This is it! The last day of 2010 ever! I'm hoping for a great new year, even though I don't like odd numbered years. I'm feeling better every day. I am sleeping well. Using a daily tracking record of food intake on my iPad, which has me eating better. It also keeps track of my water intake. I'm just about perfect regarding that. I'm also drinking 2 16-ounce mugs of green tea per day. 4-6 6-ounce cups are what you're supposed to shoot for. People can say what they want, good or bad, about superfoods, and I'd agree with most of it, but do not discount the benefits of green tea. When it comes to health, I'm sorry, I am going to side with ancient Chinese secrets over western medicine any day. And they drink WAY more than 36 ounces per day. I just can't do it. I'm already peeing at least once an hour. I do have a life that requires me to be in my vehicle a lot and having to pee all the time is not very convenient.
I'm very excited about my WonderFILE. I see it as being very very handy plus creates quite an effective work station while at the beach or park.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
12/30/10
I suppose I should recap Christmas for proper record, as it was Bella's first. Being sick for most of December, first with MAJOR allergies and second with a moderate cold that has left a lingering cough, noticeable when I go in or outside and at bedtime, definitely made me lose my Christmas time enthusiasm early on. I rallied a few times, but it never got to usual proportions. Christmas isn't much fun without that magical essence.
The snow came AFTER Christmas. What's the point of that, right? Plus we were gone so we missed the whole storm. Some would call this good luck. I call it unfortunate. There's something magical about getting stuck in your house while there's a good old fashioned storm raging just on the other side of the door. Instead, we came back to about 10 inches of snow waiting in our driveway. You know what they say about all work and no play.
Christmas morning was fun. I got some cute pics of Bella and Zach. She seemed to know what she was doing and was cute playing with her toys. She definitely exceeded expectations for a baby's first Christmas! She loves her new toys. Let's just say Nonni has some experience picking out toys. I've spent loads of money on things I thought the kids would love and they'd end up being a dud. She loves toys that make noise and that she can bang around. She's beginning to walk and talk. She loves dogs. So we picked toys that were appropriate for her. Huge success, I'd say. The other three were much easier to buy for. Very happy with their new possessions.
We saw both sets of parents. The visits were short and sweet. Just like I like them. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see friends or extended family as we were stuck at the hotel for two days due to the storm.
The weather forecast looks good for the next two weeks or so. Low to high 40s. Should melt this snow right quick. 8 weeks till March! Very much looking forward to that first beach day. That unexpected warm early spring day that puts that bounce in your step and you break out the flip flops and find a warm sun baked rock to lounge on down at the beach. That one day that peeks out between more seasonable weather. That one day when you don't have to worry about pollen or hay fever or ozone levels. The only enemy is the bee or hornet that wakes up confused by the unexpected temperature, unless you count sea gulls as enemies, and I DO, after one brazenly broke into an unopened container of cookies and ruined them for human consumption by getting sand in the whole thing. I buried those cookies. If I couldn't eat them, that gull was not going to get them either! I'm still bitter and it happened like 3 summers ago!
As you can tell, my spring fever has hit early.
I know I've mentioned what a bitter taste 2010 has left in my mouth, but goal wise, I did pretty well. By tomorrow, I will have completed reading the Bible in a year for the 5th(?) time. I planned weekly menus and cooked at least 4 dinners per week. Thursdays are pizza night, and we either order out or Mitch makes pizza. Fridays are fast food night. And I'm gone Saturday nights, so hubby and the kids fend for themselves. We've consistently bought and prepared organic foods, virtually iliminating processed foods, except for the occasional lean cuisine or package of Kraft Mac and cheese. I've found that I'm even more susceptible to MSG since eating healthier. I can almost immediately identify it by taste alone, but certainly by the headache and hangover like feeling after consuming it. I've blogged pretty regularly again, so I feel sort of 'back' so to speak. I haven't bought any amount of books. I promised my husband I'd actually read the ones we own before buying anymore. I was buying 5 or more a week. I still pick up books for the baby and the occasional book at Savers if it is a title or author I'm looking for. I made a significant donation of books that I read this year. Felt good to finish a book and put it in the box to pass along to other readers.
