Pampering.....and another award!

These days I have been feeling like pampering myself. I look back at my daily routine (yes, I'm obsessing about it, I know) and realize I just don't pamper myself enough. So, last night my friend Bryan and I went to have a bite of sushi for dinner and headed over to NW 23rd here in Portland. The street is lined with adorable boutiques and fabulous restaurants. I maybe get down there about once or twice a year. So, while down there I decided to stop in at Lush and treat myself to some food for the tub. I just need to remember not to eat the stuff! :) This has also inspired me to get back into soap making. I know, I know..I've mentioned that before. Well, my social calender is slowing down a bit now that winter is approaching and this will be the perfect time for me to start again. So far on the agenda, bath bombs, bubble bars, hand cream, tub truffles. :) My creative juices are flowing!

This soap actually came from a store in Whitefish, Montana I went to with sis and niece. Oh this smells lovely! Clean and fresh. I can't wait to use it. Don't you love the dragonfly?

Also! I got my very first horse award from my wonderful friend Kacy over at All Horse Stuff. This is an award Kacy created herself so I am SO, so honored to be the first few to receive it. What a beautiful award. Thank you so much sweet Kacy! I don't say this much about people I have just met but as soon as I met Kacy I knew she was genuine and truly had a heart of gold. I can't wait to go riding again!

Here is what the award is all about!

This Award is dedicated to those Horse lovers and riders that inspire others to go deeper in ability, knowledge and understanding of the Equine(s) they have been entrusted to.

The good of the horse is the ultimate goal apart from pressures to achieve ribbons and fit into lesson schedules.

These riders are fearless, when it comes to weather conditions and the forecasting of them...being with their horses, fills these folks' soul and takes the cares out of daily routines.

They are unconditionally loving to the horse and may have rescued it from known ailment or living condition. Others have researched and purchased/ acquired their horse, to find a difficulty in temperament or a physical burden within the animal. Yet, Being dedicated , they have persevered to proudly be in partnership with their horse, lovingly striving for deeper awareness's between them.

They might have been riding for years and suddenly had an accident that takes them away from the great joy and freedom they have, being aboard such a magnificent animal. They have allowed the healing horse to rise in their hearts once again, and beckon them back

~INTREPID RIDERS FACTION ~We strive to go where others only dare to go with our horse loves...healing, riding, playing, camping, jumping, swimming and traveling down the trails of life. . . . with the horse in Heart~Overcoming many obstacles and sometimes weather, to ride!

Thank you again, Kacy! We need to get together really soon! Miss ya.

Hope you're all having another wonderful weekend. :) Plans for mine...tonight another paranormal investigations from 5 p.m. to midnight and Sunday, the cat shelter and going to the movies with Bryan to see Paranormal Activity. Supposedly the scariest movie out there right now! Can't wait to jump in my seat! :)

Oh yes! Baking, of course. I'm headed out to get my ingredients for what I'm baking up today. Stay tuned! Pictures coming up!

Serious Cuteness!!

I accidentally found this on YouTube the other day. Now Michelle, you DO NOT need another kitty. No, I'm not getting one but I can still say awwwwwww when I see these kinds of things! This gal must raise Himalayans. In her other videos you can tell how much she loves them by the way she talks to them. Lol! This is baby's first sight. Don't forget to turn off my music to get the full effect. :)



You gotta admit this baby is too adorable!!

Hmmm...I feel some holiday baking coming up this weekend! Already have a yummy recipe lined up! Stay tuned!

Skin Care Routine....Come On Let's Dish!

I feel as though the week just flew by since getting back from Montana. I'm still catching up on sleep from the ride on the way back. I wasn't able to get a cabin for myself so sleeping in a seat was tough. Anyhoo, like any girl would do when looking at pictures of herself, I started analyzing pictures of myself from the trip with a fine tooth comb. Ugh! Where do those wrinkles come from?! Note to self, do not smile that big, yes you're happy, but not enough to show those "happy" wrinkles. In the last week I have started really thinking about my skincare and makeup routine. I need more color, less wrinkles, more highlights in the hair, more eye makeup..oh the list goes on and on. ;) Maybe turning 42 (or heck turning 40) brought out all those insecure thoughts (aka midlife crisis) Lol!

So, what I want to know is what is your skincare routine? Do you have products you can recommend, can't stand, will swear by? Come on gals, dish! I know Randi over at Beauty Be Good will probably have some great advice. Oh and Randi....I need help with the eye makeup. Should I wear more? What can I do to bring out my eyes. :)

I know sis...I can hear you now. I am beautiful just the way I am. I am so lucky to have such an encouraging sister. It was fun this weekend. She showed me a few makeup tricks and even some products she uses. I miss spending more time like that with her but hey, the little time we can get like last weekend, the more I cherish and appreciate them!

Back from Montana!

Hey everyone! I'm back! So glad to be home but unfortunately as soon as I walked in the door I noticed Emma was in an asthma attack. *sigh*. I no sooner put my suitcase down then threw her in a carrier and rushed her to the vet again. They got her in the oxygen chamber and more steroid shots and after a few hours and an afternoon in the emergency vet she was stabilized. This time they sent me home with the inhaler and a chamber they made out of a toilet paper roll (the cardboard part) and a dixie cup taped to the end that will go around her nose. I'll squirt the inhaler on the other end, let it dissipate a bit and put her nose in the dixie cup. Lol! Poor thing! I will be bringing her into the regular vet Friday to see the naturopath. She is home next to me, happy and doing fine. In the meantime, here are a few fun pictures from Montana!

