Last blog of 2013

Staying up with the youngest until midnight to ring in the New Year. Hub petered out about a half hour ago. We got Thai take out for dinner, yum!  Watched New Year' Eve with Carson Daly. It was better than Ryan Seacrest!  Now ice skating is on. Only about an hour to go.

Happy New Year!!!  I only have 51 minutes of battery power, so I'm logging out soon.

Back blogging next year!  :-)

2014 Resolutions?

Here comes that time of year again.  The time to think up some New Years Resolutions and see if I can stick by them, ha-ha.  I don't know if I'm going to make any that will really stick.  I know the ones like losing weight often fail, but I don't have that resolution.  I am very happy with my weight and fitness level. In fact sometimes I wonder if I may be a bit of an exercise junkie.  On the days that I don't walk at least a mile and a half or do my work out exercises, I feel listless and like a blob.  :)
I can't explain it any better than that.

After I banged my funny bone on the sink in the bathroom this morning I thought of the first one I should declare. I should resolve to stop hurting myself in stupid ways in 2014, like banging my elbows, knees or shins because I'm not paying attention or doing something too fast! Inflicting unnecessary pain is something I can do without!

Another resolution I should have is to not beat myself up (figuratively in order to abide by the first resolution) for not doing anything at times. I often feel like I must be doing something every day so that I don't feel like I wasted the day.  If I am not working, I feel like I have to be doing something...whether it be researching on the Internet, playing games on Goodsearch that earn pennies for my favorite charity or even the mundane such as cleaning.  But it is okay if I don't do anything except space out at times, and I need to accept that (sans guilt). The body and brain deserve and need down time to rejuvenate -- right? :)

I'll see  if I come up with ant others in the next day or so, but I'm not putting a lot of thought into it. I don't know if I really believe in resolutions anyway. Resolutions are an all or nothing kind of thing. I'd rather have goals and desires,  Those allow for a slip here and there.

Last day off..

Today is my last day off until next year, LOL!

Yesterday the youngest and I did go see the Hobbit movie.  I asked her on the way over if it was the second one to one that was out previously and she didn't think so, turns out I knew something she didn't (for once).  So it was the second Hobbit movie and by the end we realized it was the second of THREE!  So...now I want to see the third one which comes out next year, likely near the end of next year too.  I enjoyed it, even though I hadn't seen the first one. I liked the special effects.  I have seen all of the Lord of the Rings series so that helped some.

I got all the Christmas cookies narrowed down to 2 containers (from 4) so making headway there.  It helped that we took some to my folks and some to my sister's on Christmas day.

It was cloudy, windy and cool today so it wasn't exactly wonderful out, but we walked all the dogs just the same.  So I got a double dose of exercise since I work out Sunday mornings anyway, but I like keeping up with walking the dogs, more than just once a week.  They really are calmer when they've had a walk.  If I had the time, I'd walk them every day, but during the work week, there isn't enough time. When I do walk during the week, if hubby doesn't go with me I do take at least one of the dogs.

I have kept up with brushing their teeth. Tika is getting a dental next month and I'm hoping one of her large teeth in the back doesn't need to be pulled.  It has a really dark spot near the gum line. Fingers crossed it is just plaque.

Funny

Here I am watching bathroom makeover shows on the television.  Every bathroom they are destroying, I sit here and say "It doesn't look bad at all", or "well that tub isn't permanently mold stained like ours."  LOL.  So the ones that are being redone look nice to me.  Guess that really drives home the point that we need a bathroom remodel.  The side of my sink faucet even has eroded (the chrome on the left side that comes out from the faucet, (not the spigot itself).  It still works and doesn't leak so it is fine with me for now.  We could get a plumber out to install a new faucet (that wouldn't match the other one - we have a double sink), but I'd rather just hold off until we get the bathroom redone.  I am waiting to see how secure my job is over the next few months and if all is well will look at getting estimates this Spring.  Hope it won't be too terribly expensive!

Keeping this one short, going to walk all the dogs (2 at a time).

Friday in the Square

Had a great day off today!  When the youngest finally got up and showered ;-), we were out the door before 1:00PM headed to the town square. I love going there as the shops are quaint and that great Thai restaurant is down there as well.  I originally was just going to just get some soup to have something light but decided to go ahead and order off their lunch menu. After all it is only $6.50 and includes the soup of the day!  We both had enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow too. 

