Alaska Tour: Drive to Girdwood

Our last couple of weeks in Alaska have been more focused on just enjoying each other's company and attempting to get back to a healthy way of eating.  We started eliminating gluten from our diets last year and cutting way back on dairy.  Our aim is to be at least 90% paleo by the end of this year.  And well, to just feel better, healthier and stronger from the food we eat.  For me, I also need to lose the holiday pounds I put on, which is more than I want to (or am ready to) admit!  

We had some snow about a week ago which was fun.  And today on this first day of Spring the weather has been in the teens...not exactly what I would call "Spring" weather - but perhaps it is for native Alaskans.  I got a little adventurous with my eating for one of our brunches...ordered the Reindeer omelet.  It was actually quite yummy!!

Prior to our travel up here to Anchorage I was scouring the internet for parent groups so I could get playdates going for Zion.  We ventured out on a very brisk windy day to a park with one of the Meetup groups I joined.  Zion had a great time shoveling snow around and riding on the bouncy seesaw with me.  I met a few moms, though I tend to be shy during first encounters - but hey I still made it out there in the frigid cold.

I've been cooking for the family a lot - we are currently following the Practical Paleo 30 Day Digestive Health meal plan.  We've also been catching up on movies and recently invested in this new Monopoly Zapped game that uses an iPad app to go along with it.  Probably one of the coolest inventions ever - hubs loves it, though we get in some pretty wicked competitions with it.

This last weekend we took a drive, at my request, down to Girdwood, the location of the Alyeska ski resort, just 45 minutes Southeast of Anchorage.  The drive was amazing, I couldn't wait to post the pictures here.  We stopped at Beluga Point - apparently a place that we can visit in the future for possible whale sitings!  And then we made our way to the ski resort before turning around.  We plan on heading back there for a more extended visit, but this was sort of a spontaneous adventure.  

Zion may have missed part of the glorious mountains on the way back, but we hope that she may recall some bit of the beauty of Alaska in the future.  We were definitely spoiled with the breathtaking views!  

I plan on starting up a coffee tour here in Alaska over the next couple of weeks.  I have two places currently on the list to review: Kaladi Brothers and SteamDot, still researching more.  This close to Seattle, there has to be more to add to the list!!  Speaking of coffee, make sure you get your entries in for the Starbucks Verismo System that is being given away, you have until 3/28 to enter!

What adventures have you been having?  How was your weekend?

       

4 TV Weddings That Melted Our Hearts

"We" love weddings. I put "we" in quotations because the collective group in America alone consists of millions. According to www.direct.tv, the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton drew 23 million Americans to watch in 2011. Even the much-less-royal union between Kim Kardashian and now ex-husband Kris Humphries had 4.2 million viewers for the four-hour special.

We love weddings almost as much as we love sports, and that's why TV sitcoms and dramas will dedicate entire episodes to them. Some of the most memorable moments in television consisted of our favorite characters tying the knot, often with some incredible bumps in the road along the way.

Jim and Pam (The Office)

Since their awkward crush from across the office floor, we've been rooting for Jim Halpert and Pam Beasley. If you want to talk about a bumpy road, this was it. Fiancès, girlfriends and distance all stood between Jim and Pam at one point or another, but the couple went from gas station parking lot proposal to Niagra Falls wedding ceremony. The famous wedding scene was borrowed from a viral video and featured the song "Forever," making it the only time a Chris Brown song could ever make us smile.

Ross and Emily (Friends)

Possibly one of the best wedding gaffes in TV history, Ross's Freudian slip during this episode of "Friends" left us with our jaws on the ground. When exchanging vows, Ross was supposed to say "Take thee, Emily" but instead replaced his future wife's name with ex-girlfriend "Rachel" (Jennifer Anniston). It was one of the more creative ways to ruin a wedding on TV and gave us one of the best moments in the show's long run.

Leslie and Ben (Parks and Recreation)

Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt might be the cutest couple on TV right now. The latest two episodes of "Parks and Recreation" featured the impromptu wedding between Leslie and Ben during a fundraiser event. The initial ceremony was spoiled by a stink bomb from a salty co-worker but was turned around by a private ceremony back where it all started—the parks department office. "Parks and Rec" teaches us that the most important people in our lives are the family and friends closest to us.

Andy and April (Parks and Recreation)

Speaking of "Parks and Rec," the lovable and quirky duo, Andy and April, made their love official a few seasons before Ben and Leslie. This matrimony took place in the couple's own living room since they didn't have money for a formal ceremony, and like Ben and Leslie, was limited to close family and friends. Andy and April are such a fun couple to watch because they share each other's sarcastic (and sometimes cynical) humor that the rest of the department often doesn't get.

Contributed by: 
Kelly Donnelly

Kelly is a reality TV fan who sometimes enjoys a good miniseries. She keeps up with all the celebrity gossip and writes her own celeb news column on entertainment blogs.

       

Mani Monday: Blue & Gold

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend and a safe St. Patty's day!  Welcome to another edition of Mani-Monday!  This week I am sharing my favorite mani from last week featuring two gorgeous Julep colors!  First - I have two coats of Julep Donna - a creme peacock blue, followed by a somewhat gradient layer of Julep Vivien - a multi-dimensional gold glitter, topped with my go-to topcoat: Julep Freedom Polymer!

I am trying to figure out what to try next and I'm kicking myself for not getting the March nail wardrobe which was so perfect for Spring!!  Even the single box that I would have wanted is completely sold out now! *sad face*  

All is not lost though, I did sign up for a Julep Spring Mystery Box, my first time playing Julep roulette and hoping for the big win, which is the box with a pair of 3/4 carat diamond earrings!!  I think I would just flip out if that box came to me!  There is still time to order one of these fun boxes which are priced at $24.99 (including shipping) and promise a $70-$200 value!!  If you decide to try it out, please use my special referral code: 2493183 so they know I sent you their way! 

I guess even if I don't win the spectacular diamond earrings, at a minimum I'll receive a few fun new polishes...and if it isn't what I really hoped for, it won't matter too much because the new April box selection window begins in just two more days!!  I seriously can't wait, especially knowing they have at least 2 products I am desperate to get my hands on: Julep Strawberry Mint Lip Balm (available in the April Maven Secret Store) & the Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum they just confirmed will be in the box!!

Are you still on the fence about becoming a Maven? Don't be!! Get your FIRST BOX for 1 Penny! (plus shipping) use code: JULEPVIP at checkout!  You will get a fantastic box with at least two polishes and other goodies, usually surprises that are fantastic, you can cancel or skip a month any time, very easily (they even email you to let you know its time to either change styles, skip, upgrade, etc.)!  I'd love it if you'd sign-up using my referral link if I was the one to convince you to try this great beauty box! XO,

P.S. Don't forget to come back here NEXT Monday for your chance at winning this Essie Nail Wardrobe - brought to you by some of my most favorite lovelies, as well as my nourishing nail-care regimen:

Linking up today with Heather!