Friday, August 12, 2011

Friday Mishmash

File this under So Very Right:  My mom had her quarterly CT scan and bloodwork done this week, and got great news once again - no signs of the cancer returning! We like this, we really, really LIKE this!

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Roxie wanted to hear about my Day of Debauchery and Gluttony.  It wasn't that bad, but it certainly wasn't a diet day, either.  We started with Harvest Grain and Nut pancakes (or panqueques, as Jeff and I like to call them) at IHOP - this was brunch, as he had gotten up at 5:00 am to run while I slept in (hey, I have to get something out of not being able to run, right?!?).  YUM.  That is my one splurge on real butter and syrup.  I like to dab a little bit of butter on each bite of pancake, then dip into a puddle of syrup.  YUM.  Later that afternoon we were out running errands - it was so freaking hot that you could feel your skin burning during the walk from the car to the store (and yes, sunscreen was applied, Helen).  We stopped at the sno cone hut to rehydrate with a pina colada sno cone.  Hit the spot - there is nothing like an icy treat on a 105 degree day to make you feel human again!  Later that night, we went to BJ's Brewhouse (new to our town!) and I had their Italian Market salad - chopped goodness with fresh mozzarella, fontina cheese, salami, and olives (Carla!) - YUM.  That kind of day was most welcome, after my boring eats of Greek yogurt, granola, peaches, watermelon, eggs and PB&J sandwiches during the previous week.

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File this under So Very Wrong:
I have no words.

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OK, I've lived in Texas for nearly 19 years now, and I've acclimated to the heat.  I've grown to like it, actually.  I know, call me weird, but it's true...especially since I lost the weight and with it, my insulation.  I can take the heat.  For the most part.  But Jimmy the Cricket (as my son Sam used to say), it's been especially hot this summer, and well over 100 degrees for a month now.  Which wouldn't be so bad if it would just RAIN once in a while.  Come ON, already - this global warming/La Nina/whatever has got to stop!

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And now, it's time for a very special Fashion Friday!  Recently, Janell posted on her blog that she was starting a little business knitting cowls - well, she called them scowls, but she's funny that way.  I contacted her and placed an order - while I've tried to learn to knit, it just hasn't clicked (haha) in my brain.  And I appreciate the creativity that some people have, especially since art and colors and making something out of nothing is not my strong point.  But it certainly is Janell's!  I told her what colors I liked for the cowl, and she went to work.  Y'all.  I was stunned when I got it in the mail.  It is so gorgeous.  There is so much detail - she used all kinds of yarns, and varied the textures, and then she added beads - I was not expecting anything this amazing.  I love it, and while I've only been able to wear it for the photos for this post (please see above reference of 100 degree heat), I know that this will be wonderful to wear in the Fall (all two weeks of it) and Winter.

Pictures don't do it justice - I should have gone outside in natural light, but have I mentioned the heat?  Click them if you want to see it in more detail.
 Love how the lighter blues pop when worn with this color blouse!
 Click this picture to see the beads, and the different textures of the yarns...
Janell joked that she'd throw in some Bella fur (Bella is her adorable corgi) and of course I welcomed that!  Paco could not keep his nose out of the cowl - he was all over me, "meeting" Bella!  Click here to see when I got to meet Bella...and Janell, of course! :)

If you're interested in having Janell create a one-of-a-kind, gorgeous, hand-knit cowl for you, email her (pod1739@gmail.com) for pricing and details.  You won't be sorry.

Alright, hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Stay cool?  Hah!  Not likely, here in Texas.

23 comments:

  1. Well at first you got me excited and confused: Paco meeting Bella? Shelley and Paco are coming to Holland? It was disappointing to read it wasn't about my Bella LOL.

    I love it. I do know how to knit and have done it in the past but now I just can't seem to find the patient for it anymore. Same with sewing, I used to make a lot of clothes myself but now I've lost interest in it. I still cross-stitch but even that I don't do much at the moment.

    Question for you as an experienced swimmer: can you get sore in your boobs from swimming :) Man my right boob is so sore since Tuesday.

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  2. OMG OMG YAY!!
    so so happy about your moms news.

    and a close second is the bacon syrup.
    How had this woman, whose fridge is filled with that syrup!, missed the bacon flave??

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  3. I am sending you lots and lots of genuine, hand-crafted Pacific NorthWest cool weather, complete with lower temperatures and cloudy skies.

    It'll get there any day now.
    Well, maybe any week now.
    Definitely every month now.

    The thing to do is remember that it's on its way.

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  4. Such wonderful news about your mom! Yay!

    The bacon syrup thing - it should be maple bacon syrup. That would be awesome...

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  5. Yay for your mom - what a relief that must be.

