Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE to getaway. Travel is one of my passions - going to new places, exploring cities and digging my toes in sands from various places. In light of that, here is today's Top 10:
Top Ten Getaways
Where do you like to "getaway"? It could be a log cabin in the woods. It could be to the town next to yours. It could be a place you've never been before but is on your "bucket list". Here are my Top 10 of places I have been (in no particular order):
San Francisco and Napa/Sonoma Wine Country
Disney World
Aruba
New York City
Nashville, TN
Anywhere the cruise ship takes me!
Southern California (too many individual cities to mention)
Carolina Beaches (North & South!)
Florida (pretty much anywhere here!)
American History Cities: Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
Have you figured out yours yet? Even if you can't think of 10, that's okay... list as many as you can. Once you're done, be sure to come back to link your post below so I can come visit!
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I can't believe an entire week has gone by since my last post. Where has the time gone? It seems that life has gone into high speed around here but I will try as best I can to continue posting as time allows. I'm a day late for this week's Simple Woman's Daybook, but here is this week's, nonetheless:
On this Tuesday, February 21, 2012...
Outside my windowit is a gray day... no snow again as it all melted from the few centimeters we got Saturday.
I am thinking about my Sister-in-Law today as she celebrates her birthday! Happy Birthday Marlene!!
I am thankful that even as life doesn't go as we'd like, He is STILL in control.
In the kitchen I can hear the clock ticking as I sip the last of my morning tea
I am wearing my black yoga pants, long sleeve tee and green Izod zip-up fleece sweater (yep... my daily "uniform" it seems)
I am creating a baby blue blanket for... someone (not sure who yet)... although it pains me to say (pun intended)... that knitting throws my shoulders/neck/back out a bit so it is SLOW GOING
I am going to work out this afternoon... only a few days left before bathing suit time!
Music in my heart today is Our God by Chris Tomlin. This song is a great reminder that God is above and beyond all the trials and tribulations that come against us. Our God is GREATER and STRONGER! He is HEALER, AWESOME IN POWER. He is OUR GOD!!
I am wonderingwhat all I still need to pick up in preparation for our upcoming trip
I am praying for my friends who are dealing with a VERY heart-wrenching situation due to complications in their pregnancy.
Fav blog post this past week is from one of my favorite online Mommy friends I've met (through another online friend), Lindsy. Lindsy is the Mommy to 2 precious little girls and is expecting her 3rd little one this year. Her post this Valentine's Day week was so precious that it was indeed my favorite post!
I am hoping for good weather Friday as I go cross-border shopping with one of my girlfriends
I am looking forward to having Hubby all to myself soon!!
I am learning ... or rather being reminded that joy and anguish can co-exist, anguish can be traded for joy, and anguish can totally be replaced with joy... thanks to Beth Moore in Session 3 of "James"
It's a quiet week in my little Nest as Hubby is off and running again for a few days. Yesterday I didn't do a whole lot. I worked on my Beth Moore "James" homework (getting ahead a bit as we start the study this week at Abide), did some knitting and worked out while watching reality tv last night. I have gotten back to calorie counting and it really does make a difference. Already this week I've lost 2-3 lbs, meaning I'm only 2-1/2 pounds from where I started pre-November vacation. Part of that loss has to do with upping my workout regime in addition to the calorie counting. I'm trying to do both my 30 Day Shred and a pre-program on my treadmill on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and then walking on the treadmill the other days (as my body feels able). The M,W,F workouts end up burning around 400+ calories which is great. It allows me to enjoy a glass of wine some evenings ;-)
So, yesterday as I was making my oh-so-healthy lunch of a large green salad, I brainstormed about what this week's Tuesday's Top 10 should be. Here's what I came up with:
Top 10 Items on Weekly (Bi-weekly) Grocery List
Here is my list this week (in no particular order):
Soy Milk (for Hubby)
Yoptimal yogurt (particularly love the raspberry/cranberry and mandarin/something flavors)
Bread (for Hubby's daily PB sandwiches for work)
1% Natrel Milk (for moi... I need the fine filtered because I don't drink it super fast)
Bran Bars (for Hubby's lunch)
Red/Green Peppers
Cheese (usually shredded... Hubby is a cheese-a-holic)
What are the staples on your weekly list? If you want to play along with Tuesday's Top 10, list your Top 10 on your blog and then come back and link your blog below. I'll be sure to pop by & check out your list this week!
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It's Monday and that means time for this week's Daybook entry:
On this Monday, February 6, 2012...
Outside my windowit looks like Spring with green grass once again and beautiful sunshine!
I am thinking that I'm shocked that we're already done our first month of 2012. February... already? Really??
