Day 365: 30th Birthday Party

Because I started this project with a self-portrait, I'm ending this project with a self-portrait. Looking back at the first one, I'm pleased to see that I really don't look any different than I did on my 29th birthday. I'm also pretty excited that I completed my first 365 Project!!

Day 364: Birthday Dinner

My birthday dinner at Applebee's.

Day 363: Next Project

First Year of My 30s

Day 362: Birthday BBQ

We went to Kevin's for a BBQ for his birthday. Sarah got a pinata and after Kevin beat the crap out of it, he wore it as a hat.

Day 361: Honey Wheat Brick

I was reading in my textbook that lumbermen had fresh bread with dinner and that made me want fresh bread. So, I threw the ingredients in the bread-maker and ended up with a brick. It certainly didn't rise like it was supposed to. ":(

Day 360: Lilacs

I was worried my lilac bush wasn't going to bloom this year and I then I discovered it's a late spring bloomer.

Day 359: Old Window

I was cleaning up the garage today (because the builders are going to be starting demolition soon) and I noticed how cool the window was, especially with the flowers on the other side.

Day 358: Dow Run/Walk

Today was the Dow Run/Walk. My time was 44:24 (which is 3 minutes faster than my time in 2009).

Day 357: Wanda's Back

The pool isn't as scary as I thought it would be, but it still needs a good cleaning. Thankfully, Wanda is on the job!

Day 356: Loon's Game

Dad and I went to a Loon's game and sat right behind home plate. It was pretty cool. Our section was picked to compete against another section for a prize. Our section had to sing Piano Man--I couldn't hear what the other section sang. We won coupons to Damon's.

Day 355: Tie-Dye Shirt

This is the shirt I made for the Dow Run/Walk.

Day 354: No Hail

Here is a picture of the rain storm. That's all it was. The weather people had me all excited for hail, but we didn't get any. Just 15 minutes of rain or so.

Day 353: Memorial Day Marigolds

Ashley and I picked up two flats of Marigolds to plant around Mom's garden. We planted them today, but I completely forgot to take a picture of them until we were driving home at 9:30 at night. Luckily, we drove Eastman Road, which is lined with Marigolds. So, at a stoplight, I took a picture.  ":)

Day 352: Family Portrait

We did a family portrait to update Granny's photo wall.

Day 351: Painting

Ashley and I decided we're going to make homemade treats for the boys, so Ash decided we needed a jar to put them in. She bought one at the craft store and the boys helped her decorate it. Neither one was really interested in helping, but did so anyway. (The pink shirts in the background are the tie dye shirts we made for the Dow Run/Walk.)

Day 350: Artichoke, Chicken & Salsa

Day 349: Pasta

I can't wait to try out this hand-me-down pasta maker from Sarah's family. I am all about making my own food this summer (canning, dog treats, etc), so I really can't wait to try this out. I hope it works well.

Day 348: New Wiper Blades

Why is it that windshield wipers are such a pain? They really aren't all that difficult, but for some reason I always have such a hard time with them. It took me awhile to get them changed, but Alcatraz has three new windshield wipers and she is very happy (and so am I).

Day 347: Lone Tree

Day 346: Spring Flowers

Spring flowers are popping up all over the backyard.

Day 345: Memorial

For my last class I'm writing a paper on the Bath School disaster of 1927. On the way home from Grand Rapids, we stopped by the memorial in Bath so that I could check it out. It was kinda creepy.

Day 344: Waterfall

While visiting Ashley in Grand Rapids, we went to the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. The place is huge, and there were a lot of sculptures and flowers, but the place wasn't quite as cool as I thought it would be. Still it was pretty cool.

Day 343: Girls' Weekend

This was picture number three in the series. We were trying to take a good photo of the three of us when they plotted against me.

Day 342: Team Pink

We formed a team for the Dow Run/Walk in June. We're going to make pink tie-dye shirts for the walk. I'm very excited.

Day 341: Salsa Chicken

For dinner I had grilled chicken topped with homemade salsa. It was so good, I should really make that more often.

Day 340: Salsa

Tomorrow is a potluck at work, so I made homemade salsa.

Day 339: Leaves

Day 338: Backyard

Day 337: Castle Museum

Mandy, Sarah, Lily and I went to the Castle Museum in Saginaw.

Day 336: Screen

I'm so glad that it's finally screen door weather. I think the dogs are pretty pleased about it too.

Day 335: Last Class

These are the books for my LAST class at SVSU.

Day 334: Pomegranate Margarita

I had drinks with Trisha and Carly after work. This is my second pomegranate margarita.

Day 333: Daisy Burgers

Day 332: Pre-Flower

I planted this last spring and it came back! I can't wait until it flowers.

Day 331: Mother's Day

Day 330: Cinco de Mayo Party

Sarah had the best "hat" for the 5th Annual Cinco de Mayo Hat Party.

Day 329: Hat Day

In honor of the Kentucky Derby (tomorrow) we had hat day at work. In honor of the 6th (?) Annual Cinco de Mayo Hat Party (tomorrow) I wore my hat to work today.

Day 328: Squeaky Clean

Somebody decided to roll in something disgusting in the yard, so the mutts got a bath. Neither was too happy about it.

Day 327: Dinner

Day 326: Souvenir

This is really the only thing I spent money besides food in Miami.

Day 325: Everglades Alligator

We saw a few alligators on the air boat ride we went on in the morning, but we saw way more when we hiked a trail in the Everglades. We got to see a 9-foot alligator swimming (slowly) and thought he was going to get frisky with a female, but not much happened.

Day 324: Kayaking Biscayne Bay

Kayaking was a lot of fun, though out on the bay it could be a little scary at times, especially when a yacht would go sailing through. I probably wouldn't have thought much about it except for trying to paddling through the wake and because last time I went kayaking in the ocean, I rolled the kayak and lost my sunglasses.

Day 323: Strangler Fig

We drove around Miami so that I could collect research for my novel. We saw these gigantic trees all over Coral Gables. (I learned the name later.)

Day 322: South Beach

We flew into Ft. Lauderdale, picked up the rental car, and headed to Miami Beach. After checking into the hotel, handing off the keys to valet parking, we ate dinner, and then headed for the beach. Obviously we didn't swim, but after flying all day, we had to get our feet wet. Yay for vacation!

Day 321: Ready for the Beach

Day 320: Last Exam

The spring semester is finally over. Just one more class and I'm done forever!

Day 319: Sunshine

Day 318: Spring Flowers

Looks like spring is finally coming.

Day 317: Happy Easter!

I saw the Easter Bunny this morning. I love how the photo is like the Lochness Monster or Big Foot--vague and hard to see. ":)

Day 316: Chicken Parmesan Cheat

This is super easy. You'll need chicken patties or chicken nuggets, spaghetti sauce (homemade or store bought) and
Parmesan cheese (shredded or grated). 

Heat sauce on stove or in microwave. Sprinkle cheese on chicken and cook as directed on packaging. Top chicken with sauce and enjoy with garlic bread or pasta.