iPhone...

This is the first post from my new iPhone! Woot! I'm so amused that I'm posting from our couch. Though I haven't figured out how to include photos.

Big news - I got a new job! Same company, new position. Movin on up. I decided that an iPhone would be the perfect congratulatory gift to myself. I love it already... in a very unhealthy way.

Monster Monday...

So, I missed the Monster Monday post last week and no one even called me out on it! Didn't you miss having Chloe's adorable face to brighten your Monday morning? Here she is on a walk. There's nothing that she loves more than going for walks. Except maybe sticks. And her soccer ball. And fridge packs. Actually, she has a love/hate relationship with the fridge packs.

Chillaxing...

I spent most of today just relaxing on my lounger, enjoying the late summer sunshine on our deck, and reading. It was bliss. Sometimes it's nice to have a day to do absolutely nothing. Chloe agrees...

Adventures in Dogsitting...

My Mom agreed to dogsit for a friend while his family was on vacation. This meant that their two chocolate labs came to stay at my parents... joining their two pugs and subjecting them to my camera. Chaos...

Sushi masters...

Today was my belated birthday. For my real birthday back in June, Kev surprised me with a Sushi Workshop at a local culinary school. What a GREAT idea. Big props to Kev. The first open class was today. I was a little intimidated... my talent in the kitchen is admittedly limited. But the thought of being able to make my own sushi was enticing. The class was so much FUN! The instructor was great at explaining and demonstrating how things are done... even a cooking novice like myself could catch on. And I can honestly say that this is something that we'll definitely try on our own. We came into the room to Miso Soup and Salt and Pepper Edamame and after snacking a bit we started the workshop. We learned how to make Cucumber Rolls, Spicy Tuna Rolls, California Rolls and Hand Rolls. And we ended the workshop by all sitting at an adorably set up table to enjoy our very own sushi and some sake. Good times!

The Viking Cooking School has schools in several different states.... I recommend this class if there's a location near you! And I only have two photos from my point&shoot... I got way too caught up in the sushi-making and completely forgot about my camera.

Wasting time before class started...

and a kind-of-hard-to-see view of the classroom...

Rough day...

This is a scene that I've grown accustomed to... Sleeping husband. Half full bottle of beer. Both still upright. Ha! I can't tell you how many times he's fallen asleep like this and we have yet to have a beer casualty. Talent, I tell ya...

Monster Monday...

I've decided to institute a new blog segment called Monster Monday. I'll {try to} share a few photos of Chloe and her antics every Monday. After all, what better way to begin the work week than with a dose of the Chloemonster? It makes me happy just thinking about it. This doesn't mean that I won't share photos of Chloe on other days of the week as well... as we all know that I don't have too many willing photo subjects and she is easily bribed.

Chloe, doing her best imitation of Edith Ann; Lily Tomlin's character from back in the Laugh-In days...

Remember this? Or am I the only old one here?

Looking quite regal. Or scared to move. You decide...

View from our front porch...

Seeing this out our front windows made a rainy day so much more bearable...

Just because...

He makes me smile. Big. Goofy. Smiles. He calls it my 'Joker smile.' It can be brought on my many things, like when he brings me sunflowers and a bottle of Malbec for no reason at all. Just because he was thinking of me on the way home from work. Just because he knows that sunflowers remind me of way back when we first started dating and he showed up at my door with flowers for the first time. Just because it's Wednesday. Just because...

Monster shots...

I thought I'd share some photos of the Chloemonster since I haven't posted much about her recently. She's still getting her fair share of camera time...

And this last one is technically a disaster but it makes me laugh so I'll post it anyway. This is Chloe, mid-bark/bounce. Note that she can not do one without the other. She's funny, that one...

CDs...

My parents got us a printer for Christmas that allows you to print directly onto a CD. Pretty cool. And so much easier than those labels that you stick to the CD. It's an Epson RX680. Here is my first attempt. Far from perfect but still cute, I think...