The Goal: to take and post at least one picture each day for the entire year that I'm 27.

I find that I rush through the day, to rush through the week, to get to the weekend...just to find that an entire year goes by in the blink of an eye. So, on the eve of my last day as a 26 year old I decided to make a change. I challenged myself to take the time each day and find at least one moment worth remembering, hoping that in this way I will learn to live each day for what it is. For regardless of how uniform the days may feel at a glace each one is truly unique and worth cherishing.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Day 68 - TV Night


Corey is back!!! Thursday tv night is back!!! And we're all excited about it!!!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Day 67 - Oh brother


This is my older brother Kipp (full name: Robert Kipp Covington Riehle) as painted by my sister Mykaela

Kipp is embarking on a scary and exciting adventure...
He is done being a personal banker (which he was great at but hated)
and is searching for something that will not only pay the bills but will actually make him happy!

 I was thinking: How sad is it that we spend the majority of our time at work...
and many of us don't even like what we do...who we do it with (or for),
and way too many of us don't get paid nearly what our precious time is worth.
That is the one aspect of my adult life that baffles me...that to have a family and a home I will have to work
the rest of my life...or at least until I'm 65-70 years old...spending 11+ hours a day (work & lunch + travel)
away from the home and family I am working to have and afford? Does that seem right?
Once I have the money to afford the things I want...I will no longer have to time to enjoy those things.

 So what's left? What can we do?
I guess find a job that is flexible and allows us to leave early and watch our kids soccer games...
A job that makes us feel good about who we are while helping us continue to develop and grow... 
A job that is worth the amount of time we dedicate to it...
A job that pays enough that we can afford to take a real vacation with our family...
and is reasonable enough that we actually can and will take said vacation...
A job that allows us to feel alive, instead of draining the life out of us...
A job that "doesn't even feel like a job" 

P.S. if you know of a job like this, please let Kipp and/or me know about it ; )



Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Day 66 - Yum!


Do you know what I did tonight instead of working out...
Yup, I ate the best brownie ever made...Steve, you in the kitchen is pure trouble!!!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Day 65 - A blank slate


Today I got my blank sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project
I am so excited to participate and become a "published" artist...
Although, whenever I start a project I do still get a little intimidated by the blank pages
Hopefully inspiration strikes soon because my deadline in this January 15th!!!

Oh, and in case you are wondering I selected the subject "Jackets, blankets, and sheets"

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Day 64 - Good Bye My Love!!!!


This is us leaving Maricopa on our day of many goodbyes...
We say good bye to Myk as she heads back to Cali
To my parents as they head off to visit grandma in Indiana for 2 weeks
And goodbye to the weekend...
We'll miss all of you!!!


Saturday, September 25, 2010

Day 63 - Big Ball'n; 27 & 2 months...



Today we listened to a little Jay-Z, lounged around the house and balled up a mini watermelon
It was a pretty nice little Saturday!

Also, today is offically the 2nd month of my blog and being 27....so here I am at 27 & 2 months


Thanks for taking the picture Steve!!!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Day 62 - TGIF!!!



   
Today was quite a day!
Going in reverse...I had dinner with my family- minus my brother Kipp (miss you Kippy)
 went shopping with my mom and sister...after playing dress up in my closet with them...
Had lunch with my friend Jacque (who just moved back to AZ)
...after having a quick Starbucks break with my mom and sister

And thinking past that to the beginning of the day is when I realized that today was actually Friday!
I woke up at 5am today...I went to work for 5 hours...had a big meeting with a client...
And then made the best decision of the day...
 by taking the rest of the day off work to hang out with my family and friends.

So really the only thing better about this day than the day itself was realizing that it all took place on a Friday
so I still have Saturday and Sunday to continue spending time with the people I love!
Why isn't every Friday a half day?!?!?!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Day 61 - Water spots


Ashby got us up at 4 am so she could go outside and get sick
I sat out back with her for half an hour and then hosed off the patio
When I took her back outside an hour later all the water had dried except one spot near the back door
The instant I saw it I though..."wow that looks just like a circus bear"
So I came in and told Steve I had to take a picture of a circus bear water spot

I think he thought I was nuts or delirious from being up so early
But see this is what I saw (except the image in my head is way better)...


As fun as it was to imagine fun scene from water spots...I hope I actually get to sleep tonight! 

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Day 60 - Meet me on the equinox



This is my little beep Ashby...and today I sang her a special song to celebrate the Equinox...

