Recycle.

Great news: our apt complex is going to start having recycling containers! This is great because this means I no longer have to keep bags of recycling in the trunk of our car and drive 20 minutes to get rid of it. Looks like someone beat me in writing to the leasing agents. :)

100

I found a One hundred push up challenge via Pinterest, and strangely decided to take it on. It says that with this 'program' that you'll be able to do 100 push ups in 6 weeks. I'll believe it when I see it. But I figure it's something different and free, so why not? Today will be day 2 for me.

Anyone want to join me? Just click on it above and read up.

Torch Relay ( a.k.a. walk) for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Easiest thing I've ever done for a good cause. I think I should be a better citizen and do more things like this.

Birthday Boy

Yesterday was my dear husband's birthday- he too now is officially old now and 25.

We both took the day off from work (preplanned, it wasn't one of those "call in sick" things...) and enjoyed the day.

I bought him some shoes he was eying on my birthday

He loves them, I'm still learning to like them

and he was also spoiled from other gifts and kind cards from family members.

When I asked him in advance what he wanted to do for his birthday, he told me he wanted to see two movies. So, that's what we did. Thank goodness for our continual stash of free movie tickets.

We saw:

50/50


I can't remember the last time I cried so much in a movie, but I definitely recommend it.


and Real Steel

both were good movies, but I have to say that I liked 50/50 more. Here's the trailer for 50/50 and the trailer for Real Steel.

For Wolfgang's cake, he requested anything chocolately, so I made just a dark chocolate out-of-the-box cake, then decided to spice things up a little and made a raspberry filling, and then topped it with chocolate frosting. It turned out pretty tasty (and extremely unhealthy?) if I say so myself.

The day ended with dinner at The Macaroni Grill, and sharing cake with friends. I think it turned out quite well.

Smoothies

I've mentioned before that for the last couple of months, I'm really into smoothies; It's my way of eating {drinking} what I should be putting into my body.

Usually the ingredients consist of some sort of variation of some of the following:

-bananas {always}
-oatmeal {also always}
-strawberries
-blueberries
-pineapple
-mango
-kale or spinach {it's true, and you can't even taste it!}
-almond butter


But every once in a while, I don't feel like having a healthy smoothie.

I just had one that had a banana, almond butter, and too much Hersey's chocolate syrup.

And it was delicious.

Lions and tigers and bears, Oh my!

Life has been pretty exciting in the last 24 hours for residents in eastern Ohio. Read about it here.

My favorite part of the whole article:

Flashing signs on the highways in eastern Ohio warned motorists Wednesday: "Caution. Exotic animals."

loyal.

Tonight I found this on Pinterest

I had an "awww" moment as I remembered how my childhood dogs were like this; such loyal creatures.

Then I asked Wolfgang for the 20 billionth time if we can have a dog. Someday I'll break him.

Winter swimming

A couple of days ago while Wolfgang and I were swimming in the apartment pool before work, I was thinking to myself that I want to look for a steal of a deal on a new swim suit ( I really like getting new swim wear and this IS the time of the year to look, I've found).

Then it suddenly dawned on me; this isn't Hawaii, where I'm going to play on the beach any day I want, all year around.

Then I got kind of sad. Granted, this is Phoenix after all and it doesn't get deathly cold, but I'm pretty sure I won't be running around in a swim suit this December, like I'm use to.



Sometimes I wish I lived on the beach again.

New Boss.

I've always been a fan of "The Office" tv show. Here and there it's had its ups and downs, but over all it always has me laughing, or cringing (because of the awkward situations they do so well).

As some or many of you know, the "star" of the show, Steve Carell a.k.a. Michael Scott left the show last season. I honestly thought the show was going to take a nose dive and it wouldn't be as funny anymore.

Although I do miss seeing Steve on the show, I think Ed Helms', a.k.a. Andy Bernard, role is doing a great job, being the new boss and all.


After watching the last two episodes online last night, I couldn't help but think,

It would be pretty awesome to have Andy Bernard as a boss.


Not to mention, he is a pretty attractive man, if I do say so myself...

I had a hard time picking a picture...

