Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all! Hope you all get some time with your friends and family over this holiday weekend.

lately

Shall we catch up on some current events in my little world? I'd love to hear what you've been up to recently - so definitely let me know!

reading: The Blood of Olympus - yes, the final Percy Jackson book in the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. I've read all of the Percy books and really enjoyed them all. Sad to see this is the last one for maybe ever.

watching: HBO on demand. I watched all of Game of Thrones and now I am on to Girls. I also want to watch the Newsroom. Finally getting HBO means hours upon hours of shear delight in marathon show binge watching.

looking forward to: my weekend guests this week. Some of my lovely ladies from the old neighborhood are venturing north to visit. I am looking forward to catching up and hanging out. I also now have an excuse to make the corn bread muffins I've been eyeballing.

making: vegetables and healthy foods. I've been really bad about food choices since my move. I am super motivated to get back into better eating. Pizza, we are breaking up... we can only have short one night stands once in a while, on special occasions.

planning: dream vacations, or at least a vacation to a warm location. Arizona is hot on my list for a winter getaway. It's bad to have the winter blues before winter starts isn't it?

thinking about: resolutions, new year is not too far away now.

Happy Friday Lovelies - hope you have a fantastic weekend!

warm wishes this holiday season

I wrote out my holiday greetings the week of Thanksgiving, but it took me until mid-December to get these out in the mail. For every bit of preparation I managed, I watched the pile on my counter everyday - I'd say tomorrow I'll mail those, nope, nope, nope.  The sad thing is someone managed to get a Christmas card in my mailbox the day after Thanksgiving - over achiever (that I wanted to be). Anyway, at least I got them sent. Don't you loved the little mittens? - just so cute.

On a funny note did you see what one woman did when she got kicked out of the family picture? Hilarious - I might have some inspiration to step up the cards next year.

ghosts of christmas past

I believe it was fifth grade when Trolls became the rage again, they were so ugly they were cute. As with any fad, you weren't anyone unless you had a couple of Trolls. I don't know how, or where I got an angel Troll, but here he is in all his glory. My angel Troll still lives with Mom and Dad, and gets a prime spot near the top of the tree - he's an angel after all.  Really, look at all that hair- isn't the rule the bigger the hair the closer to God?

Anyone else have some great ornaments from Christmas pasts? 

read, need, wear, want

One of my favorite ways to do Christmas presents is the something to read, something to wear, something you need and something you want. I think that's a great way to think about gifts for the young and old. It also covers one of my fundamental favorite items to gift - books. It's no secret that I love to read - so I almost always give the kids on my gift lists books. Literacy is our friend. Given this favorite approach to a gift wish list I thought I'd share my list with you all.

Something to Read: One More Thing - B.J. Novak. All things Mindy Kaling, it's time for me to read B.J.'s book. I also think I drive by his high school on my way home from spinning most weekends. This is top of my list of books to read in 2015.

Something to Wear: This beautiful cardigan from Banana Republic.I picture myself wearing it at work, curled up on the couch with my book and a coffee, as an extra layer of warmth in the polar vortex. I also love that it comes in my favorite neutral - grey.

Something I need: a new Crock-Pot. Mine is super tiny, and every time I use it, it overflows no matter how hard I try not to get to that point. I'd love a new one that's a bit bigger so I can make meals for the work week.

Something I want: Snowshoe Lessons. Something that's long been on my want to do list, I figure if I got them as a gift I'd have to use it, and stop finding reasons not to go do this.


What's on your list? I'd love if you'd share your read, need, wear and want in the comments.

current favorite jam

I am so not cool, but this song is my new jam. I want to dance to this baby all night long - preferably in the comfort of my own living room. I also really love Bruno's pink blazer - I kind of want one - you know or maybe copy his whole outfit. Anyway I hope you enjoy this on a lovely Monday.

