Kayla's Favorite Things

Unlike Oprah, you aren't going to get my list of favorite things, but you are oh-so-privileged to get the full run-down of some of my recently-enjoyed favorite things...

1. Wii - My parents got me one for Christmas (thank you Mom and Dad!). We've enjoyed bowling, boxing, tennis, and Mariokart. I know I'm a little behind the times on the Wii, it's old news to you, but I'm loving it!

2. 24 - I love that this show is back on (I'm watching this week's episode right now). It's not the same watching it without my college roomies, but it does bring back lots of great memories. Like the time we watched 9 hours straight of it because it's so addicting and hard not to when we had it on DVD. And who doesn't like to root for Jack Bauer?!?! In college I used to tease my roommate throughout the entire show, asking her if she thought Jack was going to die, it would drive her crazy because she was more than a little smitten with Jack-Attack...

3. Neon-Yellow Brooks Running Jacket - This was another Christmas present (thanks again!) and it's awesome because when I'm running in the dark I know people will see me. Unfortunately there still aren't enough hours of daylight for running in the light, but I love this jacket because it ensures I'm seen in the dark. Plus it keeps me nice and warm!

4. Peanut Butter Cookie Luna Bar - Eventhough this was one of the Luna Bars that was recalled due to the Salmonella Peanut Butter scare, it has quickly become one of my favorites. Caramel Nut Brownie is a close second.

5. All the buzz about Coraline - It's so crazy/weird/exciting to see all the media buzz about the release of Coraline. I have seen it and its pretty cool - I hope you'll see it too when it comes out February 6th and let me know what you think!

Now that you know some of my recent favorite things, I'm thinking it's time to share some of my recent "things that annoy me" hmm....

Balancing Act

Life is a balancing act. That's part of why life is so hard - you're always trying to find that balance between all the different parts of your life..... or at least I am, I guess I should speak for myself here. Perhaps those of you reading have already found balance in your life. =)

Recently I've had balance on my mind - I've been thinking a lot about what I want to commit my time and energy to and what that means for my daily routine. The crazy thing about trying to find balance is that you never really find it. It's the search for it that you learn what you want more of / less of in your life and then you adjust accordingly.

So that's what I've been up to - working on finding balance in my life. I'll let you know when I find it.

At work we're getting excited for the release of Coraline - February 6th is the U.S. release date. It's exciting to see the culmination of years of work be released.

I know its been a while since I last posted - I guess while I've been trying to find balance I've neglected to blog. Actually, really it's just that I'm on the computer all day at work so when I get home I sometimes stay away from the computer.

Yep, still here

The last week/weekend have been busy with catching up on all the pieces of my life. Catching up at work, catching up on laundry, catching up on the dishes, and then a little more general catching up. This week promises to be pretty busy again with some work things and so on. I promise I'll "catch-up" on my blog soon..... =)

Back to reality, back to snow, back to Portland

This afternoon I made the drive back up to Portland - it was less eventful as the drive down to Medford thankfully. That is with the exception of the snow greeting me as I came into Wilsonville! It's supposed to warm up tomorrow and melt away, and that's exactly what I'm hoping it will do.

Tomorrow I head back to work after a total of 2 weeks off. Thanks to the Arctic Blast before Christmas I ended up getting a couple more days off than originally planned. It's been great to have this much time off to relax - I actually feel rested and ready to go at it again, even though I could continue sleeping in and relaxing for a few more days.....but who doesn't feel like that after a break?

I hope your 2009 is off to a great start and I look forward to sharing the new year with you!

Away time, Home time

There is great value in taking time to get away and relax... I'm definitely enjoying the value of time off. Christmas was great - very quiet and relaxing. Over the past week I've just been spending time with my family, doing a little shopping, enjoying the company of friends, catching up on sleep, reading, playing Wii (aka making my arm sore!), and just enjoying being away from "normal life". After being in my job for right at a year, and only having taken off a total of about a week off from work, I have savored my time away from the daily craziness and found some quiet here in my comfort-filled "home".

The only struggle I find is what to really call this place. It is the home I was raised in so it is natural for me to refer to it as "home". Although I don't live here anymore, I haven't really lived here in about 5 years, and I don't plan on moving back in (I'm sure that's a relief to you Mom!). However it feels somewhat unnatural to refer to it as my parents' house - probably mostly because I walk into a room and it is so incredibly familiar and comfortable. Every room is filled with memories, good memories, sad memories, all kinds of memories fill this home. That's part of the charm of coming back to it. However the best part of being here is who I get to be with, and as I think about it more, I have decided that is really what makes it "home" to me. The three people who mean so very much to me are all here and that's what makes this location special. So while I am "grown-up" (whatever that's supposed to mean) and have a place of my own, this place will always be a wonderful mix of home AND my parent's place.

Here's to many wonderful memories to be made wherever you are in the coming year!

Happy New Year!

I made it to Medford in one piece

Tonight I am very thankful to be at my parents' home in Medford - the drive was long, but worth it. I'll post more about the drive and my new found skill - getting the chains on and off my car - probably tomorrow. I am exhausted - between the long drive, the stress of it all and just my body being sore from shoveling multiple feet of snow (not to mention the long hikes in the deep snow)....lets just say I'm so ready to jump in bed and sleep for hours on end.

Thanks for the prayers for a safe trip - I'm so very thankful to be home!

I'll be home for Christmas (no question mark included)

That's right, I'm going to make it home for Christmas. We got my car out of the snow tonight (had to dig about a foot and a half of snow away from my car, but we did it) and the chains worked like a charm. I have my car parked up in the Montgomery Park parking lot ready to go and I will be caravaning with a friend from High School all the way home. Please pray for clear roads, the other drivers out, and myself and Mary tomorrow as we head to Medford. It's looking like I'm going to get a 2 week Christmas vacation! =)