Home Update

Updated a few things around the house.  I added a few new things, namely this cute inexpensive rug from  West Elm.  We were also in Little Italy in San Diego recently eating some delicious food and shopping in some cute home furnishing stores.  We stopped into Mixture, and found some cute pieces.  I love them.  And with the new rug, our room feels lighter and bigger.

 Our Living Area

 I moved this from my bedroom to the living room.  Now we have a place to hide our remotes.  Yesssss.

 From Mixture

 The rug from West Elm

 From Mixture

 I've been wanting to buy a cute occasional table to put between these two chairs, but I thought these books will do for now.  Try it in your home.

These are my next purchase.  Thoughts?

 This coffee table?

Or this coffee table...to go with...

this media stand?

Suggestions are happily welcomed.

Pure Pain

My friend Kelly invited me to start taking some workout classes with her at this new studio called Pure Barre (it's a franchise, so look it up to see if there's one in your area).  Let me tell you, it's a painful but rewarding workout.  They use only a few pieces of equipment, a small ball, hand weights, a rubber tube and a ballet bar.  I've only been to two classes, and they focus a lot on your core and your "seat" (they use this work instead of bum).  You make these tiny little movements, and isometric holds, and you wouldn't think they would kill you, but your body is on fire during the class.  I find myself having to close my eyes to get through the pain.

I'm excited to keep going and see the improvements in my body and also in my running.  Kelly said this is what helped her get rid of her IT Band Syndrome, so I'm excited to see if it will help mine.  I'm feelin' the burn!

A Tip From My Favorite Show.

Birch Box

So...got my box in the mail, and I was super excited to open it when I got home.  I opened it and these are the samples I found.

I received:
-Leave-in Conditioner
-Foot Cream (2)
-Mineral Hand Cream
-Make-up Primer
-Skin Serum

I was/am pretty disappointed with what $10 got me.  Granted it is only $10, but I was under the impression these were going to be "generously sized" samples (as claimed on their website).  So needless to say I cancelled it.  It is a nice service they provide, I just think that if I were to continue to purchase a monthly $10 box with small samples, at the very least I'd like to be able to pick out which samples I'd like to try.  I hope I didn't get any of my readers involved in something they wish they hadn't, so if you did I'm very sorry (I guess I should have listened to my gut in not posting about the box before I had received it myself, bad Cait).  I thought it was going to be better products and bigger sizes.  I haven't tried any of the products, but if they're worth mentioning and giving a good review, I will.  Very disappointed...

Book Review...

I've been trying to be more productive with my time lately, and that has included a lot of reading.  I mentioned here that I was able to read Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Reselience and Redemption.  And that was one of the most powerful stories I've ever read.  I normally don't read too many biographies, but it's gotten such great reviews so I decided I had to read it.  I gasped, cried and was shocked through a lot of it, and couldn't help but share the stories with my husband and family.  It's eye opening to see the danger that our American soldiers were put in, and the horrific conditions they were placed in under the Japanese as POWs.  If you enjoy history, or even an just want to read about the amazing survival story of a great man, you must read this!

I then read Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah.  This was a memoir about a young Chinese girl (Adeline) that was born and raised in China.  It wasn't a particularly happy story, but Adeline had (and still has) a strong character and was determined to prove herself, unfortunately it was directed toward a family that didn't love her, but she achieved so much without the love and support of her family.  This story took place in the early 40's in China, so I enjoyed learning more about the modern history of China.  Good story.

The most recent book I read was Sarah's Key.  I've been on a World War II kick lately.  I also really enjoyed this book.  I learned more about the French Jews and the how the French participated in exterminating the Jewish population in France.  I had no idea that this even occurred, and from the story (fiction) it seems that not many French citizens knew about it either.  This was an easy read, and I didn't  love the side story going on, but I liked the historical background.  I would recommend this for anyone wanting a good quick read, but a good story.

If you've already read some of these books, let me know what you think!  Or if you end up reading one I'd like to hear how you enjoyed it. 

Now I'm between two books, Moloka'i by Alan Brennert.  Moloka'i is about the leper colony in Hawai'i during the early 20th century.  The other book is My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira, this is about a midwife during the American Civil War.  I'll give a review on both of these when I'm done.  Happy reading!  

Evolution

Here's the progression of my weekend project.  It's taking good shape, but I want a lot more wire wrapped around it, to give it a "nest" look.  I've purchased most of the items needed to finish it up, so hopefully I'll be showing you the finished product soon.  I've already gone through 300 ft of wire.  Isn't that crazy?  I've cut the cuts and scrapes to prove it.

 See that extra wire on the ground?  Yeah, it was like working with a large Slinky that would get wrapped around it's self over, and over, and over again.  Argh.

 This definitely needs to be rounded out some more, but you get the idea.

To be continued...

She's Amazing!

See that beauty in the center?  I blogged about her here and she just completed the St. George, UT marathon last week.  I just wanted to say how proud I am of her!  She completed the race at 3:39!  Can you believe that?  She took 5th in her division AND the best part is she qualified for the Boston Marathon!  Seriously!  Boston Marathon.  I'm so proud of her.  I still can't get over the fact that she's only been running for 3 years now!  She's a power house athlete and a wonderful wife, daughter and mother.  SO So Proud!  Great job Kelly!

Now if only these legs can get past the 5 mile marker again.   They've got a long way to go, but they're trying!

Fall decor and Fall Weather

I don't decorate for fall too much around the house, because it's just Ryan and I and we don't have babies around that get excited by looking at Halloween decorations.  And, to be honest, I only like Halloween decorations for Halloween parties, and then I can get crazy on the decorations.  But I put up some fall decor a few weeks ago to get us into the new season.  And finally the weather decided to cooperate as well.  We have lots of rain this week!  I love wearing scarves and warm sweaters, and boots.  (Side note: I thought it was getting cold enough to wear a jacket and scarf this weekend, so I threw them both on Saturday night.  Ryan and I went out for a bite to eat and I walk in to the restaurant seeing girls in tank tops.  They probably thought I was cuckoo.  I always feel silly when that happens.  No, I'm not actually cold, I'm just trying to imagine it's fall in Orange County, ok?)  Here are some things around the house.  Happy Fall!

Now, I'm off to make more pumpkin bread.