    The cowl is beautiful - the colors look great on you.

    I have to say I love your hair. Can I ask what products you use to make it so beautifully wavy without being frizzy? I used to have straight hair until a few years ago when it became wavy/curly, and I have no idea what to do with it!

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  6. I like to eat bacon with my panqueques so I'm sure I wouldn't mind bacon syrup at all. And how much do I love the visual of you dabbing and dipping?!!!!! Seriously if something is a treat like that it should be a bit decadent.

    Tell Jeff not to be jealous but as I ran this morning - 62 degrees NOT humid for a change - I thought of him. Tell him to bring you here for a visit and he too can experience this joy!

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  7. I love the dog bone "bead" on your scowl!!

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  8. I like bacon with pancakes, but your right, that's just wrong!

    The Heat has been unbearable! My gym membership just ran out...boo. Deciding if I am going to re-up. Walking outside this morning. We'll see how it goes.

    Love the scowl. And have I mentioned I love your hair long and curly??

    Stay cool~

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  9. So glad to hear about your momma! And I'm glad you had a nice day of splurgin' :)

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  10. Excellent news about your Mom!! Hooray!

    I'm not really sure what to think about the Bacon syrup. I think, just maybe, the bacon fad has run its course. I love bacon as much as the next person but sheesh.

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  11. I am thrilled to hear about your mom's news. That was such a scary time. She really bounced back fast!

    Your cowl is gorgeous. Love the colors and bead. It looks great on you. Don't you just love people who can make things? I'm always amazed. Like those guys who paint on the streets. I just have to stop and watch. :)

    Have a great weekend. Expect an email from me tomorrow after the first run club group run. Doesn't help that I got my "visitor" today. Friggin great. But I'm still excited.

    PS: Loving the way your hair looks.

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  12. That is great news about your mom!

    It was good that you shared your day of Debauchery etc, because our days of decadence are so much different than they were pre-weight loss, don't you think? I mean, pre-weight loss, I used to get french toast, and I would spread THAT WHOLE GLOB of butter all over the french toast before I ate it.

    The cowl is beautiful. On my computer it looks very dark in the pictures of you wearing it, and quite light in the pictures by itself. Its pretty both ways.

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  13. Great news for your MOM.

    I think a little bit of un-diet food makes the healthy food taste better the next day.

    :-) Marion

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  14. Such a great blog post! I am going to get some bacon syrup and drink it with a shot of tequila. I will call it a Porkuila or PorkyPigquila or Pigquila or Piggarita or Porkarita or Baconrita or Bacoquila.

    and that cowl is fabulous and looks fantastic on you and I love the skull and cross-bone too. I love using things that I found - especially things that I remember the exact moment I found them because it's so rare that I remember much these days after drinking piggaritas.

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  15. Love the scarf!!! Gorgeous! The colors are awesome. I can't knit for anything! And I think about you every night when the weatherman points to Texas and says "34 days of 100 degree heat!" I couldn't take it!! One day this week I rode my bike to work and it was 66 degrees and I was in heaven! Have a great weekend

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  16. And I forgot to add what great news about your Mom!! That is so good!

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  17. Awesome news about your Mom! And the scowl is gorgeous!

    Hmmm, what would I use that bacon flavoring for? I bet I could figure out something.

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  18. The cowl is gorgeous, but I got so hot for you just seeing you in it. It is finally a bit better today and I even ran outside. We had some of your heat for a period and it was just miserable; it's amazing that y'all deal with it for so long.

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  19. BIGGEST YAY EVER for your Mom's CT results!!!!!!!! Bacon syrup??? SO wrong! The cowl? So right!!! Really nice. And Paco? SOOO cute! Even with his face in your cowl! (is it me, or did that just sound inappropriate?? Probably just me...I hang my head!) Have a great weekend Shelley!!!!

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  20. I love reading your blog! It looks like you have an amazing support network here. Congrats on all of your success!.... p.s. this is a great post! Your pup is too cute!

    Cheers.
    http://pudgydyke.blogspot.com

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  21. You are looking gorgeous in that! :D

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  22. Hi Shelley, I just found your blog. I'm ALWAYS looking around to see how other folks are doing what we're doing. I'm enjoying your posts. Congrats on the progress you've made.
    BTW: Love the bike!

    Werner
    http://www.natural-weightloss-blog.com/

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  23. LOL at the bacon syrup. On the other hand, I had a cucumber martini and LOVED it, so maybe different foodstuffs in our drinks isn't all wrong. :)

    I am sorry it's been so hot down there; maybe you could send about 10 degrees up to us? Then we would all be happier!

    That cowl is so lovely. Lucky you!

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