New goals are: continue with previous ones, craft more, participate in the memory verse challenge on one of the blogs I read, do at least three yoga poses every other day, have one miser week per month in which the goal of that week is to see how little money we can spend on groceries, gas, etc, not because we need to, but to break the habit of just spending money because it is there, have a 'go crazy' shopping day once every three months, compost and have
one new experience per month.
Should keep me busy.
The snow came AFTER Christmas. What's the point of that, right? Plus we were gone so we missed the whole storm. Some would call this good luck. I call it unfortunate. There's something magical about getting stuck in your house while there's a good old fashioned storm raging just on the other side of the door. Instead, we came back to about 10 inches of snow waiting in our driveway. You know what they say about all work and no play.
Christmas morning was fun. I got some cute pics of Bella and Zach. She seemed to know what she was doing and was cute playing with her toys. She definitely exceeded expectations for a baby's first Christmas! She loves her new toys. Let's just say Nonni has some experience picking out toys. I've spent loads of money on things I thought the kids would love and they'd end up being a dud. She loves toys that make noise and that she can bang around. She's beginning to walk and talk. She loves dogs. So we picked toys that were appropriate for her. Huge success, I'd say. The other three were much easier to buy for. Very happy with their new possessions.
We saw both sets of parents. The visits were short and sweet. Just like I like them. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see friends or extended family as we were stuck at the hotel for two days due to the storm.
The weather forecast looks good for the next two weeks or so. Low to high 40s. Should melt this snow right quick. 8 weeks till March! Very much looking forward to that first beach day. That unexpected warm early spring day that puts that bounce in your step and you break out the flip flops and find a warm sun baked rock to lounge on down at the beach. That one day that peeks out between more seasonable weather. That one day when you don't have to worry about pollen or hay fever or ozone levels. The only enemy is the bee or hornet that wakes up confused by the unexpected temperature, unless you count sea gulls as enemies, and I DO, after one brazenly broke into an unopened container of cookies and ruined them for human consumption by getting sand in the whole thing. I buried those cookies. If I couldn't eat them, that gull was not going to get them either! I'm still bitter and it happened like 3 summers ago!
As you can tell, my spring fever has hit early.
I know I've mentioned what a bitter taste 2010 has left in my mouth, but goal wise, I did pretty well. By tomorrow, I will have completed reading the Bible in a year for the 5th(?) time. I planned weekly menus and cooked at least 4 dinners per week. Thursdays are pizza night, and we either order out or Mitch makes pizza. Fridays are fast food night. And I'm gone Saturday nights, so hubby and the kids fend for themselves. We've consistently bought and prepared organic foods, virtually iliminating processed foods, except for the occasional lean cuisine or package of Kraft Mac and cheese. I've found that I'm even more susceptible to MSG since eating healthier. I can almost immediately identify it by taste alone, but certainly by the headache and hangover like feeling after consuming it. I've blogged pretty regularly again, so I feel sort of 'back' so to speak. I haven't bought any amount of books. I promised my husband I'd actually read the ones we own before buying anymore. I was buying 5 or more a week. I still pick up books for the baby and the occasional book at Savers if it is a title or author I'm looking for. I made a significant donation of books that I read this year. Felt good to finish a book and put it in the box to pass along to other readers.
New goals are: continue with previous ones, craft more, participate in the memory verse challenge on one of the blogs I read, do at least three yoga poses every other day, have one miser week per month in which the goal of that week is to see how little money we can spend on groceries, gas, etc, not because we need to, but to break the habit of just spending money because it is there, have a 'go crazy' shopping day once every three months, compost and have
one new experience per month.
