Birthday Girl

One of my best friends, Tamara, turned 24 today. We have such a close, unique friendship; a friendship any girl would be privileged to have. Tamara is my right hand road trip gal, a comedian, a listener, a consoler, my tea companion, my strength, and my second sister. I just wanted to say:
HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY, GORGEOUS!

Margaritaville

The Food Network informed me it was National Margarita Day yesterday...I felt the only appropriate thing to do was to celebrate.
*~*~*~*~*~*~¡Salud!~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buyer's Remorse

I made two purchases within a 1 hour time frame tonight. My instincts are telling me I may have screwed myself with one. There's definitely something wrong with this picture...

Reminder:

My Latest Ambition

Photo taken on my Sunrise hike last year

I am currently training for this endeavor, but I've recently had to kick it into high gear. August is approaching sooner than I can blink an eye and my cardio and upper body strength is, by far, not where it should be. I've been putting gym time on the back burner and my body is definitely feeling it. Summiting Rainier is something I never saw myself doing. Small hikes and backpacking adventures is where I am comfortable and I always thought anything more than that is, well, insane. It took a trip to California to summit

Mt. Whitney in 2009 and the encouragement of a few friends, to believe in myself and the things I'm capable of. When the opportunity to hike Rainier presented itself, I was hesitant to grab at it....All these worries in my mind (I've never hiked in such cold temperatures, I've never used ice picks or crampons, I dont know if I could keep pace, what if I cant BREATHE! Mt. Whitney was high enough!...) Eventually I gave it more thought. Reconsidered. I am so in LOVE with that mountain. I love seeing how absolutely beautiful it is on a clear day. I don't want to just stare at it; I want to experience it. I want to see the world from the top of it. Life has worries, risks and inhibitions. That's just part to living. But all in all, you only live once, so you might as well take those risks. You might find that you may surprise even yourself.

I Survived

Oh Valentine's Day,
Why do you torment a single girl with your sappy love songs (we all hate to admit we like) on the radio, heart-shaped boxed chocolates beckoning in every grocery store aisle, and enough roses to put an end to world stench? I survived you yet another year. I hope one day we may come to an understanding again...BUT for now you are nothing a burger and some alcohol can't take care of.

Yours truly,
Emily


Ok, before you go and call me a cold-hearted, Cupid-killer, know that I am not that bitter. In the spirit of LOVE (and my love for chocolate and wonderful coworkers), I did make special treats for my special people at work. They were quite the hit...

Here it Goes...

Well, here it goes...I am no longer a virgin to the blogging world. It took me many months to figure things out, but I'm finally here! I'm still sorting things out, but I'm to the point where I thought I'd make my debut. I now have a place to share my recent adventures, photos, thoughts and art. I hope you all enjoy, and oh...Welcome to my blog!