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Blogoversary
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Twitter Stuff
Weekend stuff
We’ve got the tree and all the decorations put away. We took most things down here and there over the last few days and everything today off of the tree. Then we boxed it all up and put it in the attic.
The living room is so bare with nothing in it! I cannot wait to get some furniture in there. We hope to have a couch and some end tables and a coffee table by late April. We’re thinking about a sleeper sofa, which would come in handy when company visits. Cindy and her crew may be here over Memorial Day weekend!
I’ve finally made the archive files for the family photos from Thanksgiving. I threw in Christmas on Jess’s archive. Now I’m uploading my SIL files to the website so she can grab them at her convenience. I’m currently making a DVD of our Christmas photos. I’m SUCH a dork! I was wondering where they were! I had them on the CF card in the camera! *ROFL* Never had a chance to take them out as Jess was sick and then I had that bad cold and then reformatting my desktop. So, now they are getting backed up on DVD and then I have to put some of those in Jess’s archive.
I got a little surprise this week from my ex-SIL. Greg’s brother was married to her for about 10 years. I never really liked her or got along with her to be honest. She’s on her 6th or 7th marriage and actually had her tubes UN-TIED to have another baby. Crazy to me…as she’s my age or just around there. Anyhow, she messaged me on My Space to add her as a friend! *LOL* How bizarre.
I ran 5K on the treadmill this morning, been a while since I’ve done the 5K. I can feel the pain in my thighs! But, I did it and I plan on running that weekly. It was a little busier today at the gym, I’m sure it has to do with NY resolutions, eh? All 8 treadmills were being used when I was running, which is really busy in my opinion. The ellipticals were being used too, as well as the bikes. There’s 6 or 8 ellipticals and about the same number of bikes. I wonder how many people will be there this time next month? I cannot believe it’s been nearly a year since I started going to the gym at least 4 times a week. It’s been 5 months since I starting running and you can see my last 5 runs here: My Runs I upload them to the Nike server through my Nike+ thing on my iPod. Pretty cool eh? Anyhow, that’s not up to date as I haven’t added the one from yesterday on there yet, but it’s pretty close. I’ve run 30 miles since my birthday in October! Wow!
This next week will be pretty busy for me. I have to get a necklace I’m making completed so I can start on the layouts I want to do at the crop on Saturday! There’s a crop from 3-11 p.m. I missed the one in December. I also want to sew the backdrop material I bought back in November. I have it all cut, but I have to pin it and get it sewn. It’s really pretty tan fleecey stuff. Thought it would be nice to offer something other than black or white when inside. I also have to figure out when I can drive up to DC and get my Nikon cleaned. And I have to drop by the tattoo shop with my portfolio and cards.
Melissa was nice enough to post about our Mary Kay transactions! I have been selling it since Halloween here and there in town, but she’s my first mail order person! If you want to look at the site, here’s the link to my personal page on the Mary Kay site. I was really happy to be able to help Melissa out without her being local. I sent her some little samples and some tubes of foundation along with my color matcher tool. I thought she would be the 204 color and I was right. It looks great on her and she loves it so much she’s ordering concealer too! Thank you again for your orders! 
I usually place an order weekly if I don’t have something in stock, so if you are running low on something, give me a shout through the website, okay?
I will try to post again this week, hopefully tomorrow with more weight loss stuff! 
2009
Since 2008 was a year of change, I think that 2009 will be a year of growth. We shall see.
There will be a lot of changes in the physical part of our house in 2009. We want to put recessed lighting up in the kitchen, change the ceiling fan in our bedroom and in the family room. Carpet the basement, put flooring down in the dining room, our bathroom and kitchen. Get rid of the back splash tile in the kitchen and laundry room. I would love to have some furniture in the living room sometime in 2009! New shower in the master bathroom. A new vanity with sinks in there too. Take the mirror down over the fireplace, take the mirror down in our bathroom and put up two medicine cabinets. Whew. Don’t think that all will happen, but at least a few things may.
I’m looking forward to the photography business growing in 2009. I would like to work more than twice a month, but, I will take what I can get.
Trips include one to Ohio in March and one to Vegas in May. Other than that, not really going anywhere. I think we’re thinking of going to a theme park in the spring/summer. I would love to go to Busch Gardens at least once in 2009! Atlanta will be on the list once we know Jess will be there for a while. She would leave in June if they decide to go through with the consolidation. In which case, I’m sure she will be in Richmond again, so we’re leaving that alone for right now.
I will have 8 years under my belt, in February, as a blogger. That’s a long time to blog my life for everyone to see. I would like to import some entries in 2009. That’s one of the things I’ve been meaning to do. I do have them all on CD’s, back when I was on Blogger, then with Movable Type and Grey Matter. It’s easier to import the WP ones though, so I will probably do those first.
I will try on my wedding dress sometime in early May. After 25 years, I hope to get it at least on my body, even though I’m pretty sure it will not zip! I will be losing at least a pound a week, so I should easily be at my goal weight by then. The last time I tried it on was 15 years ago, when I wanted to wear it for our vow renewal at our 10 year anniversary. Didn’t work out, but, it may this time. We’ll celebrate our 25th anniversary of marriage in July, which is why we’re going to Vegas in mid-May. Too hot in July!