...and he has a big smile and really nice teeth that sometimes I can't stop staring at when I'm watching the show.

Gotta have it. now.

For those of you who know me, {or follow my blog, or most likely both} you know that I can become easily obsessed with things, to the point that it is kind of ridiculous. For the most part, it's just for a short length of time, then I am over it for either forever, a few months, etc.

Remember how I've blogged about the No bake energy bites? I'm obsessed with them every time I make them: I am not to be trusted with them alone in our apartment- maybe that's why I always now just double the batch when I make them?

Other past obsessions have included Italian sodas, smoothies (currently), berries, Sierra Mist, Pizza, Scotty McCreery...etc.

So tonight my friends, I have a new obsession. Skype! Once upon a time I had Skype when I first went to college, to keep in touch with a guy friend who I secretly "loved." Now, 6 years later, I'm all over that technology. And let me tell you, it's pretty cool.

Today we sorta video chatted (he could see us, but he didn't have his webcam on) with Wolfgang's best friend from back home. It was flawless. Technology is truly amazing! So now I'm trying to convince my family and friends to get Skype, so I can chat and keep in touch.

Are you convinced to get a Skype account yet and chat with me? Let me know if you want my username :)

Miracle.

Two days ago, a miracle happened.

We arrived in Phoenix, and the weather was nice.

We came into our apartment, and we didn't even have to turn on the A/C! I opened up the blinds and the windows, and just let the beautiful weather do its thing; it was about 70-75 degrees.

We kept the a/c off and the windows open as we stayed at Wolfgang's work for two nights with his parents. There we were treated like VIPs by Wolfgang's co-workers: they really made it extra special for his parents; he is so lucky to work with some pretty great people.

This morning we came back to our apartment, and it still felt great, and it was only 70 degrees in out apartment- awesome!

I'm so excited that fall is giving us a sneak peek. Next week it's suppose to get back up to the triple digits, but hopefully not for too long.

The city that never sleeps.

Stage two of the trip with the in-laws: Vegas! Good ol' Vegas.

Got in yesterday afternoon, and spent some short but good time with grandpa, aunt, uncle, and cousin n' boyfriend.

Being a Marriott employee, benefit #234 is that you can get employee discount rates for hotels that aren't really Marriott hotels, like The Cosmopolitan. Therefore, that's where we stayed at for two nights.

Wolfgang has been wanting to stay here ever since it opened last year, but they are pretty (understandably) stingy about giving employee discounts, so needless to say, he was really excited to find some rates for when his parents were coming here.

So, would you like a cheesy video tour of our hotel room? Ok, if you insist.


(sorry, after two long tries, my video wouldn't upload...maybe I'll put it on youtube and share the link)

The weather here has been great, rainy but enjoyable. I think fall is finally here? I'll be the judge when we are in Phoenix.

Utah.

Thursday night Wolfgang's parents flew in from Austria. Friday morning we all caught a flight to Salt Lake City, to attend General Conference. It's been a great weekend to become spiritually uplifted, enjoy the beautiful weather, and to meet up with friends and family.

When you are a member of the LDS church, the world seems to become a lot smaller. I have never been to Conference without seeing at least a few people that I know from home, or more in particularly, from school in Idaho and Hawaii.

Yesterday I randomly came across a dear friend of mine from high school who was a foreign exchange student my senior year of high school. The last time I had seen him was when one of my best friends and I had said our excited, yet sad goodbyes to him, at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT. We knew that it could possibly be the last time we would ever see him again in this life, considering his home in Brazil wasn't exactly just around the corner to visit.

As we had a few minutes to say hello yesterday and to catch up, we realized the day we said our goodbyes, was around 5-6 years ago. Say whaaaat?? We couldn't believe it. Oh, how time flies.

The last two night one of my (2nd) cousins kindly let Wolfgang and I stay with her husband and adorable two boys. I couldn't believe how much the boys had grown! The oldest 3, and the other...probably about 1 1/2. The last time I had seen the youngest, we was only a few weeks old. They are both so precious and lively little boys.

It's been a good weekend, and tomorrow we continue our travels with the in-laws to southern Utah, then off to good ol' Vegas!