Monday Want and 5 for Five

Hello, all.  I hope you had a fabulous weekend.  Mine was pretty fantastic, as we celebrated my friend's daughter's 21st birthday.  We headed to Vegas so she could really celebrate.  We had a great time, and I even got to visit some family while I was there. 

When we were in Vegas, I saw all kinds of cute sandals, which made me really want to break out mine.  Or, better yet, buy some new ones!  There was a pair at Target (online) that I saw and loved, but I waited too long, and now they're gone.  Boo.  But for about $60 more (boo again!), I can get these fabulous flats from Zara's.  I'm in love!  (Apparently, my obsession with leopard print is still going strong!)

So today is Monday, and I have to say, it feels like Monday!  I have so very, very much to do this week, so I'm going to go ahead and set my new goals to help me get it all done!
1.  Sign up for the Relay for Life that is this Saturday so I can walk on my friend's team in memory of her husband, Kenny, who was taken from us way too soon.
2.  Look for curtain rods to hang up my living room curtains.
3.  Go to bed by 10.  At least once this week.  I would write all week, or two or three days, but I know that I am just setting myself up for failure if I do that.
4.  Karate. 3 days.  Plus Saturday, if I can swing that and the Relay for Life's opening ceremonies and lap, which my daughter and I always go to.
5.  Italian lessons both days this week.  (I didn't get to do my lesson on Thursday- just not enough time!
Goals from last week, and my progress:
1. Hang up my new curtains in my family room.  I got the ones for the sliding glass doors hung up.

2. Get a hold of the damn trash company.  Finally I did get a hold of someone, and she was very nice and helpful, and that broken dishwasher will be out of my garage soon!

3. Mail Becky's present already.  Nope.  Waiting for my Mom to be ready to mail her stuff too.

4. Go to karate 3 days this week to get back on schedule.   So close.  I made it twice and then couldn't go Thursday so I could visit with some family who were here from Wyoming.  They were here all weekend, but I left right after work Friday for Vegas, baby!

5. Get my students' book reports graded this week.  Half way there.

Thanks to Party of One and Fantastically Average for hosting the 5 for Five link up!

If You're Going to San Francisco...

Hello, all.  How was your weekend?  How was your Monday?
My weekend was pretty fantastic.  My Monday was okay.
First, let's get down to business.  Last Monday I joined 5 for Five from the blog Party of One  and Fantastically Average to set my goals for the week.  The deal- you set 5 goals for the upcoming week, blog about them, and then use the knowledge that people are watching to make yourself follow through with your goals.

Here's a recap of mine from last Monday:

1.  Clean/organize my closet. --Ha.  Yeah right.

2.  Drop off donations to the Salvation Army.  -- Done and done.

3.  Call the trash company to get the broken dishwasher picked up and out of my garage.   --Called a couple of times, trying to get through, but no one ever seems to be working at that place.

4.  Mail my sister-in-law's (very) late birthday present.  --Okay, not done.  Almost though.  I met my brother in San Francisco to give him the gift to take back, but he couldn't get it in his luggage, so I will have to send it after all.

5.  Establish a schedule for learning Italian.  --Tuesdays and Thursdays, baby.  Done.

 

New set of goals for this week:

1. Hang up my new curtains in my family room.

2. Get a hold of the damn trash company.

3. Mail Becky's present already.

4. Go to karate 3 days this week to get back on schedule.

5. Get my students' book reports graded this week.

Okay, done.  We'll see how that goes.

Like I was saying before, we went to San Francisco over the weekend.  It was a little bit of a last minute trip, and we had a great time.  I feel like this trip we ate our way through the city.  We stayed at a decent hotel.

This hotel site was designated a landmark, with the hotel itself being designated a San Francisco landmark.  WWII soldiers being deployed would meet their sweethearts at the top of the hotel, known as the Top of the Mark (via).  The location in Nob Hill was pretty close to Union Square, so we were in walking distance to shopping and the theater.

My little Miss heading down to Union Square so we could catch the BART to the mission district to do some eating and shopping.

Okay, so our first stop was Craftsman & Wolves for these muffins, known as The Rebel Within.   They are delicious and have a soft boiled egg cooked inside the muffin.  Delicious, I tell you.

 Shoot.  I'm hungry now.

The Cat ordered the valrhona drinking chocolate with violet marshmallows.  How was it?  Let me answer by telling you that this is now the Cat's favorite restaurant.  She wanted to eat there again the next day.

In addition to having delicious, savory breakfast foods and sandwiches and things, they also have quite an array of desserts and pastries.  It was hard to choose just one thing, but we did- the caramel chocolate pearl travel cake.  Hello, lovely.

I love San Francisco, but let me tell you- if I lived there, I would be broke and overweight.  I would spend ALL of my money on food.

That's all for me today; I will share more pics of our trip on Thursday.  After I've done my Italian lesson, of course.

Minor Obsession: Ampersands

This week, I thought I would link up with Jenn and Jessica for 5 for Five (see link below to check out others who are linking up).  Basically, you set 5 goals for yourself for the work week and then give yourself 5 days to complete said goals, and share next week whether you were successful or not.

Considering I can be quite the procrastinator, this could be just the motivation I need to get stuff done!

So here goes...

1.  Clean/organize my closet.

2.  Drop off donations to the Salvation Army.

3.  Call the trash company to get the broken dishwasher picked up and out of my garage.

4.  Mail my sister-in-law's (very) late birthday present.

5.  Establish a schedule for learning Italian.

Whew!  I could go on and on, but that first goal could literally take me all week.  Not kidding.  You should see my closet.  

 

So, wish me luck.  And now I'd like to bring you something that I am a little obsessed with: ampersands.  Ah, the ampersand.  I even love the word itself.  But seriously, how aesthetically pleasing is this little symbol?!  Am I the only one who just thinks it is so pretty?  Especially when it is portrayed as a wave with a ship resting on it.

Ampersand Boat by Francisco Martins

I am loving this print by artist Francisco Martins.  Good Lord.  I love it.  Those colors are fantastic.  

Ampersand Cork board at Kohl's

How cool is this cork board?!  (And it's on sale!)  I think this would be so fun in an office.  In my office.  

Calamari Studio

Watercolors are so pretty, aren't they?!

Fred Flare

This one is a bottle opener, so you can have another & another.

With that, I will wish you a happy Monday!