"Meet Me On The Equinox"
by Death Cab for Cutie



Meet me on the equinox
Meet me half way
When the sun is perched at it's highest peek
In the middle of the day
Let me give my love to you
Let me take your hand
As we walk in the dimming light
Or darling understand

That everything, everything ends
That everything, everything ends

Meet me on your best behavior
Meet me at your worst
For there will be no stone unturned
Or bubble left to burst
Let me lay beside you, Darling
Let me be your man
And let our bodies intertwine
But always understand
That everything, everything ends
That everything, everything ends
That everything, everything, everything ends

A window
An opened tomb
The sun crawls
Across your bedroom
A halo
A waiting room
Your last breaths
Moving through you
As everything, everything ends
As everything, everything ends
As everything, everything, everything
Everything, everything, everything ends
Meet me on the Equinox
Meet me half way
When the sun is perched at it's highest peek
In the middle of the day
Let me give my love to you
Let me take your hand
As we walk in the dimming light
Or darling understand
That everything, everything ends

Happy Equinox Everyone!!!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Day 59 - I give in...


Everyone I know is decorating for fall (yes, even Arizona people)
I just can't do it...It's 110 out people! I sweat while (slowly) walking my dogs at 5 in the morning!!!
And in case you are wondering...that is still 2 hours before the sun breaks over our very low mountains.

But we are more than half way through September...all of the falls shows are back on tv,
All of the schools have started back, and all of the stores are already starting to push Christmas stuff.
Not to mention I am very jealous of all the people who have already started to decorate.

So I broke down...I didn't fully decorate but I did allow for one fall rug in the kitchen.
I love this rug...it had been in 3 different homes with me and makes each kitchen I have so warm
and so festive during the fall...plus it is very velvety so it makes doing the dishes kind of nice too.
The rest of the fall decor is going to have to wait though...Please Arizona, cool down now!!!!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Day 58 - Play time


Wes has been begging us all night to play...I guess I'll indulge him : )

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Day 57 - Orange Sunrise


This was my drink of the day: A mock Mimosa...orange juice and sprite...
Just like Mim used to make us for Sunday brunch...which is very fitting for today because...

Today is my parent's 29th wedding anniversary...
And these crazy love birds got married at sunrise and had a brunch reception

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Day 56 - Madeleines


To day I made French madeleines with my new madelenie pan from Williams - Sonoma
I think I need to keep making them on a regular basis to perfect them...but the first try sure was tasty!
(also notice the large fan Steve put in the kitchen for me? Well it was 110 today and AC was not strong enough to power through the oven and stove on...Arizona in the fall...what a joke!)



The first step was to brown butter...a first for me...


...then I gathered the dry ingredients...


...zest a large lemon...



...then lots of careful mixing and folding...



...fill the trays...


...bake...


...powder with sugar & eat!!!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Day 55 - Hot nights, cool eats


To night we the fam - minus Myk :(
Went to Dana Park in Gilbert for Five Guy's burgers and Ocean Blue frozen yogurt
We ate both outside...and it was not cool out (regardless of what dad says)
But it was a really nice evening

 
A view of the shops from the fountain...and the fish fountain that looks like a bunny peeing from behind
(or at least that's what mom saw...but once she pointed it out I saw it too) 

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Day 54 - Shave and a hair cut - Two bits


   

Steve trimmed up his beard and cut his hair, then I tapered and cleaned up his neck
This is what we do about once a month for the past 6 years
I would say that these clippers have definitely paid for themselves!

Every time we do this little routine I think of two things...
# 1) the book "Sarah Plain and Tall" and how they cut their hair on the porch
and then scattered the cut  hair over the yard so that birds could use it for nest making
And # 2) the little rhyme my mom would sing to me when I was little...
"Shave and a hair cut - Two bits, Who's gonna cut it...

Mim what are the rest of the lyrics? 

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Day 53 - Oh Deer!

           


This is my long awaited deer head art...
It just came in tonight and Steve was sweet enough to put it up right away

And the box that the deer came in was just as exciting...



           


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Day 52 - Head to toes...or toes to head?


I have a friend's wedding coming up in early October and I can't figure out what to wear...
So far I have decided on these shoes...but, I don't have anything wedding appropriate to wear with them.
It's hard to tell in the pictures but they are chocolate sued, with matching chocolate crocodile straps
all dressed up in shinny gold trim and buckles.
Rich colors and a breezy cut - Now that is the essence of fall in Arizona!!!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Day 51 - A is for Autumn...and M is for Mim!

         


It's still over 100 degrees out but Autumn finally arrived...via Mim
Now I just hope that the weather takes a hint and cools down!!!