Hey there, how’s it goin’?

It’s Saturday, around 1 PM, and I’m just gearing up for the “Gipsy Kings” concert tonight!!!!!!  I think it’s probably pretty easy to tell how excited I am.  If you walk in the house, you’ll see a freshly cleaned cooler, a bag full of cups, plates, chips, paper towels, my cowboy hat and my Crazy Creek chair all ready and sitting on the fireplace.  Open up the fridge and you’ll find apples soaking in wine for my sangria, fresh salsa, guacamole and something called muffaletta on a stick (1)pepperoncini peppers, 2)turkey, provolone and Genoa salami rolled up, 3)pimento stuffed olives, 4)roasted red peppers on a skewer (covered with Italian seasoning and oil and vinegar dressing).  I haven’t tried that last appetizer before, so we’ll see how it turns out!  I hope it’s good ’cause it was easy to make, but it looks complicated and impressive (at least I think so anyway!).

We started off the weekend celebrating at a promotion ceremony for Laura.  Congratulations, Laura!!!  I’m so proud of you.  You deserve to be recognized, and I’m so happy we were there with you.  Tonight we can REALLY party! 

The rest of my week was fruitful.  I ran many errands, worked on my photos, did some necessary paperwork, had the car washed.  I’m ashamed to say I didn’t really do any exercise except for playing frisbee and ball with the pups.  We went on one walk after dinner.  I just don’t want to be outside in the middle of the day walking and biking because it’s so nasty hot out there, and it seems we’ve had lots of storms at night.  I know I need to get up early and do it.  I think I’ll feel a lot healthier if I do.

I visited Chuck, my friend and former trainer, this week.  The last time I saw him, he was playing Wii in my hospital room!  He said I look healthy, and he doesn’t think the extra weight looks bad at all…always good to hear!  I know I need to start working out on a schedule…yoga, walking, biking, lifting some light weights.  It’s just a matter of making the time to do it.  You’d think I have all the time in the world, but it’s a matter of creating a schedule I know I’ll follow.  I feel pretty silly considering I know a regular work-out will make me feel good, both physically and emotionally, yet it’s been months and I still don’t have a routine.  Does everyone fall into this rut?  Is it even a rut or just laziness?  I’ve definitely realized that I’m motivated by work-out buddies.  A home gym would never work for me!  So if anyone ever wants to walk, do a work-out video, bike, lift some weights at home (I’m not about to head into a nasty, dirty gym yet), just let me know!

Another thing that makes me feel good about myself is makeup.  I think you know that already, considering all the whining I’ve done on this blog.  :)  I may not have the shaped brows yet, but I started wearing makeup on special occasions.  I notice such a difference in how I feel about myself!  I remember a girl who worked with me at the florist once implied that I wore too much makeup…so, here’s the thing:  I don’t care what she or anyone else thinks!  It’s about me!  It makes me feel good.  Same goes for perfume.  Even when I’m not going anywhere, I put on perfume because it makes me happy to smell nice.  Even if I shower right before bed, I’ll spritz some on.  I’m still looking forward to the days when I have my nice brows and a non-hairy face.  I’ll wear my makeup every day, I’ll spray a little perfume, and I’ll be ready to rejoin the ranks of the typical thirty-somethings.

Originally I always wanted to look pretty for others.  I mean, how else will I get that hot, hilarious, thoughtful guy to notice me?  :)  Once I got sick, I realized it was more important to do for myself.  Remember how I curled my hair everyday in the hospital last year?  I had my perfume and lotion with me then too.  I don’t consider myself high maintenance at all, but these little things can do such magic for self esteem.

I plan on wearing my makeup and perfume tonight (and I’ll throw a little bug spray in the mix too!).  Laura and I made the “Gipsy Kings” a tradition, and last year I couldn’t go to the concert (damn that cancer—it really is inconvenient).  If you remember, she and her friend Lisa sold their tickets because they said they wouldn’t go without me.  This year, I’m back and I’m ready to dance, eat, drink and be merry!  It will really be a special night for me, and I look forward to telling you all about it in the next post.  Of course, there’ll be pictures as well!!

Speaking of pictures, I hope you enjoy the ones I have to share with you today.  I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend!!  Have you been out catching fireflies yet?

Lots of love,

Julie