My 35th Birthday present was Baja Sur

The best birthday I have ever had. (click on the slideshow for full view)

35th birthday and 35 reasons why I love him

1His strength
2He holds my hand
3He keeps me healthy
4He pushes me
5He has feelings
6He gets shy
7His sense of adventure
8He is also a middle child
9He loves all music
10He can fix his own car
11He studies waves and stars
12He does laundry
13His tan skin
14He doesn't want to stay up late
15He is humble
16He is a caregiver
17He doesn't like beets
18He wants romance
19He can always make me laugh
20He is a scientist
21He chops wood
22He is a father
23He plays with my hair
24His perfect feet
25His dimples
26His love of my cooking
27His coffee
28His values
29How he cuddles the cats
30His silent sleeping
31His arms
32How he swims
33His love of travel
34His attention to detail
35His 35th birthday present to me...thank you, my love.

Schroder home improvement project #826

This latest project was surprisingly a lot of fun! Maybe it was that it only 2 days or maybe because Eric and I worked really well together this time. Anyhoo, my kitchen just got even more cozy. I love our new heat source and so does the environment!
THE BEFORE

THE AFTER!!

Are you sick of my vacation photos yet?

Too bad! Here are some of the latest trip to Maui. HA! :)

The Schroders hit Chicago

Last weekend, me and the guys went to Chicago for a wedding. My big brother, Malcolm, got married to an amazing woman, Naoko. Here are a few shots from my camera. Congrats Naoko and Malcolm. What a fantastic wedding!! Kampai!

Going at it Alone

That title is a little misleading, isn't it? So last week, I was on a work trip to a tropical destination. (By the way...I think it's rediculous to expect yourself to be able to focus on work when you are staying in South Beach, Miami, in a hip hotel, across from the beach in 85 degree tropical weather.) My dear friend, Rachel, was planning on joining me for part of my trip so we could have some fun in the sun together. But the poor girl came down with pnuemonia and wasn't able to make it. I was a little dissappointed, but what could we do, right? Sooo...I have never been somebody to let an opportunity pass me by just because I was gonna have to do it alone. HELLO people!!!! I moved across the country by myself, if you recall. It was perfect timing, because another close friend, Michele, was writing a blog on how important it is to take time to be alone and make yourself happy. I have never failed to take care of that business...but I know a lot of mommies that don't. So congrats to everybody who makes time for themselves and enjoys these moments of alone-ness.

As for my alone time in Miami...I ate out in South Beach club, swam in the gorgeous warm ocean, drove a convertible to the Florida keys, rented a sea kayak in Key Largo, drank a beer in Islomarada, bought myself a cute dress, and just soaked it all in. Rachel...my dear...we will have to make another destination date in the near future!

The great grape event!

It was a rainy weekend in the Columbia Gorge this weekend and we have these out-of-control concord grape vines growing in our yard. So what's a girl to do on a weekend like this? CAN! This was my first attempt to can (or jar, in this case) anything in my life. So here it is...my first batch of Izzy's Organically Wild Concord Jam. I have to admit that I felt a little like Diane Keaton in the 1987 hit movie, "Baby Boom". Let's hope it sets right and doesn't turn into Grape Sauce.