by Monica Rysavy on March 14, 2010
Word art credit: Ali Edwards
- One less hour of sleep (daylight savings/spring forward).
- Scrambled cheesy eggs with toast and jelly – love having our Sunday breakfast tradition.
- More rain – I saw flower shoots starting to push through the ground today.
- Grocery shopping – love that Peter doesn’t mind helping me. I really hate pushing carts for some reason.
- KFC for lunch.
- Rediscovered hot rollers and took the webcam picture featured above to remind myself to use them.
- Started working with my Princeton Review Online GRE prep course. Had tech issues with the sample test.
- Scanned pictures of my Mom’s home from 1959 – started a scrapbook layout in Photoshop CS4
- Planning what I will eat tomorrow – am once again trying to be healthy
- Packing my gym clothes so I won’t have an excuse as to why I can’t go work out after work
- Feeling reflective
- And thankful
by Monica Rysavy on March 2, 2010
Sometimes, when I have a day filled with more downs than ups, it’s easy for me to slip into a grouchy mood. To dwell on the negatives moments of the day and to forget how very fortunate and blessed I really am.
This evening, instead of giving into the urge to further linger on the moments that don’t bring me joy, I chose to revisit a moment that took place four years ago this month.
Looking at these pictures again tonight, playing with them in Lightroom and Photoshop, and reflecting on my every day life with my amazing husband, I am reminded of how happy I really am. At the end of the day, as he often reminds me, it’s family that really matters.
by Monica Rysavy on February 28, 2010
Peter and I have been virtually hibernating in our house for the past two days. We were both off from work on Friday because of the snow, and I still wasn’t feeling very well, so we used the time to rest, watch recorded TV and the Olympics, and for me to set up my computer again. So far everything appears to be running well so expect some posts about it to be coming soon.
Today we ventured out of the house to attend the 77th Wilmington International Exhibition of Photography. Peter read about the exhibit in The News Journal last week, and learned of a group who I was not familiar with – the Delaware Photographic Society – they sponsored the exhibit and according to their website, they offer “monthly club competitions, local exhibits, instruction, field trips, lectures and other programs”. I was excited to learn that they meet just down the road from us! I definitely plan on attending a few of their upcoming programs.
My two big photography goals for this year are to:
- Become confident in shooting manually instead of in Program or AV mode
- Learn how to use flash. I have a nice Canon Speedlite that I definitely have not mastered.
I took this picture of Jasper with my point and shoot this past week. I like it because it’s a different angle than what I usually shoot and as a result produced a completely different image of him than what I usually get. It makes him look much thinner than he actually is which makes me laugh. Too bad I can’t just show pictures of him to the vet instead of getting him weighed each visit.
by Monica Rysavy on February 21, 2010
I’ve always wanted to have my own stationery. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy – just simple and classic. I liked the idea of having a monogram that I could also use on my blog as the header and as my email signature to keep everything consistent.
I discovered Emily Ley of Emily Ley Paper in January while reading a new to me blog written by Lara Casey. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t put a whole lot of effort into researching different designers. That’s actually rather unlike me. Usually I compare prices, read reviews, look for deals, etc… when purchasing anything. So why did I choose Emily?
After reading a few of Emily’s blog entries, and watching this video blog post – The First 30 Days – I was completely sold. Unlike many blogs that I have read, when the posts are mainly product or services oriented, I was struck with how openly she shares her experiences both as a business owner and regarding her life in general. As corny as it sounds, I felt as if I knew her in a way. It was clear that she cares very much about what she does. That totally made the decision for me – I wanted to order my monogram and stationery from her.
I was a little nervous ordering from someone I had never met but Emily made the process very easy. She offered several options and unlimited revisions of my monogram so it would be just right but it only took two until I found a design I loved. She was very professional and responded to any questions I had quickly. She even provided me with several digital versions (with and without my email and/or phone number) which is wonderful because this means I can use the monogram in lots of different ways.