They served hot and sour soup.  I had never had that before.  I don't really care for it because it is a bit TOO spicy hot for me and because of that it took a while for my Pad Thai to taste like it should.  Even though we did not eat until somewhere between 1:30 and 2:00, it was pretty crowded there, the most people we've ever seen in there.  It felt good for it to have more than one or two tables of people in there. Nice!

We strolled around the square and did some shopping too.  I used most of the gift certificate I got from the youngest too and got two scarfs from my favorite shop Hummingbird Hollow.  It is a cute shop with clothes and other novelties mostly for women.  It has very reasonable prices and many unique things.

I had to keep reminding myself today that it was not Saturday. :)

Tomorrow we are planning to see the new Hobbit movie I think.  There is something about seeing a movie with good special effects on a big screen with a bag of popcorn.  Gotta love it!

Vacation

Christmas is over but I had off today and also do tomorrow so it is great to be on vacation!

Being off I have been watching some morning television like the Today show and noticed that nearly all of the women on the show are wearing sleeveless dresses!  Hey ladies!  It is WINTER!  I haven't thought about wearing a sleeveless dress in months at this point.  I wonder why they wear sleeveless dresses when it is wintertime.  We're talking areas like NYC, not somewhere hot like southern Florida either.  My youngest had a theory that maybe the studios are hot with all the lighting, but I don't buy that because the men all have shirts/ties and sport coats or suits on and they don't look a bit overheated.  No sweat can be seen on any of them ever.  I suppose everyone can wear whatever they like no matter the time of year but I just find it really odd to be wearing sleeveless dresses in winter.  I guess that is no stranger than seeing guys wearing shorts, even when it is in the 30's outside.  Who knows.

This evening we made crab stuffed mushrooms (Red Lobster's recipe according to the email) which were good but I noticed way after eating them, that the sautéed celery and onion never got added (that I was cooling in the fridge). Darn!  I hate when that happens!  I saved them for when we have stir fry which will probably be Saturday as tomorrow is usually pizza night.

I just watched the women of SNL on TV and there were some nice classic comedy skits that they showed including ones with Gilda Radner and  Jane Curtin. I like most of those older ones vs the newer casts with the exception of Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig.  Even those two are not on the regular cast anymore now that I think of it.  I still watch it, mostly for the hosts that are on it, but usually can't stay awake through the whole show anyway these days. :)

Merry Christmas 2013!

Well Christmas has sort of snuck up on me while at the same time it seemed like it would never get here! :) 

I am happy that I have the next 5 days in a row to spend with my family and relax.  I am ready for Christmas this year and although I am missing my oldest daughter, the youngest is here and we are making the best of it without my oldest here.  Maybe next year? :)

At least we will get to see her in August when she is getting married. Anyway, this evening is relaxation time with hubby.  I just got a cup of water and some of the goodies I made to snack on and we're watching Long Island Medium.  That Theresa Caputo is the real deal!

If I was alone I'd watch It's a Wonderful Life, but hubby doesn't really care for it. Sometimes I wonder if there are any men out there that actually enjoy watching White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, Sound of Music...etc.  I think NOT.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Pics of goodies!

Okay I took photos of the cookies made yesterday and chocolate chip cookies I now have done.  Don't worry Stac, we'll have more to make when you get home.  :-)

Hubby took the next picture.  I exercise every other day to a show I used to exercise to back in the early '80s that I taped way back then.  Anyway the dogs love to pester me. Here is a shot my hubby took while I was waiting for the cool down portion (I raise my head straight up for 8 seconds and then back down - trying to prevent DOUBLE CHIN).  :-)  

Molly is at my sneaker which she likes to play with, Merlin is licking (cleaning my arm) and I am rubbing Kaci's leg which has arthritis in it, and Ditzy is supervising (watching) all this.  Tika was not in this picture but I'm sure was not far away.

Hump Day...

So, I know I haven't written much lately, but there really isn't much to blog about these days. I did get some baking done and would go take pictures of what I made if I didn't have Ditzy tucked under a throw blanket on my lap. :)

I'll snap a few pictures tomorrow and post them then.  I am making a few different things this time around besides the standard chocolate chip and spritz cookies. I made Vanilla Almond Snowballs and Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Balls.  Guess you could say I made a lot of Christmas balls!  :-)

It has been more Texas mild the last few days getting up to the 60's. I prefer that to the cold wave we had been having. It may even get up over 70 degrees the next few days. I'll take it!

Sunday evening..

A few days ago I received a Christmas gift from my parents. It was a gift box from Harry& David.  When I opened the box with the pears in it and the box with 2 apples in it, I couldn't believe it!