Should keep me busy.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
12/29/10
I'm so glad to be home today. I slept well last night. I had fun playing Glee Karaoke for the Wii!!! I got some fun new games for the Wii this Christmas. Super Mario included! Tiger Woods PGA 2011. We have some new DVDs to watch. Lots of Family Guy. The Vampire Diaries. The Waltons Season 2. The Sorcerer's Apprentice. So the next 8 weeks and 1 day till March will be enjoyable!
I'm also going to practice with my Instyler. It is much easier to do someone else's hair than your own with it, but I'm getting the hang of it.
I'm also going to practice with my Instyler. It is much easier to do someone else's hair than your own with it, but I'm getting the hang of it.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
What Day is It?
I've been trapped in a hotel in Bangor, ME due to a blizzard and I know it is Tuesday. Let's see, Saturday was the 25th so that makes today the 28th. We have about a foot of snow waiting for us in our driveway in Narragansett, RI. They get about one big storm every 10 years or so. This is the 2nd since I moved there 4 years ago.
We going to head back today. I've missed my Wii. I've missed my bed. I hate the heat in hotel rooms. I'm going to play in the snow when I get home. Sorry Zach has to miss the snow but then again, VA got some too!
I am going to chill out at home tomorrow. It'll be in the 30s and40s so I'm going to navigate the neighborhood and see the storm damage. Fun fun.
We going to head back today. I've missed my Wii. I've missed my bed. I hate the heat in hotel rooms. I'm going to play in the snow when I get home. Sorry Zach has to miss the snow but then again, VA got some too!
I am going to chill out at home tomorrow. It'll be in the 30s and40s so I'm going to navigate the neighborhood and see the storm damage. Fun fun.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
12/24/10
My last gift got delivered today. The one I ordered first! Go figure. Everything was here before Christmas. Everything was exactly what I ordered. Nothing broken. Perfect.
I ordered myself a year's subscription to The Rolling Stone for a huge discount of only $20 for the whole year. This used to be one of my favorite magazines during my high school years. That and Seventeen magazine! I was so sad when I out grew Seventeen and Teen and Tiger Beat. I quickly latched on to Cosmo. Still love me some Cosmo, but it isn't necessarily applicable since I'm married. It is more for the single girl. I mean really, I've been reading it religiously for about 20 years and in those 20 years I've collected a LOT of great sex tips. Just ask my husband. Pretty much hit the ceiling on sex tips. I'm really not a Woman's Day or whatever they're called kind of lady. I love US Weekly and People but I usually buy them at the checkout.
I ordered myself a year's subscription to The Rolling Stone for a huge discount of only $20 for the whole year. This used to be one of my favorite magazines during my high school years. That and Seventeen magazine! I was so sad when I out grew Seventeen and Teen and Tiger Beat. I quickly latched on to Cosmo. Still love me some Cosmo, but it isn't necessarily applicable since I'm married. It is more for the single girl. I mean really, I've been reading it religiously for about 20 years and in those 20 years I've collected a LOT of great sex tips. Just ask my husband. Pretty much hit the ceiling on sex tips. I'm really not a Woman's Day or whatever they're called kind of lady. I love US Weekly and People but I usually buy them at the checkout.
Merry Christmas Eve
Can't believe it is finally here!!!
Maybe midnight mass tonight. I'd like to go to midnight mass with my husband in my old church, but that would require me to be in Old Town right now.
My shopping is done. The presents are wrapped. It is all kind of surreal. Doesn't really feel like Christmas. Feels like any other day of the week.
I will be so glad when the stores are normal again. Actually the stores have been fine. It has been the parking lots. Crazy.
Today I'm going to clean and get organized for tomorrow. I need to clean the bathroom. Hayley will do the kitchen. Kayla will do the living room. Zach will deal with trash and pack.
Headache. I had a bad one last night and it is lingering today.
Maybe midnight mass tonight. I'd like to go to midnight mass with my husband in my old church, but that would require me to be in Old Town right now.