Anna is better than Elsa

I confess, I only saw Frozen while in route home from the UK. I am beyond late to this party. I love going to the movies, but I don’t make it to the theaters the way I’d like to, so I love the day flight home from Europe because there are so many newer movies that I get to see, that maybe I’d never see. If you’ve been living under a rock, then you don’t know that Frozen was the masterpiece that Disney put out at the end of 2013 – very popular and I think everyone knows the lyrics to Let It Go (the song has been on my Spotify since the Oscars). I think everyone I knew with little girls has had to buy an Elsa dress, and that made me think she’d be the best character in the movie, but no no no, Anna is the best. Alas, I present you why Anna is the best Frozen character.

Anna is the younger sister, who just wants to be friends with her older sister. Now, I do think the parents keeping Elsa locked away was weird, but Anna just wanted her friend.

Elsa flees to the mountains to live in solitude, Anna makes friends with Kristoff, Olaf, Sven, Hans.

Anna sings “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” which is my favorite song from the movie.

Anna saves her sister, she could have kissed the boy, but instead she protects her sister from death. She’s all about the family even after being shafted for years.

Anna is so kind, Elsa kind of comes across as a b-word. And no, that’s not beautiful.

(image via pinterest)

December…. Remember Me….

 

It’s the last month of 2014, and I am sure everyone is going wait a gosh darn minute, didn’t we just ring in the New Year like maybe 2 months ago? Alas, I decided in November when I was just not getting to the blog to make myself get some posts ready to go before December started and then just start getting into some regular posting. For me, the end of the year is so busy between work, life, the hustle and the bustle of the holidays – I decided to be kind to me.

In salute to the day that is to give thanks, or in layman’s terms – Thanksgiving. I decided to tell you three things I am thankful for to start the last month of 2014.

1.    Getting to take a 5 day weekend last week. Family, Turkey, Shopping, Reading, the Gym. All good things to relax before the year end work crazy begins (looking forward to you January 23^rd - I see you and I am excited.
2.    Game of Thrones –TV. As you probably remember I read all the books starting around this time last year, but never saw the show. I now have HBO and I love seeing my favorite scenes come to life. Joffery is an a-hole and the actor here is fabulous.
3.     Living closer to the family. It’s sort of strange not to need to save up vacation time for the holidays any more. It’s also nice not to feel like I’ve got to spend every minute of a holiday weekend trying to see friends, family and still manage to feel relaxed. Total win for living 30 minutes away.

daylight savings, you saucy beast

I know, everyone else seems thrilled to have gotten an extra hour of sleep – but I don’t love clock changes in any direction, my brain cannot adjust and then I am always hungry at weird times. I would much rather have a no change schedule, get me up in the dark give me sunset after 5 PM and I am way happier.

Why daylight savings is stupid, according to me.

I forgot that my stove and microwave clocks had not been adjusted. I was roasting potatoes that were not going to hold up if roasting did not occur soon. See that it’s 11:30, sure I ate breakfast at 8:30 (was using the phone when I had cereal), but why not make eggs and eat this with some potatoes. Oh yeah, it’s only really about 90 minutes after breakfast when I realize it after I’ve made the eggs. Yay for second breakfast which is something I only expect of athletes and mothers who get up with their kids at 4:30 AM.

I don’t sleep in anymore, 7.5 hours is what the body needs at most. I can go with less, but once I get past 8 hours I am exhausted. Sundays snoozing I miss you. I am awake now at 4:45 forcing additional sleep to make me more tired.

I wanted to eat lunch at 10:30 today. I was so hungry that I ate all my snacks before noon (two apples, I am not a horrible snacker).

Sunset before 5 PM is just crazy. It was night time at 4:45 which is insane to me

Can we settle on one time for now and forever? Thanks!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween. I live across the street from the cutest grocery store that's had scores of pumpkins all season long - so I've been enjoying the pop of orange when I look at my window every single day. Is it wrong to secretly be looking forward to the Christmas trees that must be coming out soon? I know, I know one holiday at a time.

Anyway, I hope you all have safe and wonderful holidays out there tonight. Please be extra careful, with the Friday night my brain just thinks people are going to be making less then good decisions, so remember - I want to read your weekend recaps.

This weekend should be a good one. I get to see some little ones on Saturday, along with their parents. Sunday, one of my friends from the tri-state is stopping by before heading home.

