life made easier.

The phrase above are words I life by. And I can't even imagine how much more complicated my life could get. But I have a home, a husband, and a very large dog. Both of whom shed. (I love you hunny!)

I have found a magazine that doesn't make me feel sleezy (like cosmo) and a bit selfish (or instyle, for spending all of my hunny's money). Real Simple.

This magazine is the epitome of its title. Its is beautifully and cleanly designed, free of clutter and disorder. There aren't annoying articles and blaring titles. And there are actually amazingly great style tips. This magazine is the Great Divide of Blue Bell. Uncomplicated and stunning flavors free of imperfections.

My favorite part of this magazine is the snip-its throughout from readers. Glorified reviews if you will on a certain product. But what's fabulous is they will tell you that Jill is from Seattle, she wears pink socks to bed and.... blah blah blah. They tell you cool little things about the reader. I like reading those little snip-its.

The last page of the magazine is a "meet a Real Simple reader." article. Great questions, great answers. And life at its best. Below is my own real life questionnaire. Feel free to copy and paste:

Amanda Renee Etter | age 26 | marketing director | married, with an amazing husband | Abilene

WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GOOD AT?
Cleaning and giving great advice. Is that weird? I am a bit OCD. Oh, that and LOVING my husband.

WHAT'S THE QUALITY YOU LEAST LIKE IN OTHERS?
Negativity, if everyone just tried to be happy or positive this world truly be a better place.

SIMPLEST PLEASURE?
Talking with my husband.

WHAT'S SOMETHING THAT NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU?
I am afraid of the dark!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOTTO?
Just keep swimming.

WHAT'S THE ONE THING YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND?
Why people are unwilling to sacrifice for one another.

SOMEONE SHOULD INVENT...
I don't know, but will you come bathe my dog for free?

it hurts soooo good

Mitchell and I haven't attended Body Pump at Hendrick in a while. We have been devoted to running. Really, devoted to running and doing free weights. For those of you who don't go to Hendrick Health Club, "Abilene's Only Up Scale Gym" (or so says the billboard) and for those who don't know what Body Pump is, let me enlighten you.

Body Pump is one hour of weights using a bar, to high beat, free flowing music, that challenges each muscle group in your body. All lead by 2 very energetic instructors who are by definition ripped, crazy and ADHD. What I really do like about this and each of the classes at HHC is you can do as much or as little weights or resistance as you want. What you can't tune out is the annoyingly nice, peppy encouragement. It goes and goes and goes. They are so freakingly nice. But you still really like the instructors.

Back to the story at hand. So we decided to attend Pump yesterday afternoon after a long hiatus. One hour, seven songs or nine... I lose count. I enjoyed it and had a really great time. At the end of class one of our instructors says, "My name is Mike this is Kate thanks for coming to Body Pump let us know if you have any questions." Mitchell turns to me and says...

"Mike, how do you make it stop hurting?"

What do I do? DIE LAUGHING!!! Then he says, "How do I stop the pain?" I wish he would stop talking because now I am starting to hurt from laughing and people are staring. I am laughing like a hyenia. Now I want to stop the pain but can't.

So it hurt, it hurt so good yesterday!

mitchell, the poet

My husband proclaimed to me that he was going to write me a poem. I was very excited, yet continued brushing my teeth while getting ready for bed. Because poetry is like music and well, my husband is a very talented musician you know. I was ready for this!

"I love you... like a fat kid loves cake!"

That I was not ready for. What I really wasn't ready for was what he followed the line above with.

"That's a 50 Cent line, you know."
"Oh?" I mumbled through my toothpaste.
"Yeah, 'I love you like a fat kid loves cake.' is from one of his songs."

My husband is a romantic person, so somewhere he possibly could have come up with that line without the help of 50 - but apparently he needed the inspiration.

I have to admit in the midst of the toothpaste, bathroom filled romance I liked it.

*My husband is not making fun of overweight children who enjoy eating pastries. we too like icing and cake.

romy here

Hello again! I have discovered quite a few things this past week that have for some reason been amusing to my parents. Who knows, they frequently look at me with one of two expressions: 1.) "My dog is crazy," a weird and silly look or 2.) "What in the heck are you doing," look. Both are usually accompanied by hysterical laughter.

Things of interest lately are:

1. Stealing things that I am not supposed to have: I am going to make this a habit. I like mom chasing me around hollaring like a mad woman.
2. Robert Plant: he was on TV the other day singing and I came all the way inside to watch and listen. I like the moaning ballads. It must run in my blood though - my family loves him and LZ.
   
3. Having conversations with dad: yes he frequently has talks with me. I don't know why. Last night our conversation went something like this...

Rom: *blank look on my face*
Dad: "Are you listening to me?"
Rom: *continued look - one blink*
Dad: "We need to discuss your nightly habits. You've been a good boy lately but there are things that could use some improvement..."
Rom: *I look away*
Yes, these conversations do take place. I like the way he talks to me like a human, maybe I will get human food soon, too!

That's it for now family. Oh, I was successful at stealing a lime off the plate on the coffee table this morning. I have been eye-balling those green suckers for a while. But mom took it away. Too bad, they look yummy.

Come on, tell me those don't look good!

i am a true mexican wife

You would think the statement above would be easy for me, hispanic, cooks well, large... bowhinney. But much to your belief there are a few duties I have not fulfilled. But this weekend I came one step closer to being a true mexican wife.

I made hot sauce!

I know, I know you think this is easy but it is actually not and not very easy to live up to. My mom AND dad both make great hot sauce. This is a fine art that dates back to early Perez Familia days. Watching, making notes, listening to the ooohs and ahhhs - so much pressure. But I did it this weekend and made my tummy and Mitchell's very happy.

"YUM-O!"

The Perfect combination!

mmmy diploma

http://www.hsutx.edu/lcfr/mydiploma/

"Lights, Camera, Free Ride" Commercial, website, promo, etc. Check it out.

there was a pants-less man in my yard this morning.

Yes. And this is why you all need a pecan tree in your front yard!

Its not rare that you see strangers in your yard here in Abilene if you own a pecan tree. I could careless if someone comes and take our pecans, I don't want them. And I don't have time to pick them. This morning was not a time to pick our pecans.

Mitchell was driving back from filling up the truck with gas before we both left for work. As he drove into the driveway, much to his surprise he was greeted by two men in our yard. Picking up our pecans. Now Mitchell does not have the same view that I do on the pecan picking. Therefore, he does not want the strangers in our yard.

The pecan picking is not what made him immediately honk the horn or jump out of the truck - oh no! It wasn't the fact that there were two strange men in our yard... keep guessing. It was because one of these men was not wearing pants.

Pants you say, pants are overrated. Pants are not necessary if you are wearing, say shorts. But this gentleman wasn't even wearing those. Simply just a sweat shirt, and what seemed to be under-roos!

Mitchell and these men exchanged words (no bleeps necessary!) and needless to say I don't think they will be back to pick the pecans I don't want. But I am considering leaving pants in the yard for him in the morning. I think he needs those more than the pecans. After all he does pick those everyday!