Yeah...I am THAT Gal...GO RED, WHITE AND BLUE!

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USA! USA! USA!


Let's see, one of my favorite movies is Cutting Edge and another is Miracle and yet another is Cool Runnings. Are you sensing a theme? I typically root for the underdog, but, when given the opportunity, I go absolutely nutso for the STARS AND STRIPES, RED, WHITE, AND BLUE, UNCLE SAM, APPLE PIE, the whole nine yards (yes, I realize that only two of those movies are about team USA...did you see the part about under dog and you're just wrong if the late John Candy doesn't make you giggle).



Local Girly...Giving Her MUCH LOVE!


Much to my family's aggravation, this means I DVR Olympic events as if I am the sole source for documenting history. Too much hyperbole? Yeah, but you get my drift. I may shake my head in disgust and wonderment at the United States government at times and stamp my foot at the silliness that political machination brings out in everyone. However, when it comes to being a "team player" during the Olympics, I am all about American pride.



Growing up, Sister and I were all about the gymnastics. We both sported the Mary Lou Hair-Do...don't judge...we were CUTE as socks on a chicken. The grace and agility were talents we both coveted. My tastes have expanded with age. Volleyball, swimming, gymnastics...I get a wee bit bored by track but am in awe of the speed events. I was looking for movies to get me in the mood for some national pride...I think I shall try to watch them all. For whom are you rooting? Shout out your national pride below!


Olympic Themed Movies (Google "Movies about the Olympics")

• Chariots of Fire
• One Day in September
• Munich
• Miracle
• Cool Runnings
• Prefontaine
• Without Limits
• Cutting Edge
• International Velvet
• Personal Best

UPDATED: Weight Watchers After Week Two...Perspective

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This week was not as a successful as last. However, I did manage to lose one pound for a total of 7.4 in two weeks. I had only two sodas, which is better, and I tracked everything I ate, which is best. However, I only walked twice and didn't make it to yoga at all. I have given serious consideration to the personal training idea and am leaning more that way than I was last week. I am also looking into Lifetime Fitness because then I could have yoga every evening and Zumba too. Since it would be silly to tack on another goal when I didn't even achieve last week's, I am sticking with adding more activity this week.

 





Perspectives I reached this week:

• These photos don't show squat but my clothes are getting bigger so I must be getting smaller.
• To drink a 20 oz. soda, I would need to walk for an hour (6 POINTS).
• Because I wanted to eat fast food this week, I did a little research:

41 POINTS IN ONE MEAL IS EQUAL TO:Almost an Entire Day's Food Allowance--PERSPECTIVEAlmost 7 hours of walking at a slow pace--PERSPECTIVEAlmost 5 hours of aerobics, jazzercise--PERSPECTIVEA little less than 2 hours of Zumba--PERSPECTIVEAlmost 5 hours of hiking--PERSPECTIVEAlmost 7 hours of yoga--PERSPECTIVE
Thank goodness, I opted for the Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad from Wendy's--12 POINTS.

UPDATE: I may need to find a different WW meeting each week. I felt a little judged during today's discussion on SALADS. Rather than making the stink face because I enjoy the 12 point Wendy's salad or the 10 point McDonald's salad, let's give me a high five for not consuming a Baconator, Fries and a Cola (40 points) or Chicken Strips with gravy (92 points). THAT'S SOME FREAKING PERSPECTIVE, JUDGY HATERS! Gosh!

Survivor's Guilt...

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Gayla and the Gang at Dave Matthews Summer 2010

I spent an amazingly fun and love-filled day with my "Gang" Saturday. We had a cake tasting for the up-coming wedding, we drove all over creation looking for linen suits for the grooms, and we laughed to the point of tears on several occasions (Think Sling Blade sings Call Me Maybe and One Direction). It was the perfect day. So I chastise myself for spending the entire trip home feeling like my friends would prefer that Gayla were there instead of me.