Harry & David is suppose to be the best fruit ever!!  So naturally I expect the fruit to look pretty flawless.   This looked appalling to me!!  I got better looking fruit from the local farmers market.

I have had two pears already and they taste fine, but I peeled the brown skinned areas. I am going to show these photos to my parents too so that they can think twice before next Christmas.

I hope this next week goes fast.  I only have to work Monday and Tuesday the following week and then am off the next three days for Christmas so that will be great.

15 days to go....

Well there are only 15 more days until Christmas.  I have been working on the Angel Christmas cards as well as our own personal ones and have done a total of over 250 cards already. Go me! :)

I will still do some more Angel cards, probably about 50 more, hey postage is expensive! There are a lot more names this year too, more like 400. Last year there was less than 300 names and I send a card to all on that list.  We'll see how the rest of this week goes.

It is still cold here too although it did get up over 40 degrees today so the walk to my mom's wasn't too bad today.  It is still getting down into the 20's tonight but after that it is forecasted to be a bit warmer. Thank God!  Hey I moved to Texas for the warm weather!  ;-)

I am already tired of it getting dark so early but still have a few more weeks to go of that too, until it starts staying lighter a little longer. I get through it, yes I will.  Hurry up December!

Cold weekend...

It was and still is cold!  I couldn't stand it anymore yesterday even though the wind chill was only in the 20's I had to get some exercise (walk), so yup I took Molly and Merlin and went for my regular walk.  I wore my winter coat (that I've had since living back east), hat, scarf, and extra thick socks.  But it was very cold!  My legs were getting stiff and a little numb and my fingers were also feeling the cold (gloves were thin).  I got through it and was glad to get the blood pumping again but when the other 3 barked at me and ran into the garage for their turn I had to turn them down.  It took me a good bit to thaw out!

I worked on the Angelcardproject cards this weekend and did a bit of shopping for less fortunate folks as well as some for family.  I did get 120 cards done already so that is a pretty good start.

Watched some Christmas movies today too while working on the cards. There were some on the cable channels like Lifetime.  They are pretty good and help get me in the Christmas spirit. :)

Tomorrow starts another work week. The good news is though, only 4 Mondays left to go this year. Woo hoo!

Brrrrr..baby it's cold outside

Well another Arctic blast has hit the area. There were even some schools that were delayed today. It is 30 degrees out now and the wind chill is 18 degrees. So I will skip my walk this evening not because I can't hack the freezing weather but because I don't want to hit a patch of ice as I'm walking and fall flat on my back or worse. So I will pass today and see how it is tomorrow (which isn't suppose to be any better).  This would be a good time to have a treadmill...but really have no where to store one so I'll just walk outside when I can.  Besides walking inside I won't get to see all the deer and squirrels like I usually enjoy!

Corporate office for my work is in Dallas and the office was closed all day from the ice up there.  Unfortunately it was never conveyed as to whether us remotes were also off when the office was closed down, so I dutifully reported to work virtually and put my full day in.  I may ask about company policy about that just in case it happens again due to the weather.

Well the weekend begins...off to order our Friday night Pizza. :-)

Decorated for Christmas

While I was in the office today, hubby handled most of the Christmas decorating.  Here are pictures of the inside of the house once it was totally done.  We don't bother with a big tree these years since it is just the two of us for the most part. I think we have plenty for us! :)

The burning bush?

Hubby was looking outside our back door this evening right after dinner and he urged me to come look. The way the sun beam was hitting a tree it looked as if we had the biblical burning bush out back!

Here is a photo of it and then cropped for a closer view.

I am so glad Cyber Monday is almost over. I've been bombarded with emails all day long. Some of the tempting ads offered a whopping 50% off but I managed to refrain.  I really don't need anything for myself and I usually get gift cards to give for Christmas gifts. Haven't found a place yet that offers a discount on a gift card.  ;-)

An apple I can relate to

Thanksgiving has come and gone and had a great visit from the youngest who was here for a week which was great!  Dad came over and shared his company for Thanksgiving dinner too (and took home a full plate for mom plus leftovers). It was very nice and the first time I ever made crock pot apple sauce. It turned out pretty well, but next time I think I will only use a dash of cinnamon.

The night before Thanksgiving, the youngest and I made some apple pie and pumpkin pie.  I had to share a picture of an apple that I can relate to.  I have never seen an apple with an outie!  I've had an outie all  life and was self conscious about it for a long time including only ever wearing one piece bathing suits. Now that I am middle age and my skin is let's just say not tight, it actually no longer appears that I have an outie.  Darn, sure it has to be when I'm way past the age of wearing a bikini!