I am thankful that God's promises are true and His peace and comfort are real
In the kitchen I am still enjoying my new Norwex enviro cloth
I am wearing my black yoga pants, white 3/4 sleeve tee and green Izod zip-up fleece sweater
I am creating a baby blue blanket for... someone (not sure who yet)
I am going to work out tonight ... gotta get in bathing suit shape SOON!
Music in my heart today is Walk By Faith by Jeremy Camp. As I think of what my friend this week, I remember the deep pain I felt years ago and this song became a "mantra" for me to survive
I am wonderingwhat I'll end up picking up at my niece's Norwex party this week (to add to my new collection of cleaning products)
I am praying for my friends who are dealing with a VERY heart-wrenching situation
Fav blog post this past week is from a very comical writer whose blog I often read, mostly about pop culture. I chose this particular post as she writes about a new movie I am dying to see (and Hubby just bought me the book that inspired the movie which I'll read on vacation!) The blog is ihategreenbeans by the very talented Lincee. She'll have you giggling in no time!
I am hoping to get better at my counting calories again and lose weight before Hubby and I get away soon
I am looking forward to having Hubby all to myself soon!!
I am learning to pray without ceasing
My favorite find this week is this cool birthday balloon wreath:
Around the house I am pulling out warm weather things
I am pondering how Hubby's day is going at work
A favorite quote for today comes from John Piper
Joy in affliction is rooted in the hope of resurrection,
but our experience of suffering also deepens the root of that hope
One of my favorite things is hearing testimony of how one of our bible studies at Abide has changed the lives of women
A few plans for the week
prep for Abide
Norwex Party at my niece's
hopefully a hair cut
exercising
A peek into my life
Part of my workout regime
That's it for my Daybook this week. Tomorrow I should be back for Tuesday's Top 10 where this week's question is... Top 10 Items On Your Grocery List
I got up late this morning after a VERY latenight last night. After chatting with Hubby for an hour, I ended up NOT walking on the treadmill like I'd hoped, but instead I chose to finish off the Abide lesson for this week. In hindsight, I'm not sure it was the best move as I woke up this morning feeling a heavy head (perhaps from sinus pressure) and a headache... and sore eyes from staring that this silly screen for a good chunk of hours!
So, this morning, after a slow start, I got out to Best Buy to pick up a new waterproof camera that was on sale for $110 off the price! With an upcoming trip to some of the world's most beautiful beaches, we figured we'd invest in an underwater camera instead of depending on those crappy little throw-away ones. Here's what I picked up:
I ended up with the bright blue one, although I would have preferred the orange one but they never seem to have those here in our Best Buys in Canada. We'll still need to take our good camera with us for indoor shots, but this little wonder will fit in Hubby's bathing suit trunks' pocket so we don't have to worry about it being stolen from our beach bag on shore when we're both in the water together!
So... that got me thinking after a little birdie reminded me it was Tuesday and time for...
This week's topic is
Your Top 10 Places To Shop
Here are my answers (in no particular order)
Best Buy/Future Shop
Bed, Bath and Beyond
Bath and Body Works
Kohl's
Amazon/Kindle Store
Prime Outlet Malls/Tangier Outlet Malls, etc
Michael's
Izod @ outlet malls
iTunes
Walmart
How 'bout you? Wanna play my new Tuesday meme? Click on the link above for the rules and play along. Remember to link back here with the Mr. Linky below so I can come visit your site to read about your Top Ten for this week!
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I'll be back later with my next Joy Dare challenge results!
Last night, while Hubby was out to dinner with one of the nephews, I ate my dinner in front of the t.v. watching the previous evening's Pan Am on the PVR. I confess that I had an inkling from the start that this show was not going to be winning any grand awards, but it started off tame enough, all about the lives of Pan Am flight crews, particularly the "stewardesses" of the 1960s - back when flight attendants had to be female and single. Anyhoo... I watched as the show progressed. One of the pilots, having dated his beau of all about 2 weeks, proposed to her to which she said "yes" and then promptly made out with one of the pilot's female co-workers. Seriously? Where did THAT come from?? So... there is yet another tv show I will be discontinuing as I am growing ever weary of these storylines where everyone is bi-sexual and making out with the same sex. Yes... I know that happens in "real life", but I still don't want to watch it, thank you very much Mr. TV Producer! Sheesh!
So... this caused me to think back to the TV shows I do love, or have loved in the past and that's where we're going in today's Tuesday's Top 10:
Top 10 TV Shows (past or present)
Again, in no particular order, here are my answers:
Gilmore Girls
The Mentalist
Survivor
Amazing Race
Little House on the Prairie
Pushing Daisies
Eli Stone
The Brady Bunch
Bewitched
Parenthood
If you want to play along with this week's Tuesday's Top 10, feel free to copy the TT10 logo above and make your own list of your top 10 favorites. Once you've got them on your blog, link up using the Mr. Linky below and see who else is playing along!
