Hawaii-themed items with free cookies on the plane!

Then we got free macadamia nuts and Mai Tais!

Almost there: Maui's on your right!

We're finally there! Pretty (and weird) island flowers!

Fish tacos in Kona Kailua!

Our view from the hotel room...
(Thank you Hilton points!)

Be careful, you never know...

The perfect beach at Hapuna

Hapuna again with some rock formations

Some crooked trees in the water at Beach 69

And then, I found a homemade grass skirt!
(I put it on and took pictures with it later)

The token feet-at-the-beach picture

My burn from 10 hours in the sun with minimal sunscreen
(It was unintentional, I promise!)

The fruit plate we ordered for breakfast the next morning.
YUM! (Mango and everything!)

Jason's burnt ankles:

Waipi'o Valley near Hawi on the northern coast of the Big Island

The other side of Waipi'o Valley.
(Gorgeous...)

A random beach we found and watched the locals surf.

Hawaiian sunset from our hotel.

We tried to go to Mauna Kea, but feared we'd run out of gas on the way up (ascending from sea level to the summit at 13,700 feet within the span of 15 miles). So we took a chance and drove to Hilo on the other side of the island. On the way, we stopped at Rainbow Falls!

Climbing to the top of the falls...

The pools above the falls.

And then, we drove on to Hilo...

And then, we drove to the top of the massive mountain of Mauna Kea. On the way up, we were sure we'd have to push our little red Mustang convertible the rest of the way! Take a look:
(It's the end of the world! That grade is steep!)

FINALLY at 13,000 feet in the air!

And finally, the TOP! We owe it all to our trusty 'Stang.
(By the way, most rental car companies exclude this drive up the mountain from their contracts because it's so dangerous. It's also recommended that you do the trip with a four wheel drive. And now we know why...)

The view from the top!
(Notice that we're above the clouds...)

So beautiful! See the trail? Yes, you can actually WALK all the way to the top. Though, no one really recommends it, even our guide book!
(Apparently, the top of this mountain is so similar to the moon that NASA astronauts come here to train for their moonwalks. )

And then, we hit a really bad patch of fog on the way back to our hotel!
(We could barely see anything!)

After our dizzying mountain trip, we stopped at the Four Seasons Resort for dinner.
It was AMAZING! Best night of the trip!

Our view from dinner.
("We don't have any tables, but you can eat at our BEACHSIDE LOUNGE.")

Um...OKAY!

Here's the view of our restaurant.
Incredible food, too!

And finally, the last days at our hotel.

Good bye hotel!

Good bye Hawaii!
We'll be back!