Holiday Slacking

I really have been a slacker about my blog.
Here are some pictures to catch you up.
(In no particular order)

A new flash for Christmas from B-rad. Photo taken by the fabulous Aunt Amy, the Christmas Eve hostess with the mostess.


Some special books for the Little Man, who (in case you were wondering) can already read! That Aunt Barb is a miracle worker!


A Ms. Potato Head for Natalie and a Mr. Potato Head for Katelyn.


The red velvet cupcakes.


Some very special gift wrapping. We made more than 50 pom-poms.


Taking the Wii on the road.


These two were a Christmas riot! Too cute!


More desserts than anyone should eat in an entire lifetime.


Ungodly amounts of snow.


Date night. Dinner and a concert.


Slumber party with Miss Natalie.


More food!


Christmas with my parents and sister. Who is missing? My brother. Oh yeah. I have a brother. I've called him a million times. He never returns my calls!


Upcoming events:
Ringing in 2009 Rock Band style
New Years' Resolutions
The return of Fancy Word for Simple

Where have I been?

I've been trying to get ready for Christmas.



Although, I will admit I haven't been trying nearly hard enough. There are still many presents to be wrapped and even a few more to be bought. The Christmas cards were sent yesterday, though.

I've been eating risotto.
It's actually a new addiction. Here's the recipe I really like (shared by Angie.) And, in case anyone is reading this and having a particularly difficult time Christmas shopping for me - I would love an all-risotto cookbook to encourage my addiction.

Speaking of addiction. . .

I've been playing Guitar Hero.
I may be in need of an intervention. I cannot stop playing. My left hand has taken on a claw-like shape. Too bad I'm addicted to Guitar Hero and not the Wii Fit. That would be much more productive.

I've been reading.
When You Are Engulfed in Flames
The Brain that Changes Itself
Outliers

I've been baking.
First with them. (Photo completely stolen from Stephanie.)

And then with her. Don't worry. We ate the cookies infested with the three-year-old's germs at our own house. She licked everything.


I've been watching it snow.
It started on Thursday night, and the meteorologist seems to think it's not going to stop until Tuesday. Poor Brad has really been shoveling a lot. Poor me. The Fusion does not like the snow, so it's tough for me to actually leave the house.

I've been planning for vacation.
No more work until January 5th. I want to scrapbook and visit Angie and the Little Man and get a pedicure with Stephanie and lay on the couch and organize the basement and play Guitar Hero and figure out how to pay my property taxes from my escrow and ring in 2009 and visit family and read books and sleep late and wear my pajamas all day. It's going to be busy.

I've been trying my hardest to be a good girl.
I'm hoping for a few special things under the tree this year.

Making a List

Preparations are under way for Bake-a-Palooza 2008.

Stephanie and I expanded the cast of chefs to include Emily and Josie.

This year's recipes are as follows:
Chocolate-y Frito Goodness
Little Holiday Pretzel Treats
Monster Cookies
Ritz Cracker Treats with Chocolate and Peanut butter
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Lemon Ricotta Cookies
Peanut butter Chocolate Kiss Cookies

December Daily: 1 - 9

I never really left my house today (unless you count going outside to take a few pictures and play with Memphis in the 10+ inches of snow).

There was no skiing (Yes, I do have skiis) to Starbucks or snowshoeing to Stephanie's.

Here's what I did do, though:
(pardon the bad pictures - there was no way I was going out in the snow to photograph this baby)

December 1

December 2

I added a few things for December 3rd, so there are a few pictures.



December 4

December 5

December 6

December 7

December 8

December 9

12 - 14"

1. Snowflake Curtain, 2. Snow Angel, 3. snow wheel, 4. Black Lab in Snow

About 5" of snow and counting.

The possibilities seem endless:
Snowshoe (pulling a wagon) to Stephanie's to scrap
Ski to Starbucks for a red cup (filled with peppermint mocha)
Wear pajamas all day (accessorize with a scarf)
Write a paper for finance (need to do this)
Shovel the driveway (not likely!)

Just an Ordinary Day

The day after a birthday is always kind of a let down. Yesterday I was the special birthday girl. Today is just a normal day - with another 364 days before I get to be the special birthday girl again.

In other birthday news. . .

My grandpa called yesterday to wish me a happy birthday.
He actually sang happy birthday on my answering machine.
I cried when I listened to it.
I kept it on my answering machine.

In fact, I wish I could have saved every single one of my birthday messages from yesterday.

Thank you, everyone.

It meant a lot to know that even thought we couldn't talk and weren't together you were sending warm wishes my way.

My 28th Year in Review

Today marks the last day of my 28th year.
Tomorrow is my last birthday. . . ever!

Here are a few of my favorite moments from my 28th year.
(in no particular order)

1. Hosted my first Thanksgiving
2. Welcomed Luke to the world
3. Lost (almost) 20 pounds
4. Bought a new car
5. Spent a week in Hayward (with great friends)
6. Saw NKOTB in concert (with a great friend)
7. Enjoyed Fun Summer Wednesdays (with a great friend)
8. Walked the Freedom Trail
9. Remembered the Alamo
10. Kissed a fish (related to # 5)
11. Cheered Brad on in a marathon
12. Learned to take better pictures
13. Went Mac
14. Watched every episode of Sex and the City
15. Earned 21 graduate credits (with student loans to prove it)
16. Celebrated my fourth wedding anniversary
17. Got a Facebook profile
18. Learned to Wii
19. Published three lay-outs in three different magazines
20. Got hooked on Top Chef
21. Saw Chicago by boat
22. Learned to make bananas foster
23. Bought a Coach bag
24. Helped Natalie pick out her first pair of back-to-school shoes
25. Made a pilgrimage to CHA (and saw Katrina!)
26. Rode a double-decker bus
27. Played BINGO (to celebrate a friend's birthday)
28. Read Twilight

Ten years ago I was 18.

The life I have now is never really the life I imagined I would have. I thought I'd never get married. I thought I'd travel. I thought I'd have a powerful and well-paying job. I thought I'd be skinny.

But, I am happy.

I know who is important to me. I dedicate time to having meaningful relationships with my family. I have friends who inspire me, make me laugh, give me perspective, and push me to always be better. I have a husband who relies on my strengths and compliments my weaknesses.

Here's to a 29th year in which I continue to find happiness, ways to make a difference, contentment, and challenge.

December Daily

I realized the source of all my troubles today. . .
I am an ambitious planner . . . with the execution skills of a slacker.

That said, here is my December Daily.

It is an ambitious project. Hopefully, I will be able to break from my slacker ways and execute it with dedication and commitment.

That's my December manifesto, actually.

Dedication and commitment.

This year, I will work hard to focus what is important about Christmas. I will not succumb to the stress and the shopping and the endless travel and making decisions to keep other people happy. I will decide what is important to me and mine, and I will make time to enjoy it (and photograph it and write about it).

Bring on December!

The album is based really closely on Ali Edwards's album, and I'm playing along with Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas class (I'm really excited about the photography tips this year).