My shopping is done. The presents are wrapped. It is all kind of surreal. Doesn't really feel like Christmas. Feels like any other day of the week.
I will be so glad when the stores are normal again. Actually the stores have been fine. It has been the parking lots. Crazy.
Today I'm going to clean and get organized for tomorrow. I need to clean the bathroom. Hayley will do the kitchen. Kayla will do the living room. Zach will deal with trash and pack.
Headache. I had a bad one last night and it is lingering today.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Making a List
All of my packages arrived yesterday except one! Wouldn't you know it is the one I ordered in plenty of time before the holiday rush? All of the packages I ordered Sunday and Monday even came last night. Goes to show you, procrastinate and wait for all the stores to offer free upgrades on their holiday shipping. That's actually how they reeled me back in, guarenteeing the order would be here before Christmas Eve. So let's see...I don't need to leave my bedroom, the presents will be here for Christmas, AND you're going to give me a free upgrade on shipping? Heck ya! The deals are much better the last few days, too!
Hayley is going shopping with Janice and me today. I have to pick up some more wrapping paper and Hayley has to pick up a few gifts for her brother, sister and niece. I also have to pick up the turkey breast and appetizers for Christmas dinner. Everything else is nestled away in the cupboard. Zach leaves early Christmas morning, so it is just going to be a small group for dinner.
Lots more wrapping to do! I thought I was close to being done. Let's just say I'm super glad I did what wrapping I did the other day!
Hayley is going shopping with Janice and me today. I have to pick up some more wrapping paper and Hayley has to pick up a few gifts for her brother, sister and niece. I also have to pick up the turkey breast and appetizers for Christmas dinner. Everything else is nestled away in the cupboard. Zach leaves early Christmas morning, so it is just going to be a small group for dinner.
Lots more wrapping to do! I thought I was close to being done. Let's just say I'm super glad I did what wrapping I did the other day!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Today
Today I could almost convince myself it is spring. Our lawn is still green. No snow to be seen. The winter's been mild...30s, 40s, even some 50s and 60s. There's snow to the north and snow to the south and snow to the west. Maybe if I put the lawn chair out and go sit in it like it is a normal spring day, I can convince mother nature that it IS spring!
It's weird. Last week I wanted snow for Christmas. Then again, last week I wanted it to be Christmas. I'm over it. Glad that crazy hibernation mode is done for me. I want spring. I want long warm days. Is it still 9 weeks for us here in RI? Sometime in March, God gives me my first beach day of the year. I just have to get through long boring can we just skip this month January.
It's weird. Last week I wanted snow for Christmas. Then again, last week I wanted it to be Christmas. I'm over it. Glad that crazy hibernation mode is done for me. I want spring. I want long warm days. Is it still 9 weeks for us here in RI? Sometime in March, God gives me my first beach day of the year. I just have to get through long boring can we just skip this month January.
12/22/10
Happy Birthday to My Bailey-boo. I already sent her a facebook birthday wish! She loves that she can talk to me on FB whenever she wants on her iPod touch. This little girl and I go back almost her entire life!
Our staff meeting/holiday party is at 11 this morning. Should be a good day. Mitch is coming home from work early today. I miss him. We've been doing so much shopping apart during our free time I feel as if I haven't seen him in a month. He kissed me goodbye this morning and told me to keep in touch! Four sleeps till our hotel room sex fest. I'm sure it'll be anything but, but here's to hoping!
Our staff meeting/holiday party is at 11 this morning. Should be a good day. Mitch is coming home from work early today. I miss him. We've been doing so much shopping apart during our free time I feel as if I haven't seen him in a month. He kissed me goodbye this morning and told me to keep in touch! Four sleeps till our hotel room sex fest. I'm sure it'll be anything but, but here's to hoping!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Grrrrrrr!
Looking like tomorrow and Thursday will be the big gift delivery day according to my UPS package tracker. Only one package came today, but it was the "expensive" one. Hope Hubs likes it!
