Mariannes Motifs

New Kia Optima

We've had all kinds of car activity.  My mom was so nice as to give me her Prius.  So then we had three cars.  We sold the minivan to Carmax, and got the Prius registered in GA.  So hubby had a 1999 Toyota Avalon.  It was a great car, just getting a bit old and needing some work.  So...

We traded the Avalon in on a brand spanking new 2013 Kia Optima.  Wow this car is fancy.  My favorite feature - the front seats are heated and cooled.  It has all kinds of nice features, looks gorgeous, and has favorable safety, and reliabilty ratings.  It doesn't beat the Prius's gas milage, but it does have 26 - 32.

It has an Infinity sound system.  Jin has the bass crankin' and it sounds like there was a VOX Valvetronix in the trunk!

Cumming Fair

We had some fun a few weekends ago at the Cumming Fair.  One of the coolest parts was the display of old steam trains.  A bunch of the trains at the fairgrouns are Case steam trains so of course we had to take some pictures.  Fun!

My trip to Las Vegas got cancelled.  And I have caught a couple of colds in a row so life is a little bit crazy right now.  It's one of these months where you just have to hang in there and hope for the best. So between trying to find the best barcode scanner and trying to get our automobile situation resolved, I feel like I don't have enough time to rest and catch my strength back up.

I think what I am going to do it take two of the days I have scheduled off as "staycation" days and get some rest and a few things done.

Trying To Get Healthier

I recently got diagnosed with some high blood pressure.  On top of about a million other health issues, this is about the last thing I need.  So I've been trying to do the DASH diet (with modification for Crohn's disease of course - lower on fiber) and I decided to try some home exercise.  And no, I am not smoking any arturo fuente cigars.

I bought the Zumba Rush for X-Box Kinect.  I've done it for 2 days.  2 songs the first day, and then a whole 5 song "short class" the second day.  My plan is to drop the kids off at the bus and then do a short class after that and before I get ready for work. 

I like it when an exercize class or activity has relly good music.  It makes it fun and allows you to forget that its boring.  The Zumba definately has some good music so I like it.  I've done the low intensity class and of course I do a low intensity version of the dancing.  I will keep you'all updated.

Started My New Job

After getting laid off from RIM, I started my new job last week.  I am really enjoying it!  It seems like a great group of people and its going to be very challenging.  I think how fast I found something good (3 weeks) is an indicator that the Atlanta job market is perking back up.  Three years ago it took me about 9 months to find a new job!

Of course all the things I wanted to do while I was off of work didn't get done.   Well, that's a good problem to have.  I will have to be running around doing things in my off hours just like everyone else.  Shopping for linens and bedding, scheduling to get my deck fixed, dentist, doctors appointments... Argh...

Labor Day Fun?

Who is up for some Labor Day weekend fun?  Since I don't know how my income is going to look, and hubby has to work on Labor Day, we are just going to be taking it easy.  No beach house rentals florida for us this year. But don't feel too bad for us - we had two really great vacations this year - one to Ohio to visit the family, and the other to Florida to Kennedy Space Center and St. Augustine.  I was pretty proud of myself for planning the Florida trip.  I got 2 hotels on the beach that were dog friendly so we even got to take our little mascot, Biscuit. 

On the trip from St. Augustine to Coco Beach we even found an old fashioned drive in restaurant to stop at so we didn't have to worry about doggy.

Pan Fried Pork Chops

The other day they were giving out pork chop samples by the meat counter at Publix and Ben loved them.  So he demanded that I get some.  At Publix they guy pan fried them in some garlic infused oil with onions, peppers and mushrooms.  He said he used parmasean cheese to coat them with salt and pepper.

I made them with parmasean cheese, adobo seasoning, panko bread crumbs and salt and pepper.  I used vegetable oil with some chopped up garlic.  It smells really garlicky! They are cooking up in the electic skillet for some old school style.

Lima beans, broccoli, and rice going on the side.  We need a hearty dinner because tomorrow is the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Earlier today I tool the boys to Kohls to pick out new outfits for school.  Fun!  We have everything we need, I think.  I already dropped off the suppies at their classrooms and we met their teachers.  I got sneakers, underwear, socks, shorts, pants, and t-shirts.

Color the Outback

We went to Outback for dinner tonight.  Woo hoo.  Anyway, Ben and I got started coloring in their kids menu picture and Adam got involved too.  We did a lot with the red, green, and blue crayons that it came with thn we finished it at home with lots MORE COLORS.  Silly, but fun. Almost as much fun as a tim kennedy shirt.

Music

I want to get the kids playing musical intruments again.  They took piano lessons for a while in preschool.  Ben had recorder in 3rd grade and really liked it.  I think he's pretty decent.  I am thinking clarinet might be a good choice for him.  Portable, and you can play in the orchestra and band both. Adam had a great touch on the piano but he has asked me about drums.  Oh boy!  Always the bad boys in the percussion section, right?!?

I wish I could play guitar.  I think piano and guitar are great for singers because you can accompany yourself.  Guitar is great because its portable, too.  I played bass for a bit in high school and that was fun.  My bass was a red one I called Ethelred the Unready.  LOL.  It'd be cool to play something fancy like a ernie ball music man steve morse guitar but really I think acoustic guitar is awesome.  My Dad plays and I used to love listening to him sing to us.

Saving Money

I saved money this month by dying my own hair and giving myself a half-a$$ed pedicure.  The hair turned out great but the pedicure needs to be done professionally!  I must have foot rubs!  Now!  Rub the bunions!

LOL.  I am planning on cooking up some nice cheapo chicken drumstick for dinner tomorrow.  I will put them in the crock pot in the morning before I got to work and just make rice and veggies when I come home.  I am thinking of a soy chicken or bourbon chicken style.

 

First Tomato Crop of 2012

Lest you think I have forgotten the joys of posting incessant pictures of my cherry tomato haul - here you go!  The first crop of 2012.  Some are the size of litle coins and some are big.  I didn't have to water these very much but they are sure dry today.  And they need plant food.  But they are hanging in there.  I also have a contaner of onions which I have been thinnging out and eating as scallions.  Yum!