I was so excited to get the stationery in the mail yesterday and I’m writing my first letter with it tonight to my favorite Aunts. They were home economics teachers years ago and I know they will appreciate a hand written note from me – even if my handwriting isn’t as pretty as the stationery!
by Monica Rysavy on February 20, 2010
I was never much into glass vases, bowls, etc… until I met Peter. Shortly after we started dating, I learned that one of the things that the Czech Republic was known for was its beautiful crystal. According to Peter, this was because it contained a higher lead content than most crystal from other countries. As a result, Czech pieces are noticeably heavier than Lenox or other common glass manufacturers.
I just learned in a quick online search that Czech crystal contains 24% lead and this makes the crystal have such a pretty shine to it. Also, unlike many other manufacturers, most Czech glass is hand made and hand cut instead of machine manufactured and engraved. More can be read about the history of Czech glass here.
We brought several items back from our first trip to Prague in 2001, and since then, over the years I have always tried to find pieces here and there at discount stores here in the States. I guess you could say I have turned into a Crystal Snob, as I try not to purchase glass items if they aren’t Czech glass.
On our recent trip over the Christmas holiday, my in-laws gave us a beautiful vase. After purchasing two small bunches of Daffodils today I thought it would be a good day to unwrap the vase from its layers of bubble wrap. Daffodils were one of my Mommom’s favorite flowers, and I love how they remind me of Spring – a season I am very much looking forward to.
by Monica Rysavy on February 16, 2010
I love to eat. I’ve never kept that a secret. In fact, I frequently post pictures of things I like to eat here (here, here, and here for example). But ever since we came back from Prague during the Christmas break, I’ve been feeling rather chunky. In reality, I am perhaps 10 pounds above where I normally am these days. But if I have an honest conversation with myself, which I did yesterday after going shopping with my Mom (why does it always take dressing room mirrors to inspire such conversations?), I know that my normal weight these days is about 10 pounds above where I should be…where I want to be.
Five years ago I lost a lot of weight and then I relaxed. My weight maintains at my these days weight if I am cautious about what I eat. I hardly ever work out which is why my these days weight is higher than where I should be. I was only at that weight briefly when I was working out AND watching what I ate.
I am very good about having excuses as to why I’m not working out
- I get home too late on the night I stay after school to tutor students (That’s only 1 night a week)
- I’m too tired (Most likely because I’m chunky)
- I don’t feel well (I don’t feel well actually as I’ve a terrible sinus thing for going on two weeks now. But if I wait until I’m better I’m sure some other excuse would pop up in its place)
- Etc…
Today I started with the eating better. I did extremely well with that and don’t feel like I’m starving and want to chew my arm off. My number one goal is to drink more water. I am terrible about drinking water. After several years of teaching 120 minute or more classes, I have programmed myself not to drink much. However that is simply not healthy so I am really going to work on that. Today I managed to drink about 40 oz. of water and/or Crystal Light. That’s about 30 more oz. than I usually drink – seriously I hardly drink at all during the day.
Tomorrow starts the working out. I’m going to take this one day at a time and focus on eating less, drinking more water, and exercising more. I want to banish the chunky and bring on the should be weight as my normal weight.
by Monica Rysavy on February 14, 2010
Spaghetti and Meatballs
The sauce was perfect, especially because I didn’t make it. I did a little research online and discovered that many cooking sites consider Rao’s sauce to be one of the best jarred sauce available. It really was quite tasty.
And I had a lot of fun putting the dessert together. It was inspired by this post from hello!Lucky and featured sandwich cookies using Bakerella’s recipe.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
by Monica Rysavy on February 13, 2010
I grew up loving Barbie. But they didn’t have this Barbie:
She’s going to have a place of honor on my desk in my classroom.
by Monica Rysavy on February 12, 2010
The past 5 days in pictures…
Monday
No School. Thanks to my hubby, we dug my car out just in case there was school on Tuesday.
Tuesday
No school, but I did make it to Starbucks to meet some friends!
Wednesday
No School. Snow Storm #2. We got a lot of snow. Again.
Thursday
No school. We started running out of food so we ordered Dominos Pizza. This is supposed to be shaped like a heart.
Today
Peter was back to work, but I was still off. We had a Canadian themed dinner to celebrate the opening ceremonies of the Winter 2010 Olympics. We tried Canadian beer for the first time. We ate a dessert that will most likely rot our teeth.
Word art credit: Ali Edwards 