It makes no sense if you break it down. My sister Gayla and I shared our beloved friends so much so that our family just thinks of them all as our brothers and sisters of the heart. There has been much said about how the family we choose is just as important as the family to which we are born. So why do I question my placement in this family? Why do I berate myself with the taunts of, "They wish it had been you"? Why does part of me believe the taunt while the other part of me yells, "THEY WISH IT HAD JUST NOT HAPPENED, YOU GOOB!"

I spent much of Sunday reading about grief and survivor guilt to try to make my whole self understand. Not that all apply to this particular situation and feeling I am having, but here are some of the most profound thoughts to stick with me:

• This Psychology Today article states, "Even though bereaved people share much common ground, every bereaved person is different, experiencing each death uniquely, grieving uniquely, struggling uniquely, coping uniquely, adjusting uniquely, and healing uniquely."
• Dr. Phyllis Silverman wrote, "We no longer think of grief as following a formula such as suggested by Kubler—Ross (On Death and Dying). I agree that grief doesn’t express itself in a step by step manner but it does unfold. It may look different for each of us depending on who died, our own experience with grief, and where we are in our own life cycle. ... we need to recognize that grieving is a complicated part of living that changes us and from which we do not 'recover' as from an illness."
• Kathleen Nader writes about survivor guilt following a tragedy and states when "good people die, survivors may reexamine their own goodness."

I think that last one hits the nail on the head. Gayla was everything good in a friendship. She was giving of her time, her patience, her understanding, and her heart. Sister was that friend who would be standing right by your side in all situations even if you weren't aware of it. Gayla put her friends first. She was fun at all times, always being ready for adventure. Gayla wanted what was best for you, and she went out of her way to make it possible if it were within her control. She was better at being a friend than I am so I guess my feelings of inadequacy are the culprit. Enemy number two is that I have no idea how to change this or how to emulate my beloved sister's ability in this arena.

Share with me how you are a friend. Teach me your secrets for being "good".

P.S. Sosie, no worrying about me or lecturing me. I know this is only in my perception and not reality. I love you.

There's a Day for Everything!August

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One might say I am quirky (most call me weird). However, in my book, it is perfectly okay to embrace each day as if it is special. In fact, I am going out in search of the special in each day. If you know of one I haven't found, please do share.

August (National Napping Month)


Gal Pals Celebrating the Day


  1--National Girlfriends Day
  2--National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
  3--National Watermelon Day
  4--National Chocolate Chip Day
  5--National Mustard Day AND National Waffle Day (separate...not together...ewww)
  First Sunday in August--Sister's Day (See what I have to say...)
  9--National Book Lovers Day
10--S'Mores Day

Sisters

11--Play in the Sand Day
12--Middle Children's Day
13--International Left-Hander's Day
14--International Nagging Day (to name one of many specialities of the day)
15--Best Friends Day UPDATE JUNE 8; National Relaxation Day
16--Roller Coaster Day
17--
18--Bad Poetry Day
19--National Aviation Day
20--National Radio Day

Peaches for the Pie

THIRD SATURDAY--National Homeless Animals Day
21--My Sister Gayla's Birthday
22--Be An Angel Day
23--National Sponge Cake Day
24--National Waffle Day (There's a debate...this could be August 5), National Peach Pie Day, and Strange Music Day
25--Kiss and Make Up Day, National Banana Split Day
26--National Dog Day
27--
28--
29--
30--National Toasted Marshmallow Day
31--National Trail Mix Day
What will you do to celebrate each day?

