North To Alaska

Hello Friends-

This summer is just slipping by with very few blog posts. It seems we have been so busy working on the house and the yard, with our jobs, and with running. We have been spending time exercising here at Chez MonkeyPosh because this Winter was murder on our weight. With all the snow and cold, I became quite lethargic--UGH. I am trying my hardest to get in shape--and much to my chargrin, this takes a lot of time. I have been running a lot in the neighborhood and going to the gym and taking various fitness classes. It is hard work, but well worth it. I want to be back at my fighting weight by the end of July.

We are off to Alaska early in the morning for a few days. I am excited to see the rugged beauty and to eat tons of salmon. I will post pictures upon returning home.

Have a wonderful week.

(photo from Away.com)

Tagged by Beckie!

Hello Folks!
The lovely, informative, dog loving Beckie over at Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog has tagged me to answer 6 questions in a game of tag that is sweeping the blogging community. I love a good survey--so let the games begin.

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
In June of 1998, we had just moved to a new city and into a new home, so I am sure I was busy cleaning and sorting and setting up my house.

2. What are 5 things on your to-do list today?
*Call the carpet installer to come measure our rooms.

* Run at least 2 miles

*Go to the grocery store to look for Otis Spunkmeyer muffins for my girl Stephanie.

*Clean my kitchen (including cleaning out the fridge-UGH)

*Watch the season finale of Top Chef--lame I know, but I love that show!

3. What are some snacks I enjoy?
Oh I love marscarpone cheese on crackers. I love turtle brownies, pieces of ham wrapped around carrots (for a low carb snack), twix bars, granola bars, ETC.

4. People I want to know more about?
OUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. And all the other people who make all the governmental decisons that have an impact on my life. I also want to know more about people who have followed their passion and made their dreams come true, and brilliant ,funny people.

5. Places I have lived?
Germany, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Arizona

6. Things I would do if I were a billionaire?
I would buy a swank apartment in the 16th arrondismont of Paris,
a flat in London, and an apartment in NYC. Then I would open a store in New York. I would travel the world. I would take care of all the people I truly care about. I would open an animal shelter and donate lots of money to animal charities. Oh and I would pay off all my bills TOTALLY.
Oh and I may also buy a cool apartment in Los Angeles or Monaco to stay in all winter.
Seriously I cannot even fathom that kind of money, so I do not know what I would do.

Ok--I am tagging my girl Christa at THE SWIRLS and the witty and charming
Jamie at PARALLEL FIRST .

Thanks for tagging me Beckie!
Lovely day to all.

Monday Love

Happy Monday!

It seems like forever since my last post--but I guess it has only been 9 days. That is almost forever in the blogging world. Time seems to be getting away from me lately. For some reason, we are just so busy. When the weather gets warm, the world moves fast.

In between the litany of menial chores I am inundated with , I have been occupying myself with some things I am loving lately.

First off -I am SO EXCITED that some of my favorite authors have new books out this summer.

I think David Sedaris is a genius and I liken myself to an aggressive Amway salesperson or creepy Landmark Forum convert when trying to push David's literature onto my friends. I want everyone I know to experience Sedaris. I want them to know the gift of his words. As I said, he is genius. I cannot relate to you, if you cannot relate to Sedaris. Period. My husband read about 20 pages of "Dress Your Family In Corduroy and Denim" then exclaimed--"I do not get it, this book is not funny." What? Who is this alien mutant I married? Needless to say, marriage counseling ensued. I guess you have to have a sense of humor to actually get humor. I was thrilled to find out David has a new book titled "When You Are Engulfed In Flames". I bought it on Friday and I have been laughing like a hyena ever since.

Ann Leary, who is the wife of comedian and actor Dennis Leary also has a new book out called "Out-takes From A Marriage". I bought this book on Friday too and I cannot wait to start it.
A few years ago I read Ann Leary's book titled " An Innocent A Broad". I loved it. It is a true story of how Ann went with Dennis on tour in Europe many years ago when she was pregnant with their first child. She went into pre-term labor while in Britian and had to stay in Europe for months in order to save her baby. They had no money, no family there, they were not familiar with Europe, they were young and scared. It is a great book.

I am also obsessed with this balsamic vinegar from Melina's. We ordered it from Modena, Italy. The selling points were that it was thick like honey and delicious enough to eat on ice cream....HUH? Vinegar on ice cream? Well you know I had to order it right away. It is indeed delicious and thick and tastes nothing like the balsamic you get at the local grocery store. I have not tried it on ice cream yet, but I did try it on some strawberries and it was more like a glaze with a kick. Delicious.
I am also very excited that one of my friends in New York (by way of London) is going to launch a new line of nail polish very soon. It is yet to be named and there is no launch date yet, but she sent out a few polish prototypes and I am loving this one. It is a lovley pinkish nude with sparkle. Actually getting a new product off the ground can sometimes take forever.

I will keep you updated as I know the scoop.
Oh and I love my new washer and dryer. I resisted a front loader washing machine forever, but we needed a new set as ours was ancient and plain and refused to spin anymore. I was dazzled by all the showy models . I refused to get a showy one, and you can see from the picture that I stuck to my guns. Bright obnoxious metallic red is not showy AT ALL. What? You can tell from the photo that I am a little nervous about all the bells and whistles. When it finishes a load, it plays a little tune that sounds like the ice cream man. Ahhhhh.

In addition, I am loving this new chair that I purchased from Tonya, the designer extrordinaire at my local Walter E. Smithe furniture store. Finley loves the new chair too. He barked at it for the first day, but then made his peace by evening and now he calls it mama and sleeps with it every night.

Lastly, I am elated that the Celtics and the Lakers are once again battling it out for the NBA Championship. I have been a die hard Celtics fan my whole life, so this is very exciting to me. GO BOSTON!!!!!

Here is hoping everyone is having a lovely Monday!

(photos from Amazon.com, MonkeyPosh L.L.C. , and Courant.com)