Friday, December 31, 2010

Goodbye 2010: A New Year, A New Start

I'm ringing in the New Year with my family. We're spending the evening celebrating the same we have for many years; with a movie and Chinese food then the Times Square ball drop on ABC. I know it's a little lame, but truthfully there's no where I'd rather be. I hope whatever you're doing to celebrate the start of 2011 that yo're having a safe and happy new year.
Tomorrow, there will be resolutions!
=)

Thursday, December 30, 2010

So glad...

Today was a good day. I finally, finally got a haircut. I know this does not seem like a big deal, but I have been putting this off for about forever. Mostly, I was putting it off because I didn't want to go back to Aveda and I couldn't find a new place. However, nearly 5-inches later I love my new haircut.
Other highlights from today include seeing Tangled (which was super cute and much funnier than I expected) and new mascara.
=)

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Well that's irritating...

Do ya'll remember back in November when I wrote about having jury duty? Well I was supposed to have a doctors appointment that morning. I called to rescheduled in the first week of November (before jury duty or my appointment) and was told the soonest I could be seen was tomorrow, December 30th at like 2 in the afternoon. I was all sorts of irritated (because at the time I also hadn't had my gallbladder out and I was still having some pretty intense pain), but I took the appointment. At some point after that, I'm not really sure when, the physician's office called and re-scheduled me again for this morning at 9AM. So imagine my surprise when I get there and they've canceled my appointment without informing me.The desk girl stated they had attempted to call me, at the wrong number, but obviously they were unsuccessful and she suggested I could see the PA (who I am NOT a fan of) or a partner I don't know or take an appointment (again at 2 in the afternoon) after the first of the year. This is starting to get ridiculous. All I want is refills on my migraine medication. ARGH!!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Post Christmas Shopping

Went shopping with Mom today. I was significantly more successful during today's trip; We went down to the Prime Outlets on International Drive. That place is a whole bucket full of busy/crazy/ridiculous, but I got some super awesome deals.
=)

Monday, December 27, 2010

Vacationing

Now I know that I recently missed a whole week of work for surgery, but I am currently on my previously scheduled regular vacation. Or rather staycation as I'm not actually going anywhere. I'm staying home, doing things with my family, getting things done that I've been putting off, and just relaxing. I'm sure by next Monday I'll be more than ready to return to work. Anyway, today was a fun day with my Mom.
Also, I got a Nook for Christmas and I'm quite enjoying it. I highly recommend it for anyone who is an avid reader. I got the non-color one, because mostly I read book, but if you're a magazine reader the new color version seems pretty nifty. I already finished Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, the next book for my book club, and I started The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Anyone have any book recommendations?
=)

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Boxing Day?

I'm not really sure what boxing day is; ok that's only a half truth. I get the premise behind it; the English tradition of boxing up the Christmas day leftovers for charity, but I'm just not sure how it works in modern times. Don't most people keep their leftovers (we had leftovers for dinner tonight). Just curious.
Also, We went to see True Grit today. It wasn't as boring as I expected it to be and it was actually pretty funny in parts. Overall I'd give it a B+ on the entertainment scale.
=)

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas!!

Obviously today was Christmas. It was a fun, quiet, and relaxing day at my parent's house. We opened presents, ate waffles for breakfast, napped, hung out together and watched the Disney Christmas Parade on TV, ate Chrsitmas Eve leftovers for lunch, watched movies and napped some more, and then had Christmas Dinner (still in my PJs). It was a great day; I hope everyone had a fabulous, safe, and happy holiday!
Merry Christmas!
=)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve

Ok Ok, I'm a dirty rotten liar. I'm sorry. There were still no cookies today because I am a terrible blogger. I was very busy with Christmas Eve party prep. I'm staying at my parent's for the holidays and we had a bunch of family over tonight to celebrate Christmas. As always when there is a family celebration there was enough food to feed an arm; Caponata, Olives, Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Pasta e Fagioli, Ham, Roasted Potatoes, and then there was a whole dessert smorgasbord. Obviously the food was awesome, but the family time was more awesome. I got to see family I don't see very often and there was a lot of laughter and good times. I hope you all are having a great Christmas!
=)