Downtown Whitefish.

The ranch owner's cabin right across from ours. Isn't it just adorable?

Look at beautiful scenery!

That's my brother-in-law out there trying to catch some dinner!


Isn't this store adorable? I bought a few things from here to bring home.

Me and Tank. One of their seven sweet dogs in his "show" pose. Lol!

Tank and Hemi checking out Friday morning snow!

Relax time for these two!

Squeegy and Paris. Squeegy is my niece's favorite horse at the ranch.

Friday morning snow! It was typically 25 degrees during the day at 10 or less at night! Burrrr...wasn'st ready for that.

I rode Ricki on the only trail ride we were able to get in before the cold front hit!

Big 'ol Tank sitting on our doorstep.

Coconut saying, pleassssse pet me!

Paris enjoying a ride on Surprise.

Paris and Nancy (owner of the ranch). It was just the three of us!

Turning leaves in Montana.

Paris riding the barrel.

Me and Tank again.

Sis and Tank. Tank got his fill of pictures if you can't tell. Brother-in-law was taking most of these pictures!

Me and sis! Best friends!

Good morning! Where's our treat?

One of the many beautiful deer we saw.

At a reigning event.

Ride 'em cowboy!

The horses....relaxing.

That's all for now!

Made it to Montana!

I'm here in the cabin waiting for sis, niece and brother-in-law! It's so beautiful! Looks quite a bit like Oregon!

I figured I probably won't have time to post once everyone else gets here so here are some pictures to hold ya over. With seven dogs and thirty-two horses I am definitely going to get my animal fix. :)

Oh and the train was fabulous!! I took the Amtrak to Montana because the flight times were terrible and I could spend more time with my family taking the train (if you can believe that). I had my own private sleeping quarters! Our car had a personal porter and he was so wonderful!

Little touches count (for me)! Especially when it's chocolate. :)

Um and being served champagne as soon as I got on set the mood!

At the ranch!

This is our cabin.

Doggies to greet me. I've been slobbered already :)

The owners of the ranch came and picked me up at the train station, brought me back and made me breakfast! They are so sweet!! We are staying at Gaynor's Ranch in Montana if you want to check them out on the web.

Okay, going to take a nice bath and freshen up! Oh and I was so relieved to know that the kitties are doing fine with their new sitter. They LOVE her and Mocha even slept on the bed with her last night which is a first. Erin is a cat person and they know that. Oh and Teresa, Erin said she might steal Quincy but I told her she was in line behind you. ;)

The cabin feels like it's moving. I think my body still thinks it's on the train. Lol! Talk to you all soon! Have a wonderful week!

Meeting Fellow Blogger Kacy!

So I had a wonderful and exciting Saturday! I finally met fellow blogger Kacy over at All Horse Stuff. Kacy is the sweetest ever. She is so easy to talk with and so easy to get along with. I hope this is just the beginning of a wonderful friendship for us.

So, here are some of the pictures from the day and Kacy took all of 'em except for the one of us posing in front of the building. Enjoy and visit Kacy over at All Horse Stuff. She has a beautiful blog and she certainly knows her horses. She is already teaching me so much!

We first met at The Singer Cafe in downtown Oregon City. I had some good 'ol waffles and coffee and she had a yummy breakfast quiche. So, we sat and talked and got to know each other! I loved it!
After breakfast we headed to the barn to get the horses ready for the day! Both of these horses are Morgans and my horse was named Romeo. Kacy rode Danny. :)

I mean can you believe this view?? Oh yea, we had to wear orange vests because hunting season started! Yikes.

Kacy found a rock to place the camera on. Not bad. :)

Thank you, Kacy!! I had an awesome day and I am looking forward to more rides and amazing views! Hope you all enjoyed! xoxo

One last thing. A few of you asked where I get the gummy pumpkins. I got them at Michaels!

My Favorite Halloween Candy!

Yep, it's NOT candy corn! In fact, I'm really not that crazy about candy corn. My favorite is the gummy pumpkin! Actually I am a sucker for anything "gummy." My mom and I both love those dang Dots too! Oh and by the way, they have Dots that taste like candy corn for the holidays. Didn't work for me. Lol! Notice the jar is only half full. That's because Michelle ate half of it in one day.

What is your favorite Halloween candy?

One last thing! I have an exciting post coming up! Yesterday I met fellow blogger, Kacey, over at All Horse Stuff blog (she's on my sidebar as well) and we went on a 4 hour horse ride! It was amazing! I was so excited to meet her. We met for relaxing breakfast, headed out to the stables and groomed the horses to classical music and took off into the hills. *sigh* I can't wait to show you the pictures! I rode in an English saddle for the first time (out on the trails). Needless to say, a bit more work with the legs made this poor body sore today but WELL WORTH IT! :) Stay tuned!

Happy October 1st!

'Tis one of my favorite seasons of all! Time to pull out some of my favorite movies as Halloween approaches. This is, by far, one of my favs. Veronica Lake was one of the most alluring witches in Hollywood. :) I loved her hair!

Happy October 1st all!