There's A Day for Everything!September

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One might say I am quirky (most call me weird). However, in my book, it is perfectly okay to embrace each day as if it is special. In fact, I am going out in search of the special in each day. If you know of one I haven't found, please do share.



myMike and Me

September (National Honey Month)
 
  First Monday--Labor Day
  First Sunday after Labor Day--Grandparent's Day
  1--Calendar Adjustment Day
  2--V-J Day
  3--Skyscraper Day and MyMike's birthday!
  4--Newspaper Carrier Day (so please take a day off guy who throws a paper at my lawn every other day)
  5--Be Late for Something Day (bahahaha!)
  6--Don't Procrastinate Day
  7--Salami Day
  8--International Literacy Day
  9--Teddy Bear Day

Me and Darling Daughter

10--Sewing Machine Day and TV Dinner Day
11--Remembrance Day aka Patriot Day
12--Chocolate Milkshake Day
13--Positive Thinking Day and Peanut Day
14--Stand Up to Cancer Day
15--Greenpeace Day
16--Step Family Day and Play-Dough Day
17--Constitution Day
18--National Cheeseburger Day
19--Talk Like A Pirate Day

ARRRGyle the Sock Pirate

20--In honor of this being self-improvement month, do something for yourself!
21--International Peace Day and Packer's Birthday!
22--First Day of Autumn, Elephant Appreciation Day, and Mike and Jeremy Get Married!
23--Presidential Dog Day
24--National Punctuation Day
25--Mary Poppins Day and Comic Book Day and One Hit Wonder Day
26--Johnny Appleseed Day (sing along! "oh the Lord's been good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need like the sun and the rain and the apple seed")
27--Tourism Day
Fourth Friday--Native Indian/American Day

Packer and Thing 1 in 2009

28--First Born Nephew Day (yeah! I made this one up but it's real to me! Love you Thing 1!)
29--Heck yeah! COFFEE DAY y'all
30--In honor of September being Better Breakfast month, take your spouse to breakfast today.

Please share if you know of a special day in September that I need to include!

Melanie & Elric's Wedding

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 Melanie and Elric had a fantastic wedding day! Their wedding ceremony and reception were held at The Genoa Lakes Country Club, in Genoa, Nevada, just an hour south of Reno.Small live butterflies were released at the end of the ceremony and filled the sunset sky below the Sierra Mountain Range, just to the west of the ceremony location.
Their spectacularly delicious wedding cake featured the colors of the Fall season.
 The rustic charm of the Genoa Lake Country Club was enhanced by all the creative touches that Melanie hand crafted. Small favor bags set at each place setting, were a nice treat for guests to take home.
 Melanie handmade her centerpieces which included hydrangeas in bright orange, and eggplant colors, with copper curls and lighted twigs that made each table look magical.
 Over the course of their wedding planning period, we established a close relationship with Melanie, and it was such a pleasure being there with her as she Elric were married. We are so excited for them, and know that they are meant to be together forever! xoxo Liane 
Genoa Lakes Wedding CoordinationNorthern Nevada's # 1 Wedding Coordination Company! Liane McCombs Wedding & Event Planning 775.786.1730lianemccombs@gmail.com

Mellisa and Benjamin's Wedding

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Mellisa and Benjamin came all the way from Atlanta, Georgia to be married at Edgewood Country club on the Southwest shore of Lake Tahoe. 
It had to be one of the most spectacular November weather days in recent history. Mellisa planned for a cooler, sunset ceremony, providing baskets filled with beautiful shawls for all the lady-guests, hand warmers and two fire pits to keep everyone warm during the ceremony. They were appreciated, but not needed, as the evening was perfect.
As the sun began to set, the air was totally calm, and warm, with such silence, that you might have imagined that we were the only ones on the entire Lake! A flock of Canadian geese flew overhead just as Mellisa and Benjamin were married, with two geese floating on the water just behind them. It was truly magical. 
We could not have asked for a more perfect day. With terrific vendors, including Ciprian Photography and Moonlight Mobile DJ, everyone had a terrific time celebrating with the bride and groom.

It was such a pleasure working with Mellisa as she prepared and looked forward to her wedding day. We wish her and Benjamin a wonderful married life and a future filled with overflowing love and happiness!
For more information regarding Lake Tahoe wedding planning, please contact:



Liane McCombs Wedding & Event Planning775.786/1730lianemccombs@gmail.com 
"Voted Northern Nevada's #1 Wedding Planner!"