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas Eve Eve

In my week Thursdays do not exist. I have replaced them with Friday Eve. This particular Friday Eve is extra special because it is also Christmas Eve Eve and the holiday anticipation has reached a fever pitch. At least in my world. Today was an extraordinarily long day at work that was full of all kinds of tip the scales craziness. But it's over and I'm now officially on vacation (I think I'm going to end up being off more days than I worked in December). And my vacation started off well a decent drive, a Steelers win over the Panthers and a Pens win in a shootout over the Capitals. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
Also as a side note; I took tons of pictures of the cookie baking last weekend (using my parent's camera) and then left the camera at my parents. So depending on the cleaning/party prep schedule tomorrow there may be multiple posts about cookies.
Merry Christmas!
=)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas Vacation

I'm getting ready for Christmas Vacation; laundry, packing, cleaning. Despite, the fact that I was off all last week for surgery my scheduled vacation actually starts Friday. This time I'm actually doing things versus last week when I just slept and laid on the couch.
=)

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

A Good Foundation

So I'm in the midst of a rather irritating situation. Let me start by telling ya'll that my skin does not know the definition of "normal". The sections where it's oily are super slick and shiny and the spots where it's dry are consistently rough and patchy (and that's just my face!). Anyway back at the end of college/sometime in grad school I finally found a foundation that worked for me:
source

It's Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Liquid Foundation. It's lightweight and it covers my shiny areas without drying out the already dry ones. In a word: awesome. But now I can't find it anywhere (or at least not anywhere I regularly shop (Target, Wal-Mart, Publix). I haven't made a trip to a specialty make-up store since I began my search and I did purchase another kind of foundation (cause when you need make-up you need make-up). I just don't like it though it's some sort of old-people-age-rewind, but it's to thick and it dries out my skin. I just wish I could find my foundation.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Back in Action

Except for a small skin infection (from wet steri-strips); I am officially recovered. I went back to work today and everything. Of course since I've done absolutely nothing for an entire week I'm totally wiped out now. But only five days till Christmas.
=)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Baking Day: Christmas Cookies

Today was our bazillionth annual Christmas cookie baking day. We made chocolate crinkles, sugar cookie cut-outs, Italian wedding cookies, gingersnaps, and peanut butter cup cookies. There are still shortbread cookies and cherry winks to be baked, but I took lots of pictures. I will have pictures and recipes soon.
=)

Saturday, December 18, 2010

What I really want to say...

I'm having trouble blogging tonight. It's been a tumultuous holiday season and I can't say what I really want to; partly because I'm not sure what I'm feeling or how to express it.

Friday, December 17, 2010

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I finally finished all my Christmas shopping! Woohoo! I still have all the wrapping to do, but whatever. Tomorrow there's a week till Christmas and I couldn't be more excited.  On the schedule for this weekend; the gazillionth annual family baking day. It's going to be EPIC!

=)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Just What You Need

I wrote earlier this week that I am trying to be more thankful; or rather to really acknowledge all of the things in my life I have to be thankful for. I wrote that I need to be more focused on all the great things in my life. Then this morning I was watching Good Morning America (which I don't do regularly) and they were interviewing a man named John Kralik. He wrote a book called 365 Thank Yous. I haven't read it, I probably will, but at this point I can't recommend it one way or the other. But I was struck by the basic premise; basically this man wrote a thank you note every day for a year. Clearly this is not a project I can take on right now (because I'm doing this =)), however it was a good reminder and especially poignant for me given my post from earlier this week.

=)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Lunch Date

Mom and I had lunch with CousinChristine today! It's always so much fun seeing her and hanging out. We went to Mimi's Cafe; which I love! I had quiche and brought home a Blueberry muffin. There are no pictures because in my rush to get all my stuff together to come home last week I forgot it.
Also it was apparently a fabulous food day, because we had braised beef shanks and polenta for dinner. IT WAS AWESOME! I have leftovers. =)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Boredom...

Omg, I was so bored today; clearly this is a sign of my short attention span. It's only my second day at home by myself and already I'm going stir crazy. At least Mom is off tomorrow; we're having lunch with CousinChristine. Yay!

