I can see clearly now

LASIK on Friday was a success! The procedure was quick and painless. It was a bit uncomfortable, but nothing terrible--the whole thing last 7 minutes according to the hubby! I was home and taking a nap by 6 pm (the procedure was a 4:30 in Bellevue). And when I woke up--I could see!! I went back the next morning and they checked my eyes. 20/20 in each individual eye, and if I use them both (which I do :) ) it was 20/15!! Unbelievable!! I LOVE this!! I have to put drops in my eyes several times a day and can't rub them, etc., but that is small compared to how amazing it is not have glasses or contacts!! I guess there is always the chance that something can change, but right now I am super happy!!

A monogram for my friend

My friend Jess liked the monograms that I had, so I volunteered to make one for her. She likes it and so do I! :)

"Old" New Pictures

I realized that I never posted our "original" portraits by Clane (http://www.clanegesselphotography.blogspot.com/). This is actually how we met Clane. We were at the Ballard Farmer's Market one Sunday in March, getting some produce and enjoying the community when we saw Clane's booth set up. He was selling prints of his amazing landscapes and I overheard him talking to someone about doing portraits as well. I had been bugging Gessner for months to get portraits, so I went over to talk to Clane. He said that he did do portraits and that he had an opening the following weekend, but then was booked up for awhile. So, I went home and check out his blog and loved his work and Gess called right away and we set it up. So the next week we met Clane on Alki and he took our photos. He seemed like such a nice guys, so I suggested that we should get coffee sometime...and the rest is as they say "history!" Clane is such a great guy, and we love his girlfriend Skylar too. So...anyway, here are the photos that started the friendship :)

Gess, if you are reading...

...there are 19 shopping days until my birthday! That's right, only 19, so I thought that I would help you out with some ideas (what a nice wife)!

A big screen TV for watching hockey (see post below)

Well, and as long as I am dreaming...John-Michael Liles would be nice :) I bet he would look good in a red bow! :)

Image from Denver Post

Diamonds ARE a girl's best friend (and I haven't forgotten that you get that ice.com discount)!

1 Carat Studs from Ice.com

A trip to Bora Bora

For a month. Picture from here.

Shoes...I have been drooling over several pairs. 9 1/2. Here are a few more:

Kate Spade Kelesy

Or these red beauties by RSVP

Or maybe breakfast in bed

Good Bye Glasses...

I have worn glasses/contacts for so long, but tomorrow will hopefully be the last day! I am getting LASIK tomorrow afternoon! I must say that I am stoked!!

Thankful Thursday

I am nursing an injury right now and am pretty frustrated with it...but it reminds me that in general, my health is very good and I have access to get health care, which I am thankful for. This has been a crazy year for my family with health, but all-in-all we are doing pretty well. This injury is minor and will hopefully resolve with some rest.

Also, there is much discussion around about the health care system and the number of Americans without access to insurance (and let's not even think about access in third world countries) right now. I am so thankful that we have great health insurance and have so many opportunities when it comes to health care.

Happy Thursday!

Mosaic of Me

I saw this idea on Savoring the Details and loved it! 

Here is how to make your own!

Type your answer to each of the following questions into Flickr search. Using only the images that appear on the first page, choose your favorite image then copy and paste each the URL's into the mosaic maker (3 columns, 4 rows).

Here are the questions:

What is your first name? (Lisa)
What is your favorite food? (spaghetti and meatballs)
What high school did you attend? (Davis High School)
What is your favorite color? (Pink)
Who is your celebrity crush? (Blair Underwood)
Favorite drink? (Carmel Machiatto)
Dream vacation? (African safari)
Favorite dessert? (brownie sundae)
What do you want to be when you grow up? (artist)
What do you love most in life? (Gessner--my hubby)
One word to describe you? (determined)
Your Flickr name? (blonde lawyer)

1. Mona Lisa, 2. day 15: spaghetti with meatballs, 3. Pleasantville, 4. Sunny Side Up, 5. send off, 6. The usual please., 7. African Safari, 8. extreme sundae, 9. Little Artist, 10. Gessner. Idyllen. 1788., 11. Sally, Sally, pride of our alley, 12. shades of blonde

Unattended Children

Photo by Riddle

Countdown to Hockey Season...

With the weather making its decided turn into fall, I am reminded that hockey season is just around the corner! I think that I need to ask for a big screen TV for my birthday so that I can really watch the games this year! We just got rid of our biggest TV and I don't think that 19-inches is going to cut it!

Of course, I am a die-hard Colorado Avalanche fan. (Picture from Wiki). If you like any team that is red and white, don't even think about leaving a comment to this post!! :)

Our preseason opener is Sept. 24th--after which time Gessner will declare himself a hockey widow.

Joe Sakic hasn't announced if he will play this year (please do! UPDATE--he is coming back next year!!), but my future husband John-Michael Liles signed on for a couple more years recently, so I am stoked. Yay hockey!!
Picture found here (Isn't he goregeous?)

We haven't been to a game in a few years, so maybe it is time to plan another trip to Colorado!

Thinking out loud...

In January Gess and I will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary--10 years!! I can't believe it! My dilema ...what do we do to celebrate? A party? A trip? I feel like we need to do something "big" but I just don't know what!!! Hmmmmmm.....

Bad mood....

I'm in a bad mood right now...so I am looking at shoes!  J.Crew has some cute ones!!

Fleur Patterned Peep-toes in deep atlantic

And in Bright Rhubarb

And Spectator Mary Jane Peep-Toes in Ember

Random Fact About Me

It is Monday and I can't think of anything to post, so I will do a random fact about me:

I completed 2 triathlons in 2006--I was uber slow, but I crossed the finish line! I think that I will train for another on for summer 2009--anyone want to join me?

Tee for the Hubby

I found a perfect tee on Etsy from Mucheys shop for my hubby and couldn't resist ordering it. It came a couple of weeks ago and I LOVE it!! It is too cute. Those of you that know Gess will probably get the reference :) He wore it proudly to the Seahawks game last Saturday. I forgot to ask if he got any hugs!

Friday Find: Doggie of the Bride

So I was cruising some blogs and found this cute post by the Un-Bride about wedding t-shirts for dogs. The shirts are made by InkBox Design. They are SO cute!! I wish we had Beauty when we got married--so would have totally been part of it!! Wouldn't she look cute in one of these??

Family Photos

As promised, here are the images that Clane took while Gess's family (mom, sister, and niece) was here. Clane is SO talented!!! (To see his other work click here). These were taken at the Olympic Sculpture Park.