Two Scoops...WTF???

[This post is dedicated to my husband Brandon. Ok, hubby...I seem to be in a dedicating sort of mood today so this blog is for you. Although, you may not appreciate it...hehehe.]

So, I'm sure you're asking yourself...why the need for implied vulgarity??? Well, all week (yes, an ENTIRE two days) my husband has ranted and raved (ok, maybe just commented) every morning on how the nice, natural, organic raisin bran I bought him is a far cry from the well known cereal which cheerfully advertises "two scoops" of raisins and instead his cereal has more like "2,000 scoops". (Now, let me just say that I am not a raisin bran fan to begin with. I don't know...there's something about tiny mushy slimy cardboard flakes mixed in with dried sugar laden dehydrated prune/grape balls that just doesn't do it for me. Call me crazy.)

Anyway, not that the hubby prefers the well known brand(which will remain nameless to protect the innocent) but I have been forced against my will to look into his cereal bowl about a thousand times every morning at his utter disbelief that the ratio of raisins to bran flakes is about 5,000 to 1 and this is after he has picked out 900 small handfuls of raisins already... The HORROR people!!!

Ok, I may have exaggerated a little bit, but moral of the story...I'm going back to buying Cheerios.

(love you baby!!!)

My Love Affair...

Ok, don't tell my husband but I'm having an affair...with the Oregon Coast. See, it's not so bad, I think he's probably having the same affair. *Gasp* Seriously though, nothing fulfills my soul more than a trip to the Oregon Coast. It is so magical, so peaceful and so beautiful. I truly feel blessed and grateful that I'm able to regularly experience this amazing part of the country and it's only a little over an hour's drive away.

We love the entire coast but one of our favorite spots is Depoe Bay, OR and the surrounding areas. It feels more and more like home to us each time we go. I mean what's not to love...waves crashing and thundering onto rocky cliffs, breathtaking coastline, sea lions (did you see the cutie up there?), tide pools, lighthouses, pebble beaches, sea birds, whale watching, some of the most spectacular dense forests you've ever seen and pretty much the freshest seafood possible. Should I go on? The plan is to eventually have our own wellness clinic and beach house there in the "not-so-distant" future and that is definitely a plan that keeps us going every day. I have been known to break the rules once or twice and who says you have to wait for retirement?! ;)

"Don't you (forget about me)..."

JOHN HUGHES (February 18, 1950 – August 6, 2009)

We will never forget about you John Hughes...I just felt the need to write a small tribute to this amazing writer/producer/director. My teenage years would have been completely different without his films being a part of them. I mean honestly I think we all feel that John Hughes was THE best thing about the 80's.

Small piece of interesting info that I just learned tonight reading an article about him...

"Hughes was a salesman's son who recalled having a fairly happy childhood, though he was a bit of a loner in high school. An art student at the University of Arizona, he dropped out and returned to the Chicago area, where he began sending jokes — unsolicited — to such comedians as Norm Crosby and Rodney Dangerfield.

He then moved into advertising before becoming a Hollywood screen writer in the late 1970s who, like so many in his profession, tired of seeing his work changed. He wanted to direct. He was unsure how, and afraid to work with experienced actors, so he came up with a simple, youthful plot — a bunch of teens in a single room, which became "The Breakfast Club." (His second release as a director, "Sixteen Candles," came out first.)"

- By HILLEL ITALIE, AP

So, I want to try and keep this short and sweet with a list of some of his most memorable films...

The Breakfast Club

Sixteen Candles

National Lampoon's Vacation

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Mr. Mom

Weird Science

Pretty in Pink

Some Kind of Wonderful

Home Alone

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Uncle Buck

The Great Outdoors

...and in the words of the late great John Candy as Lasky (guard at Walley World in National Lampoon's Vacation)

"Sorry folks, park's closed. Moose out front shoulda told ya"

Thanks for everything John Hughes

Ok Portland...I'll keep you

For anyone who doesn't already know me...I am not a fan of the heat. nope. not one bit. not at all. that would be no. I was probably born in an ice cube if that tells you anything. So, during my third lovely summer residing here in Portland, OR she (I decided today Portland was a "she"...because only a woman would do this...and yes, I am aware I am one) anyway, SHE decided to have a record breaking heat wave last week and while we were only 1 degree shy from breaking our all time high of 107 degrees, we had 3 days in a row over 100 and then proceeded to have 10 consecutive days over 90 degrees. Let's just say...I was not a happy girl.

BUT I survived and when I woke up this wonderful August morning to a gorgeous 60 degrees and only a high around 80 degrees today I decided to keep her. So, for now I will unpack my bags and cancel my plane ticket to Alaska. Thank you Miss Portland, all is forgiven (shhhh, she's secretly dating Seattle...don't tell anyone) and yes, I am a complete nerd.

Let Me Introduce Nolia...

Ok, so I finally decided to do my first blog post...and I'm going to start with explaining where my blog, alter ego and business name "Nolia" came from. Obviously, from the above picture it blossomed (pardon the pun) from "Magnolia"... not just the flower but the very misunderstood movie as well. Let's start with the flower...the above pic is a Star Magnolia, but I do not discriminate, I love almost every version of this flower (and let's just say I am not quite a "flower sort of girl" so this is big for me). They are not only beautiful but very complicated and mysteriously layered blooms...hmmm, I just may be able to relate to the complicated and layered part possibly explaining my mysterious attraction to them...lol. ;)

The Magnolia also symbolizes nobility, perseverance, beauty and the love and respect of nature. Which was perfect when I came up with my business name. I wanted to create and represent products based in nature for both outer and inner beauty and we all know starting a business takes perseverance. I'm also not an "obvious sort of girl" and the term "magnolia" was too direct for me so I preferred the not so obvious "nolia". TA DA! There you have it folks...I'm sure that was worth waiting for, lol.

Now, just a quick note about the movie Magnolia (which also inspired the name)...it is one of the most misunderstood films of all time in my opinion, and I stress my opinion (hence the name nolia's notion...hehe). If you take this movie at face value or even it's direct/subtle connotations (yes, that somehow is possible) then this movie becomes a whole different entity. What I pulled out of it is the deeper message of...if we would all just "wise up" and be true to ourselves and live honest to who we are, then all can be right with the world. It's about looking at yourself and your beautifully complicated layers and accepting them...fully.

So, with that my fine layered friends..."Nolia" was born. Welcome to my world.