Do you or someone you love need new earrings?

ANNOUNCEMENT: The GIVEAWAY has been posted. Stop by the Facebook page and/or blog for details on how YOU can be entered to WIN! (and in case you don't follow my every move, I've started an Etsy Shop and Blog to go with ... that is what this giveway is from)

Yes, guys, YOU can enter, too! I'm sure you have a mother, wife, daughter, sister, cousin, or friend who would enjoy a pretty little surprise! 

And, by the way, March Madness sucks!! My bracket is completely for naught! Not ONE of my picks to be in the Final Four is in the Final Four. MADNESS!! Maybe the bitterness will wear off by next year and I'll think about doing it again!

Please, no autographs ....

Kathryn Brown, the owner and publisher of our region's local paper, The East Oregonian, asked me to do one of their regular features - The Sunday Q&A. I felt pretty darn special, but at the same time humbled to be asked! It was published in yesterday's (obviously) edition. So, I thought I'd share.

And contrary to the title of this post, yes, I will gladly give you my autograph! Ha!

Much Ado

It's been a while since I've written a legitimate blog post. I'm sorry!

We've had a few fabulous weekends. Last week was a hockey game up in Tri-Cities, this weekend we made a nice mini-getaway out of Stan & Elizabeth's (hereafter referred to as Stanibeth) wedding in Lake Oswego.

Early Friday morning we woke up, got ready and headed to Umatilla to pick up two of Liz's bridesmaids - Holly & Anna. Then we made the trip to Lake Oswego. It was raining and I was happy! Happy because the weather was forecasted to be cloudy and no rain. In November, for my wedding, it rained and NOBODY wanted to stick around for pictures. For Renae's wedding (Eric's cousin) in February, it rained. And so, it seemed only fair that Elizabeth have rain, too. However, by the time the ceremony was over the rain had stopped and the sun even peaked its head out intermittently. And they got HOURS and HOURS of beautiful photos. But, I'm not bitter at all.

But, really, the ceremony was beautiful and I loved seeing that side of the family. I really felt like they were my family, too - not Eric's. They're our family. Everyone is so supportive and loving, even if everyone kept making jabbing comment's on Eric's hair - it was all in good spirited jesting. I love them and look forward to the reunion in July.

The same man, Brother Brimshaw, whom performed our ceremony, also performed Renae & Matt's AND Stan & Elizabeth's. It's been such a blessing to be able to hear the similar words three times. I had to give Brother Brimshaw a hug and extend my appreciation for the words of advice and love that he's expressed to three couples in the next generation of the family.

Also, in the room where the marriage sealing & ceremony take place, there are mirrors on the wall that are faced directly across from each other. When you look into them you can't see the beginning or the end. Eric and I love being the last folks out of the room so we can stand and look into the mirrors together.

Anyway, enough of the mushy stuff. I'm just really appreciative for the generations of love and partnership that have gone before and established a firm legacy for our generation to build on and lean on for support.

On to the pictures ...

Friday night we hit the Trailblazers game vs. San Antonio. It did not disappoint! We watched Patum hit the game winning alley hoop and rejoiced for the next hour like everyone else at the Rose Garden! 

We found a heck of a deal at a hotel in Vancouver. So we stayed the night and hit the Saturday Market the next morning. 

We got home, got ready and headed to Walla Walla for Stanibeth's reception. It was a fun time! This was a photo I snapped of Shelly and her sisters Debbie & Angie. 

This Lougee household had a fabulous weekend, but we're looking forward to a much calmer, more relaxed weekend next week. We're also looking forward to April. March has been a sickly month for us, colds, sinus infections, kidney infections ... We're hoping with better weather comes better health. Cheers!

Front Row

Front row for a short, but studly impromptu jam session.

(Be sure to tilt your head slightly to the left for optimal viewing)



And for those interested, he was working on this wonderful diddy.

Yeah, I did.

I did, with some help from Air Wick (Eric), fill out my first ever bracket for March Madness. Here it is, in all it's bracket virgin glory. I have adjusted the championship score since, I now have Ohio State over Pitt by 11 points, 74 to 63.

And yes, it hurt my soul to have to put Pitt over my Cougs, but, whatevs. I don't wanna talk about it. I still love Jimmer. Yes, Sarah, JIMMER!!! By the way, did you catch the latest SI coverboy?

How do you feel about the madness?

Salvage Maid

I've been working on a lil' somethin' somethin'. It's nothing fancy and it'll always be a work in progress, but with the support of my sweetie of a husband - I've started an Etsy shop.

We've only got a few items up right now, but it's only a sampling of GREAT things to come. Feel free to pass the word along. And look forward to an associated blog.

I love (and Eric does, too) yardsaling, thriftstoring, flea marketing, rummaging, open-field finding, abandoned building exploring .... but since we live in all of 800 square feet, it was time to find a place to put some of these things. Thus, Salvage Maid was born.

Stay tune for good things comin'.

We're gonna have handsome babies.

Someday.

I know this picture is dark, but his handsomeness still shines through. 

More coming. I know you miss me. 

Also, you must listen to this. 

The Lower Lights

The Lougees are loving The Lower Lights.

Eric's kind of obsessed. Thanks to Brother Puzey for the introduction.

Back to Basics

Somehow I stumbled upon this whole "National Day of Unplugging" with it's "Sabbath Manifesto" - for which the creators say is a "provisional guide for observing a weekly day of rest."

I think most Latter-day Saints (Mormons) would call this their regular sabbath (aside from the whole wine-o part). But, this puts a little twist on things, no technology. Hmm. Eric and I love our laptops and internet. Almost as much as we love each other.

But, we both agreed we would try it (though Eric was in the midst of an intense game of online tetris when we discussed it). We chose our own day, though. Starting Saturday night, March 5th through Sunday night March 6th we'll be back to basics. Sunday is our regular monthly fast day anyway.

So, we'll see. Join us. Can you go 24ish hours without technology??

New Addition to the Family

My Mom was given this little guy from a gal at her work. Supposedly he's a chihuahua - but the ladies in my office think he might be a mix. He's definitely cuter than most chihuahuas I've seen. I'm not usually a fan, but I can't wait to hold this little tyke in person! What a cutie. The family is looking for Spanish sounding boy names. Any suggestions??

I'll keep you posted and let you know what he gets christened as ....

Miss Magnolia

I'm home with a bad cold. And because of this, I keep catching myself in daydreams like the one above. Footloose and fancy free. In a flowing baby doll top, shorts and some mega sunglasses. Probably picnicking with my sweet cacti loving husby. Then I come back to my vaporub, tissue filled reality.

O' spring, o' summer, when wilt thou make thy face known?!  



Listening to 'Miss Magnolia' by Matt Costa.