Inspired

There is this guy that I work with named Robert. He tells me all the time that I am his mentor. He is a great guy and he has inspired me. He is so giving and always thinking of others and working to improve himself. He reads a lot. One fiction and then one non-fiction book. He let me borrow the chuck norris audiobook which inspired me to listen to audiobooks. I now have a library card in my county and have borrowed some audiobooks. I am totally enjoying it.

Robert is one of the most thoughtful and giving people. He is always working to be a better person, he is honest, and will bend over backwards to help someone.

He decided to create a weight loss competition for 3 months, ending in august for whoever can lose the most body weight percentage. The prize is 250 bucks cash from him. Along the way there will be check ins and surprise giveaways. I joined it, I did pay 10 bucks to do so. That was not because of the money, but it is proven when u buy in you are more vested. I am a week behind since I just learned about it, but I have a good 30 pounds to lose. I think it is possible. I will be occasionally posting how I am doing. I know most women won't share their weight. I don't care because it won't be my weight for long! Wish me luck and keep me good.

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St. Augustine Beach & Alligator Farm

While Nikki was here, Jeff really wanted to see Gators and so we went to the Alligator Farm. I guess I should have gotten an annual pass in the first place. Oh well! We stayed about 2 hours here, playing in the park area, observing/feeding the gators, and just walking around. We did make it to watch one of the feedings. They fed the gators dead rats. After that we left because it was lightening and thundering.

Poor Amie was sick while she was with us. I don't know what the deal is with Heavenly Father sending all sick children to our house while they stay here...it means 1 of 2 things. 1) Our kids are going to be very sickly so we need to get used to it or 2) After dealing with sick kids so much we might not want to have kids!

This was a nice moment when she was happy - I am sure she is like this most of the time.

We went to Alligator Farm after going to St. Augustine Beach for about 2 hours. I am glad that we packed light, since we didn't stay too long. Amie did not like the beach and was upset most of the time, but Sissy totally loved it. That girl has a crazy sense of adventure! She could not stay still if her life depended on it. It was a very overcast day, which was nice becuase the son was not blaring, it was humid though. The girls both liked the splash pad. We got there about 11 AM  - probably a little earlier than that - and the tide was already up to the stairs again like before. Tide is just crazy at that beach - so unpredictable.

St. Augustine Carousel

While we were waiting for the chocolate tour we went to the Carousel that is near downtown St. Augustine. It is a $1 to ride and parents ride free with their kids. She was nice and didn't even charge me. It was a good ride for a buck. Also there is a really nice handicap accessible park right next to the carousel. I was amazed that they even have a teeter totter. I thought those had been banned from parks these days because you never see them there anymore. I realized later that the park is right next to the St. Augustine Main Library. I went back and finally got myself a library card! Woohoo!

Whetstone Chocolate Factory

Nikki loves chocolate and so I thought it would be perfect to go to the chocolate factory tour they have in St. Augustine. The family Whetstone have been making chocolate since the 1960's. A lot of the chocolates we see in the stores, they helped develop. They no longer work with companies like Mars, Nestle, etc. because they don't like the corporate game and what they do to the purity of the chocolate.

The tour itself is normally $7/an adult, but I had a Groupon which got one in for free. Pretty sweet! Plus, they give each paying customer a $2 off a $2 or more purchase. For even more sweetness.

The tour was cool, they show where chocolate comes from, how it is made, nutritional benefits, how to be a chocolatier, and you tour the factory, plus try all sorts of yummy chocolates. We tried:
*AVILES Blend Milk chocolate (31% Cocoa) - A Swiss formulation with a light sweetness and predominant milk flavor
*SAN MARCO Blend White Chocolate (0% Cocoa) - A Balanced creamy light caramel taste
*DE LEON Blend Dark Chocolate (47% Cocoa) - A reddish cast with a fruity, winey flavor
*MENENDEZ Blend Dark Chocolate (72% Cocoa) - European style low roast aged to provide a mellow balanced flavor
*Artisan Chocolate Piece - we tried the mint chocolate, and toffee chocolate shells.
*They also let us try maple nut fudge and key lime pie fudge. Both were SO delicious. The fudge was most definitely my favorite.

We had plenty to try and that alone paid for probably in surplus what we paid for the tickets.

Recognize this scene? It is from the "I Love Lucy" episode where they worked at the Chocolate Factory - I love that one!

It was a good time and I still have Omar and I's groupon to use for when he has time to come with me.

Yard Wars

Memorial Day was work day for Omar and I. Omar's most recent thing has been our yard. I feel like we are almost in yard wars with our next door neighbor. Our neighbor, Mario, is a super nice guy and he and Omar talk a lot. His yard is gorgeous. It is always perfectly trimmed and it is the most perfect shade of green, and the landscaping looks perfect. Did I mention it is perfect?

Omar didn't want to do mulch, so he did lava rock. Now with lava rock he needs something to keep the rock from getting in the grass. So we just got curbing. Now we need new bushes since our bushes did not come back. Now we need something for our mailbox so it is prettier. On and on...It amazes me how much work and MONEY a yard is. I almost dred this project being completed because Omar already has a list for the next thing for our house.

My parents came for Memorial Day and my mom helped me pick some plants to finish off our front yard for the time being. Here is our finished product. Pretty huh?

Fire!!!

I woke up this morning and was sneezing like crazy. I have training for the next 3 days for the Sandler Sales System and so will be going to the main office. As I was walking up to the main office I began sneezing again, which for anyone who has heard they are not small cutesy sneezes. They are the heart pounding, body shaking, loud sneezes. "Bless You" this guy called out to me and then began talking about the fires. The fires that I guess I am just oblivious have been occurring all around St. Johns County. They think that they are all caused by the same arsonist. That was the first time I had heard about it.

Lucky for me I had training today which allowed me to come home at 4pm. If I had left even 30 minutes later, I would not have been able to get home due to road closures. As I pulled into the road leading up to my neighborhood all I saw was black smoke and FLAMES! There was the news station lining the street and neighbors outside. I began to wonder if we would be evacuated. My first thought - "Oh no, I have been thinking seriously about a need for a 72 hour kit, but haven't done anything yet!!!" Not cool, especially since I am not a big procrastinator. I see the home sales lady, Sydney outside the model home and ask her if I should be worried. I was told that it was under control and not to worry.

I took this picture with my cell phone from my backyard. I took one as I was driving by the flames, but am not sure what happened to it.

Our friends Bri and Brandon might be evacuated (I guess it isn't under control like I was told), they live on the other side of 95 in the Gables. Scary stuff. I begin to Google "Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fires?" Still not quite sure. I think I am going to work on my 72 hour kit now.