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Outside my window... there is a light blanket of snow in my backyard, with footprints from the (annoying) fat squirrels that are hopefully gone to hibernate for awhile! (Darn things dug up all my Spring bulbs in November - Grrr)
I am thinking... that I might become a tad obsessed with Pinterest now that I joined
I am thankful for...Ann Voskamp, bringing the Joy Dare to my life, causing me to focus on thankfulness each day!
I am wearing... sweatpants, 3/4 length sleeve white t-shirt, slippers
I am remembering... what a great evening we had Sat night with my BFF and her family!
I am going... to write the next chapter recap for Abide once I finish blogging
I am reading... Julie Andrews' biography with my Hubby, amongst other things. On the one hour drive to and from my BFF's Sat night, I continued reading to Hubby while he drove.
I am hearing...nothing but the taping of my laptop keys and the hum of the house appliances
I am hoping...to concentrate on the task at hand - prepping for Abide.
I need... to get back into a regular workout schedule - I feel SO much better when I get moving!
On my mind... my Sweet StepMom, "G" who has her birthday today! So glad she and Dad are reunited from their time apart while he was stuck here in Canada and she in the States over the Fall.
From the learning rooms...God is in nature and through nature He teaches us about Himself and how to trust and worship Him.
Noticing that...it's already Monday afternoon - Yikes! Where did THAT morning go?
Pondering these words... "A body in motion, stays in motion. A body at rest, stays at rest"
From the kitchen... I can smell the sweet scent of my candle burning on the electric burning plate (no flames for me!)
I am creating...another couple of baby blankets although I haven't touched them in weeks
Around the house... on the coffee table is our brand new photo book I created for Hubby from our last cruise.
One of my favorite things... seeing the look of joy on my Goddaughter's face Sat night when she opened her gift - her own Cabbage Patch doll
A few plans for the rest of the week... Abide... cleaning the house, laundry, bank for Hubby
I was in the kitchen about an hour ago, thinking about making dinner with the frozen leftover turkey from Christmas dinner, when I found an app for my iPad from one of my favorite recipe sites. All-recipes is a great site where I found the delicious turkey pot pie recipe I used to finish up some of the leftovers. As I was downloading the app, I thought to myself, 'what would I think are my top 10 apps' which then made me think... Hmm... I should start a new meme of Tuesday's Top 10, listing every week a topic and get my friends and followers to join in making their lists of their top 10 in that category. Wanna play along?
I will (try my best) to post the category each Monday, and then on Tuesdays you can post your Top 10 list on your blog. It may take a week to get things going (like the mr linky thing, etc), but for this week here we go:
iPad/iPhone/Smartphone Apps
My top 10 apps on my iPhone and iPad are (in no particular order):
Facebook/Twitter - even though they're 2 separate apps, to me they go together like PB&J
Kindle/Kobo - again, these 2 go hand in hand for all my book reading needs!
YouVersion Bible app - who needs to lug around a hard copy of God's Word. It's at the fingertips now!
InTouch app - one of my favorite preacher's devotionals are easily accesible in my phone/iPad now!
Grocery IQ - no longer do I need to scribble down a shopping list (and then try to find it in my mess of a purse) - I just wander around the store with my phone in hand, ticking off the items as I put them in my shopping cart. Warning though... don't lay your phone down and forget that you've done so. Small heart attacks can be had from fear of losing your phone!
MyFitnessPal - this little nugget of an app helped me hugely in tracking my calories during my weight loss last year. I am starting to track again as I find that our cruise/Christmas threw me off the bandwagon and I'm struggling to get my eating wisely back on board.
Real Suduko - this crazy numbers game is one of the most challenging I've played. It really taxes the brain (in a good way), although I'm pretty sure there will be no Suduko in heaven (if you get my drift)
TV Manager - our local cable company just came out with this app that allows me to set our PVR from anywhere which is great when we're away to be able to make sure our favorite shows are recording at home!
United Airlines - this airline app is super cool in that it tracks where the flight is during the flight. I find this particularly helpful when Hubby is off on his business flights - I can track his progress to know his flight is in the air (and where).
Lastly, my newest favorite app - All Recipes - lots of great and easy recipes and the "pro" app (only $4.99) allows you to keep a recipe box so all your favorite recipes are only a quick swipe away. Makes using your iPad as a cookbook super easy and efficient!
So... that's my Top 10 favorite apps... what are yours?
