A hiking we will go...

CJ and I have been hiking fools lately. About six months ago we decided we would climb Mount St. Helens. We are going with a group of 10 other friends on July 22-24th. CJ's 30th birthday is on Friday July 22nd. We will be camping at Climber's Bivouac Base Camp and then departing Saturday morning at 4:30 am for the summit. Yes, you heard me, 4:30 am! Yikes ;-)

To prepare for this we have been hiking all over the NW. Over Spring Break we went to Orcas Island in the San Juans. We hiked Mt. Constitution and had a spectacular view of all of the sound.

We've also hiked Smith Rock, Sahalie Falls, Coyote Wall, Council Crest, and Saddle Mountain. It has been great training and I think we are pretty prepared for the climb. We will be hiking over 4,500 feet in five miles to reach the top with an elevation over 8,300 feet. We have to wear gaiters and rent an ice pick from REI. Apparently the view from the rim is spectacular and then you get to glissade down the mountain when you are done. It sounds exhausting and awesome all at the same time. It is supposed to take 9-10 hours total. I am confident I will need a lot of ibuprofen afterwards ;)

For more information on climbing Mt. St. Helens, check out the National Forest Service Website. I will definitely blog about it when we get back.

great news :)

I AM KEEPING MY FIRST GRADE CLASSROOM AT ROSEDALE ELEMENTARY!!!!

With all of the budget cuts, I was sure I would be losing my job. The Hillsboro School District had initially thought 65 positions would be cut since they are losing almost $20 million in funding from the state. But, with enough retirements they are keeping most of the positions. Not only do I get to stay full time, but I will be in the same school and grade level!

I am ecstatic! I love my school, my students, and my teammate. Yay!

Favorites in the Kitchen

I love my kitchen for what it is. It is decent in size and layout. I have tried to do as much as I can to make it my own. Someday I will be able to build a kitchen that looks like the one in the movie, "It's Complicated" {Click there to see it, it is fantastic!} For now, I am filling it with some fantastic and much needed appliances, organizers, etc.

The best blender a girl could ask for- The Vitamix 5200. My sweet husband bought me this for my birthday last year. You can blend anything you could ever think of in about 10 seconds. These are the same blenders used at Jamba Juice. It has a motor with 2 horse power- it is crazy! I have made soups (yes, it gets hot enough to make soup), ice cream, sauces, marinades, and smoothies. Delicious! Today's smoothie is: kale, raspberries, carrots, pineapple, pomegranate juice, and water. AMAZING!

Another fantastic appliance is the Bialetti. It is an Italian espresso maker that makes 6 shots of espresso in five minutes. I love making a homemade nonfat latte, I really love it when CJ makes it for me ;)

Finally, I have reorganized my spice racks, shelves, and cupboard. I bought this cute little wall hanging for most of my spices {and the awesome knife rack}. Then I reorganized the spice/medicine cabinet. So much nicer!

30 Before 30 List

I will be turning 30 in November, yes, 30~ How did this happen so fast? It amazes me how quickly the days go by {I know, I sound like an 85 year old woman!} Last October I began to write my 30 before 30 list. This is a list of things I want to do before I turn 30. I've had the list on my iPhone but had yet to publish it publicly {really, for no rhyme or reason.}

Here it is- in no particular order:

1. Visit Crater Lake

2. Take a cooking class

3. Go salmon fishing

4. Eat at Salvador Molly's

5. Hike up a mountain to see the sunrise

6. Read Jane Austin's complete set- 8 of her finest novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Lady Susan, and Love and Friendship

7. Learn how to make sushi

8. See a concert this summer at Edgefield, Maryhill or The Gorge Amphitheater

9. Go to The San Juan Islands

10. Make my own infused vodka

11. Take a sewing class

12. Run, yes RUN a 5k

13. Watch the movie Chinatown with my dad

14. Eat at Voodoo Donuts

15. Eat at the renowned Mama's Restaurant in San Francisco {Not just the for the food, but because my dear friend Felicia is a 3rd generation owner/baker/flap-jacker extraordinaire!}

16. Watch the Oregon Ducks play in the National Championship ~ Go Ducks!

17. Make at least one new friend {Cheesy, I know but it is important to expand your comfort zone once in awhile.}

18. Lose 8% of my body fat- I am not making a pound goal but a body fat goal

19. Learn a new game

20. Create a strong workout plan with a trainer and stick with it!

21. Do a brewery tour of Hood River

22. Go to the Dallas Cowboy stadium to see the Ducks play LSU

23. Do something I don't think I can do

24. Visit Maryland to see my dear friend Mrs. Pearson

25. Go to Boston

26. Hike Mt. St. Helens

27. Learn how to shoot a gun

28. Stay at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas

29. Remodel our 2 bedroom apartment connected to the garage

30. Get pregnant

To Date I have completed:

2. Take a cooking class- I did this in Mexico, it was so fun!

7. Learn how to make sushi

15. Eat at the renowned Mama's Restaurant in San Francisco {Not just the for the food, but because my dear friend Felicia is a 3rd generation owner/baker/flap-jacker extraordinaire!}

16. Watch the Oregon Ducks play in the National Championship ~ Go Ducks!

17. Make at least one new friend {Cheesy, I know but it is important to expand your comfort zone once in awhile.}

19. Learn a new game- I love Phase 10! Thanks Reagan and Eric :)

20. Create a strong workout plan with a trainer and stick with it! I LOVE Annie Flitcroft at Hawthorn Farms. She is a rockstar trainer.

Coming up and or progress made:

-This Sunday I will be running, yes running {shocking most for me} the Shamrock 5k.

-Tonight we will be going on a double date with Jay and Nicole to Salvador Molly's. I cannot wait, but do not think I will be participating in eating the Fire Balls that were on Man v. Food :)

-Next weekend CJ and I are staying at Orcas Island (in the San Juans) for 3 nights

-In 3 weeks Miss Emily and I are doing a girls trip to Hood River for the brewery tour!

-I am currently working with my personal trainer and in 5 weeks I have lost 2% of my body fat! And an inch around my (abdomen, bicep, waist, thigh, hips, and chest)

-Our two bedroom apartment is currently being remodeled as I write this

a special thanks

to those family and friends who have been there for us in the last few months. thanks to those of you who went out of your way to be there for us. for sending kind words. keeping us in your prayers. we love you all very much. thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

xoxo, amy and cj

So quiet!

CJ has been gone for five nights now. He is in Glendale, AZ for the National Championship {GO DUCKS!} while I have to stay at home for work. Don't feel too bad for me. We will be in Cancun in two weeks.

The house is sooooooooo quiet! My sister and her boyfriend Evan only left an hour ago. So, this is what it would be like to live alone? Hmmm, not sure if I like it. I have had something fun to do each night and have been able to keep myself busy, but I don't know if I would be happy living on my own. I enjoy my own company, but I also really enjoy the company of my husband. I miss him.