Work was awesome today! How often do those words come out of my mouth??? Not often enough. I wish every day were as fun as today!
Work was awesome today! How often do those words come out of my mouth??? Not often enough. I wish every day were as fun as today!
8 Months Old!!!
Hard to believe how quickly the last two months flew right by! Bella has learned how to climb stairs! What a stinker! I have a wooden stair stepstool to get up into my bed and she climbs it and waits till you pull her up into bed with you.
I do not want to work today. Why did I agree to this?
I do not want to work today. Why did I agree to this?
Monday, December 20, 2010
Regretting
Completely regretting my decision to fill in at work tomorrow for a couple of hours. It is only three hours, with an additional hour for commute. Still.
A lot was accomplished today. Presents all wrapped except for the ones that haven't been delivered. I'm going to thank myself on Christmas Eve for this. I feel good about what we bought. We bought things we wanted but that would keep us entertained for the next 8 weeks of winter. Even less of winter if we vaca in Florida again.
I played like 15 games of mancala with Zach on my iPad tonight.
I saw The Fighter at the movies on Friday. It was great.
I can't believe that no packages were delivered today. I've checked online and they've been checked in at the Wakefield center, which is the next town over, and have been in transit from this location since 11AM. Seriously? It takes 8 hours to cross a town line? Frustrating.
The kids are playing Harry Potter Scene It. I'm in my room, enjoying the fact that most of the presents are out of my closet and wrapped under the tree. Yes, the presents go under the tree as they accumulate. My kids didn't get into the whole Santa thing. I see no positive outcome in lying to kids about where the presents come from. Santa is a historical figure but has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. We do celebrate Christmas with presents and I DO have Santa decorations and pictures of the kids on Santa, but they knew from the start that he is make believe and just a fun tradition. Now, I DO have issues with some of my friends that are self-proclaimed atheists or agnostics, yet they still expect Christmas presents from their families. Check out their FB profiles, and yet they're wrapping and shopping away. If I didn't believe in Jesus, I would not be celebrating his birth.
Anyway, I'm excited for the big day to finally come and go so life can get back to normal. I have some trips coming up that I'm excited about. Some adventures to live. Some shopping to get back to, once all the stupid people get out of stores.
A lot was accomplished today. Presents all wrapped except for the ones that haven't been delivered. I'm going to thank myself on Christmas Eve for this. I feel good about what we bought. We bought things we wanted but that would keep us entertained for the next 8 weeks of winter. Even less of winter if we vaca in Florida again.
I played like 15 games of mancala with Zach on my iPad tonight.
I saw The Fighter at the movies on Friday. It was great.
I can't believe that no packages were delivered today. I've checked online and they've been checked in at the Wakefield center, which is the next town over, and have been in transit from this location since 11AM. Seriously? It takes 8 hours to cross a town line? Frustrating.
The kids are playing Harry Potter Scene It. I'm in my room, enjoying the fact that most of the presents are out of my closet and wrapped under the tree. Yes, the presents go under the tree as they accumulate. My kids didn't get into the whole Santa thing. I see no positive outcome in lying to kids about where the presents come from. Santa is a historical figure but has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. We do celebrate Christmas with presents and I DO have Santa decorations and pictures of the kids on Santa, but they knew from the start that he is make believe and just a fun tradition. Now, I DO have issues with some of my friends that are self-proclaimed atheists or agnostics, yet they still expect Christmas presents from their families. Check out their FB profiles, and yet they're wrapping and shopping away. If I didn't believe in Jesus, I would not be celebrating his birth.
Anyway, I'm excited for the big day to finally come and go so life can get back to normal. I have some trips coming up that I'm excited about. Some adventures to live. Some shopping to get back to, once all the stupid people get out of stores.
12/20/10
Miss Bella will be 8 months old tomorrow!!! She's crawling all over the place and cruising along all furniture. She says mama and dada pretty consistently and waves hi and bye. She eats baby food and grown up mashed food. She also feeds herself the puffed up dry cereal. She has four teeth and her hair is getting longer and thicker every day.