Also as a sidenote, I borrowed my Mom's Nook this evening. I was reading and I kept trying to reach up and turn the page like it was a paper novel. D'oh!
=)

Monday, December 13, 2010

Positively Positive

I'm one of those ridiculously optimistic people; the every cloud has a silver lining, so perky you want to smack them (or me) kind of people. Or at least that's what I've always told people. I truly do believe that about myself, but lately I don't think that's what is showing through lately. It's been a rough year; or the latter half of the year anyway. I find myself having to work a lot harder than usual to focus on the positive. (Even as I'm writing this I realize how whiny it sounds and that's totally not me; I pout I do not whine). I know I have a lot to be thankful for; a great family, good friends, a job I really like, and a zillion other things big and small. I just have to remember to focus on all the wonderful and positive things in my life instead of the things that haven't gone well in the last few months.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Sunday...

I was feeling pretty good today. I even managed to do some Christmas shopping with my Dad. Now I'm headache-y and tired. Arrgh.... why can't I just feel better.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Post-Op Day 2

I'm feeling much better today. It's easier to move around and I'm not having to take as much of the pain medication. I'm still in pjs; was supposed to go Christmas shopping with Dad today, but I don't think I'm up for the mall.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Post-Op Day #1

I was feeling a lot better today. I even managed to eat solid food (woohoo!). But the restorative power of a hot shower seem to work in reverse after surgery. The plan is dinner, medication, and bed: in that order.

Also, I have the best officemates ever! Thanks for the get well song ladies!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Surgery Day

My gallbladder surgery was this morning. It was a success. I'm now at home, resting, and looking forward to feeling better soon.
=)

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Yay!

I got my car back! Ohmygoodness you guys, I'm so happy about this you don't even understand. Good buy sucky rental, welcome home awesome little Toyota.
That's all I've got. Going to be early tonight.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Busy Days...

Today was busy. Work, Laundry, Packing. I needed to fit in a trip to Target, but that just didn't happen. I'm mostly all packed up now. Tomorrow is going to be equally as busy. It wasn't supposed to be, but I have to go pick-up my car. I was supposed to get it back today, but apparently Toyota can't finish on time. I'm trying not to be irritated.

Monday, December 6, 2010

At least there's a plan...

So you know how I mentioned last week that I spent part of Thursday in the emergency room. Well it's because I apparently have gallstones and they're causing me to have "gallbladder attacks". Long story short: I'm having my gallbladder removed on Thursday. I'm glad there is finally a plan in place.

Also, I killed giant ass spider tonight. (This is a big deal for me.)
That's all. Goodnight.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Sunday Highlights

I really enjoy Sundays; the way they often feel really lasy and really productive at the same time. I was mostly lazy today, well really most of the weekend, probably because I'm still not feeling really well. But I did manage to get a shopping trip with my family in this afternoon. We went to Best Buy (I found a killer digital camera that I put on my Christmas list) and a bunch of other stores including BJ's. Then my Mom made soup for dinner (real soup...not noodles in Chicken broth which is what I have been eating). That's all. No wait,

GO STEELERS!!!!!

Now that's all.
=)

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Celebrate!

I really need to be a better blogger; with everything that's been going on lately I totally missed a very important post. Yesterday was my 100th post. Can you believe it? It's not actually a hundred posts into my year of posting, I had a handful of posts up before I started, but I still feel like I'm accomplishing something. My goal for the next hundred posts is to be more consistent and have fewer post about being tired/sick/etc.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Plans Unravel

I started my canned pumpkin vs. homemade puree post tonight. I'm still pretty tired from yesterday though and I'm not up to finishing it. I'll get it finished soon.

Also, I'm glad it's the weekend.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

So Tired

Sorry no witty Christmas post tonight. I spent all of last night awake and a good chunk of the morning in an emergency room. I'm just going to bed.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch

This is one of my favorite Christmas stories. I've seen both the original animated version and the 2000 Jim Carrey version in the last few days. I'm not sure which I like better. I tend to lean towards the animated version for nostalgia's sake, but the 2000 version is really very funny. Anyone out there in internet world have an opinion?

=)