New blog site...

Now that I have a new email address, I also have a new blog site! Please go to my new blog at: angiehintz.blogspot.com

Thanks for following!

Selling our Acura MDX!

We're selling our car! If you know of anyone who's interested in an Acura MDX (an suv), have them call us at 360-778-3739, or refer them to our online ad listed at:

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=21&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7cE-%7cM-_1_%7cD-_5127_%7cN-N%7cR-30%7cI-1%2c7%7cP-PRICE+descending%7cQ-descending%7cZ-98225&aff=national&paId=288461490&recnum=0&leadExists=true

Thankful Friday

My sister in-law Teresa did a "Thankful Friday" blog this week, and since a little reflection never hurt anyone, I'm doing the same! Interestingly I was also in a very contemplative mood yesterday (Friday), so I'm gonna keep the name of the blog the same even though it's now Saturday morning. Here are some of my "thankfuls" (in no specific order):

- Ryan, for showing me that men DO have the ability to treat women with respect and dignity.
- my kitties, for being a constant source of happiness and laughter.
- my job and co-workers, I'm feel very lucky to have all kinds of opportunities at my doorstep.
- warm baths and a good book, there's no other way to de-stress.
- my little red car, for being so reliable (and fuel efficient) since I got it in high school.
- good movies, from drama, to action, to comedy, there's nothing like being able to step outside of your own life for a couple of hours. Ever since I took a cinema class in college, I have a completely different perspective of movies.
- beautiful Bellingham sunsets on the bay & Boulevard Park.
- Homecooked food

Luke & Kelsey's Wedding!

Another mini-vacation - this time in Prosser, WA. Prosser is about 30 miles west of Richland, WA (think Tri-cities). Even though the area is pretty dry & flat, it's known as the wine-country of Washington state. We arrived Friday evening, got into our hotel room, went to dinner & then met up with several friends and family members (around our age) also going to the wedding. Saturday morning we immediately went to the pool, layed out in the sun, went on a wine-tasting excursion, and then got ready for the 5:00pm wedding.

The weather was actually sort of cloudy and humid (for the area), and by the time we were headed to the ceremony, the clouds got darker and more "looming". Literally minutes before we arrived, there was thunder, lightning, wind, and rainshowers. Poor Kelsey, Luke & families!!! Kelsey told me later that dozens of guests already there bombarded the interior of their house & got a good look at Kelsey in full wedding attire (before she got frustrated and moved elsewhere). We wondered if there was a Plan B...

Fortunately, the lightning & thunder stopped, the rain lightened up to sprinkles, and the ceremony proceeded without a hitch. It was officiated by Kelsey's older brother - which was very sweet, and he cried as soon as he began the ceremony.

The rest of the night was filled with a little burst of more rain (which cleared up & then made a huge rainbow), a great dinner, lots of alcohol, singing and dancing. The reception tent was in the "lower" lot of the property - and it was HUGE! It looked like a big circus tent with the ceiling raised up on two tall poles. But it was the best wedding tent I've ever been in (generally, I don't like them).

The next day, we woke up, got breakfast, and hit the road again. It was very relaxing, and SO nice to get some sun/heat!! We missed our soccer game on Sunday, but it was worth taking some personal time from the busy schedule. Next Sunday, we'll be back in full force to battle two teams. Green Street Hooligans beat the Bellinghammers!!!

Memorial Day weekend in Victoria, BC!

Last weekend, Ry and I took the opportunity to visit Victoria, BC. What a great trip! We took a passenger cruise directly from B'ham through the San Juan islands to Victoria. Along the way, we saw Orca whales, porpoises, and various other marine wildlife. The weather was amazing, Victoria is in the "banana belt" of WA and BC, so we got our long needed vitamin D (Bellingham has been dismal since last fall). We stayed in a cheapo motel (but great location) for 3 days, 2 nights - perfect for this trip. We visited Buchart gardens, the Parliament bldgs, the Empress Hotel, Craigadarroch Castle, Fisherman's wharf, the Royal BC Museum, and a few other neat sites. Check out our photos here.

**If anyone wants a two-for-one cruise ticket on the cruise that leaves from Bellingham, just let me know! I have a coupon that lasts from now through mid-September.