Christmas shopping on my part is essentially done. I'm going to wrap some today. Some stuff has to wait till it gets delivered. Obviously.
I lost a whole day yesterday. This cold is fast and furious. I felt a little better but so exhausted and really out of it. I fell asleep yesterday at 2 in the afternoon and slept till about 6:30. Woke up for a dinner of homemade chicken soup and a movie. I was out again by nine pm. Slept till midnight. Got up to pee then out again till 9:30 this morning. Feeling better but still on the weak/dizzy side. Definitely staying off the cold medicine today. I hate when my brain feels fuzzy.
Kayla is making some homemade hot chocolate and some Chex mix. It is good to smell and taste things again even if only a little.
Christmas shopping on my part is essentially done. I'm going to wrap some today. Some stuff has to wait till it gets delivered. Obviously.
I lost a whole day yesterday. This cold is fast and furious. I felt a little better but so exhausted and really out of it. I fell asleep yesterday at 2 in the afternoon and slept till about 6:30. Woke up for a dinner of homemade chicken soup and a movie. I was out again by nine pm. Slept till midnight. Got up to pee then out again till 9:30 this morning. Feeling better but still on the weak/dizzy side. Definitely staying off the cold medicine today. I hate when my brain feels fuzzy.
Kayla is making some homemade hot chocolate and some Chex mix. It is good to smell and taste things again even if only a little.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Congestion
Well this is a quick moving cold! My nose and sinuses are draining/clearing today. Slept horribly, but I think that was for the best. Feel much better up and moving around. Making chicken and dumplings for dinner. Hot soup will help! And hopefully bed early tonight. I have lots to do tomorrow whether I'm feeling it or not!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
12/18/10
Feeling blah today. Woke up with a stuffy nose. My husband is doing some of my (our) Christmas shopping. The gift cards that I said I'd pick up. Definitely NOT feeling good today, so I thank him and Zach very much for dealing with that task today, the last Saturday before Christmas. I will finish up hubby's shopping on Monday morning, when it will hopefully not be so crazy.
I'm working on my day off Tuesday for about three hours at one of our day programs on the west side. Wednesday is our staff meeting, but at least it'll be at Hopkins and not in Jamestown.
This week I will just be waiting for more deliveries to arrive. The next few days will prove to be insanely busy in that regard.
Did I mention how blah I'm feeling? This is NOT the week for bronchitis. I still have to get groceries for Christmas dinner. This will be a Thanksgiving Lite. A turkey breast, gravy, potatoes, squash, cranberry sauce and stuffing. Chips and dip, cheese and crackers. For breakfast, I thought we would have the usual cinnamon rolls plus bagels toasted in the oven with various cream cheeses. Sunday, we will head to Maine for a mini trip. It is pathetic that I'm more excited about a night alone in a hotel room with my husband than any other Christmas activity!
I'm working on my day off Tuesday for about three hours at one of our day programs on the west side. Wednesday is our staff meeting, but at least it'll be at Hopkins and not in Jamestown.
This week I will just be waiting for more deliveries to arrive. The next few days will prove to be insanely busy in that regard.
Did I mention how blah I'm feeling? This is NOT the week for bronchitis. I still have to get groceries for Christmas dinner. This will be a Thanksgiving Lite. A turkey breast, gravy, potatoes, squash, cranberry sauce and stuffing. Chips and dip, cheese and crackers. For breakfast, I thought we would have the usual cinnamon rolls plus bagels toasted in the oven with various cream cheeses. Sunday, we will head to Maine for a mini trip. It is pathetic that I'm more excited about a night alone in a hotel room with my husband than any other Christmas activity!
Friday, December 17, 2010
12/17/10
I have lots to do today, but should be all done with Christmas today!!! Yay!!! After today, I can sit back and enjoy the holiday. Really looking forward to that!
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