See you on Monday!

Donna Martin Graduates

Beverly Hills, 90210 – was a show that I was not allowed to watch as a kid. My mom thought it was far too risky for my eight year old self to be allowed to watch. Unjustly, my sister could watch this show, and all I wanted to do was sneak this. I would try my darnest and just sit and be so quite on the couch in hopes Mom wouldn’t catch me still there eyes glued. Sometimes I might have gotten the first tiny bit before I was told to go to bed. I knew this show was cool, and my friends and I would call play Barbies with the character names from the show – I always wanted to be Brenda (she wasn’t so bitchy in the beginning) and my friend loved Andrea (who I thought was a total nerd). Once I became an adult I watched the entire series on SoapNet when that network was still on and was good for all the reruns in chronological order. I’ve learned many a life lesson from watching one of the best shows ever (and really could have totally spent better parts of my adult years not watching TV, but I’ll blame Mom for not letting me watch in my youth). Some of the better life lessons?  

Brandon Walsh will always be the boy scout, and Dylan McKay will be the bad boy that you shouldn't want to be with, but oh he's so broken and dreamy. You should pick Brandon, he's going to treat you better then Dylan.

Brandon works with the coolest adults in both his jobs, anyone else pick up on that the Beach Club boss is none other then Richard Weber from Grey's? Nat and Richard (cannot remember his name from 90210) treated B.Walsh with respect but also stepped in when he needed some non-parental adult guidance.

Everything can be solved at the Peach Pit. I've always wanted to have a place like the Peach Pit in my life, you know some of your friends will always be there anytime you swing by.

Mrs. Walsh (Cindy) gives the best advice - everyone wanted a mom like Cindy.

If you make a mistake, your friends will rally around you, hence the title. When Donna was drunk at the prom, because David's dad gave the kids champers, she was told she could not graduate. Low and behold a rally was held, and the entire school chanted "Donna Martin Graduates".

(pics via pinterest, pinterest,

coffee, the drink of the gods

Coffee and I are having a slight love affair these days, I wake up, I think about coffee. Before bed I am thinking about the next cup. I jones for the afternoon Dunkin Donuts run daily at work. It might be a slight problem. I've also started drawing little smiley faces on my work cups because of the design.

Please send help, or more coffee.

On that note, I hope to get back to some regular posting. Lots to catch up on.

lunch dates

 

My mother has taken a liking to putting some of Norby's friends in my lunchbox to eat lunch with me at work. I actually find it funny that the Little People Grammy showed up one day, and then Ernie decided to make a visit to work as well the next day.  Both toys were mine when I was a kid, and Ernie is the best looking one of the Sesame Street play set that my family still has (Bert has no more pain on him, and one of the dogs ate Big Bird at some point). Here's hoping someone else makes it to work for a lunch date soon.

letters to Norby #25

Dear Norby-

It's been a while since I wrote to you, but you haven't stopped amazing me lately. You've become such an interesting little person, who love trucks and trains. It's ever so sweet when you play with your little red engine and say in the quietest little voice "choo-choo". My favorite thing to do with you is read "Little Blue Truck", we've spent so much time reading that book that I can recite the opening page on cue. Reading with you is so nice, you snuggle into a grownup lap with the book you've chosen and point out your favorite characters. You know all your barnyard animals, as well as all kinds of trucks.

Thank you for being my sweet little nephew. I am so happy I get to see you more often now and that our time together is so much fun.

See you tomorrow...

Love your favorite auntie



It's been a while since I've written you a dear letter my sweet little boy. You are turning into such a smart, nice child. My favorite thing that you do is bring books to me, and then snuggle in my lap while I read out loud

busted...

Oops, due to not some so stealth instagram stalking, I definitely tried to follow someone that I was only trying to view pictures on. Yep, definitely busted because that's not something you can take back. I am totally embarrassed that I know I am caught, bonus is I've probably provided this person some serious discussion points for their friends this coming week. Hope you all enjoy gossiping about my flub - what can I say, I was nosy about an event - and it couldn't be helped. I'll have to keep my instagram stalking down a bit for a few weeks.