My Favorite Beauty Products (Some of them)

To get away from my last two posts (which are way more serious than I want to be right now), I'm posting a list of my favorite beauty products. These are my tried & true, old standbys when I'm sick of trying everything else. I would love to hear what your favorites are too!
Also, here is one website's list of 2008 Best Beauty Products: http://www.splendora.com/slideshow/reader_beauty_survey_results?page=16#content-jump

Facial cleanser: Olay Daily Facials, or Arbonne Hydrating Creme Wash

Facial moisturizer: Arbonne Day Creme, or Curel (the body lotion, really it's great)

Shampoo: still looking.... they're all pretty much the same to me

Conditioner: Infusium 23, Herbal Essences, anything with Cetearyl Alcohol as one of the main ingredients (Back to Basics is OK too, but most pricey brands I've tried aren't all they're cracked up to be)

Foundation: Arbonne Mineral Powder foundation, most L'Oreal liquid ones, but looking around also...

Mascara: Mary Kay Ultimate mascara (doesn't smudge at all, and washes off easy!), or any Maybelline mascara

Body Lotion: Curel, Eucerine, or St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter

More to come later!

Back to School & Teaching...

So, what do you do when you're bored with the daily grind? Sign yourself up to get into more debt!! Why, that's the answer! No really, how do you figure out what you want to be when you grow up?! When someone figures this out, please let me know (sooner rather than later).
Lately I've been throwing around the idea of going back to school. Specifically, I've been thinking about applying to Grad school to get a master's in Science Educ. Life is strange because even though I got a college degree in the Ed. field, and miss teaching in many ways, I'm not doing it as a career... Why? What am I afraid of? The only reason that comes to mind - is money. When one takes on a teaching job, they go into it knowing that it's not for the money. And yet, the practical side of me (obviously the bigger part) downright refuses to take a job that forces me to live paycheck to paycheck. Mom & Ted recently sent me an article that outlines this "double-edged sword" perfectly: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1713174,00.html ("How to Make Great Teachers" posted at Time.com). I couldn't have said it better, this article makes me furious & energized at the same time. What is the value of education? How do we show our schools (and children) that we value it?
If I go back into teaching, how can I be sure that I will be compensated for my hard work & dedication to the field? Because in reality, it's not me that get's evaluated for my raise.

Oprah's Big Give?

What can I say - there are some reality shows that I absolutely love. Supernanny, Dog Whisperer, House Hunters, American Idol... I almost can't watch fictional tv mini-series' anymore. They're just not as interesting to me. Recently, I saw Oprah's latest venture: Oprah's Big Give. Ten people who are given the challenge of giving the most (money) to a stranger in need. The "givers" are chosen ahead of time, the "givees" are chosen ahead of time, so the only variable here is what array of resources the Givers can pull from when preparing for their "big give". The contestants range from a young dot.com millionaire, to a miss usa finalist, to a typical middle-aged man and woman.
As soon as the show starts, it becomes clear that the stakes aren't exactly fair. Some of the contestants have years and years of experience at volunteering, soliciting donations, making and giving formal presentations, etc. But does this experience mean they are inherently the "biggest/ best" giver? I mean, many of us would enjoy being able to pay it forward, and provide someone with the things they need most in order to survive. But what if I don't have the resources to do that? What if I've never had experience polling large corporations for charity money? Right off the bat, I will be at a loss. Apparently, it's not enough to hand someone a warm coat for the winter.
By the end of the first show, it was clear that the judges criticized those who didn't raise more than $50k, and applauded those who raised more than that (I don't know what I could do to raise that kind of money). Inevitably, the first person voted off was a 30-something woman from NY, with no experience in these skills, but not necessarily less motivation or heart. Shows like Oprah's Big Give make me wonder, what type of person will the winner be? It's too bad, because this show makes it very apparent that what really matters to the judges, Oprah and "America" is who wins, not who has made the most progress.

I've now become ONE OF THEM!

I've become one of them - a blogger. Really it's more like an online notebook of our daily life (a diary sounds too personal). I guess the purpose of our blog right now is just to keep our friends and family current on our lives (although we'll see how often I post). Right now, Ry and I have finished moving into our "new" house in Sudden Valley - a neighborhood just East of Bellingham, WA, and right next to Lake Whatcom. It's REALLY densely forested, so hopefully I don't get too depressed in the wintertime!! But having this beautiful, huge lake so close to us will be GREAT in the summertime :) The house is really nice for a young couple, and we were fortunate with our good timing.
We would love to have family & friends over anytime - so just let us know if you want to visit for an hour, a day or weekend!