Tomorrow, the first of January, marks our 25th anniversary of our first official date! We went to Kennedy Space Center and had a great time. I still remember it like it was yesterday. We have some photos I will have to put online one of these days. We were in the astronaut suits for photos. We looked around for free, back in the day, it was a free place! We took the girls there a long time ago and saw everything again. It was when we lived down in Georgia, so in the mid-90’s. It’s not really changed that much though!
Tonight Greg and I will be staying in as I’m still sick with a head cold. Subway subs and probably a few movies to usher in the New Year. Jacqueline may be going to a party with her ex-Storm, we’ll see.
I hope to be well enough to head back to the gym by Friday or Saturday. Need to get moving on losing these last 10 pounds before May 1st!
Happy New Year everyone! I wish you plenty of luck, happiness, love and laughter in 2009 and beyond!
End of 2008
I cannot believe that it’s the end of the year already. I swear this year FLEW by! We just moved in right?
I have a cold. Sudafed seems to be working okay though, I can handle it.
Jess is much better, she left here on Saturday for Richmond. Brian drove her down to ATL on Sunday and she was back at work today. He’s staying the week down there and spending New Year’s with her, then flying home over the weekend.
I went and worked out yesterday at the new gym. It was not busy, even though the people that go there seem to think it is busy. I guess it’s all perspective. One day we’ll have a home gym, but, for now I like that I don’t have to do maintenance or upkeep. I did the elliptical, which is a really good workout! It’s been about 2 years since I’ve been on one. I also rode the bike and then did tons of ab work. There was a pickup game of hockey in the roller blade rink, so there were boys to watch. Greg wants to try ice skating there one day in the ice rink. I’m SO uncoordinated that I’m terrified of that. I do know how to roller blade and skate, but, never tried the ice skating thing. It was kind of hard to do in Florida growing up. *LOL* On tap for the rest of the week, working out on the bike and anything but running. Hard to breathe while running with a cold! I am steady at the weight I’ve been at for two weeks, today I was up a pound, so working out daily is the way to go for me.
Jess took this awesome photo of Greg and I on Christmas Day! You can see it on my Facebook and our Flickr account as well. I’m going to get some scrapping done next month and that’s one of the ones to print!
I plan on getting the rest of the Christmas stuff down around the house tomorrow. I’ve been putting it all in the living room. Greg will take the stuff down from the attic this week sometime so I can pack it all up and then put it back up there until next November.
I did get to Target today to get some stuff on clearance for next Christmas! The cards are bought, yay! And I also scored some gift tags and some other things for the house. The cookie exchange was a hit this year, so I have plates and napkins bought for next year already. I also bought a few baskets and other container-y things for Violet’s toys. I swear they multipled while we were sleeping on Christmas night.
Greg and I went to the mall yesterday. I returned the three pairs of jeans that I gave him for Christmas and he actually found three there that he liked so much he bought! I found two shirts, but, no jeans. I will have to keep looking for the right kind. I really like my Levi’s, but I want to see what else is out there. Gloria Vanderbilt’s, Lee’s and Liz Claibornes fit weird. I swear, I know I’m looking in the wrong stores. I tried Penny’s yesterday, the Levi’s came from Macy’s. Where do you buy your jeans and what kind are they? Are they comfy?
Celebrating 2009 with my honey with a nice dinner out probably. Depending on how we feel.
Oh! When I was at JC this afternoon, I actually talked to a potential photography client. We’ll see what happens. She’s pregnant and due in mid-February. I gave her a card and talked to her for a bit about how I work, etc. Keep your fingers crossed!
I’m backing up my hard drive ready for a reformat this week sometime. It’s been about 2 years since I reformatted Sophie. I know she’s due as she’s gotten a little sluggish. There’s traces of old programs on here that I want to get rid of and I cannot wait to do this.
If I don’t post before NYE, Happy New Year to you and your family! Drive safely and I will see you in 2009!! 
Christmas Loot!
Christmas was so busy, fun and long!
We all got up after 7 a.m., which is unheard of the other 364 days of the year in Violet-land. *LOL* It cracks me up that she slept the latest on the one day we wanted her up early!
She had a good day as we all did. Here’s what I received.
2 GB USB drive, laptop case, cd’s, Entourage season 4, lens for my camera, cd case for business cd’s, gripper socks, a wooden sculpture of a flutist, a Snowbaby, 3 necklaces, 2 picture frames, Chia pet doggy, bobble head, umbrella, gift card, iPod player for the kitchen and some great cards from Greg and the girls. 
We all cooked some yummy food, ham in the oven and pot roast in the crock pot. The girls did the stuffing and corn. I had a meal on my own set aside for Christmas, it was good!
Jessica got some of that stomach bug we all had last week. Storm came over and I think he brought it to share as he’s just getting over it. Luckily it seems like we’re all immune as we already had it. She’s been okay most of today, although she was up all night getting sick. Jacqueline helped her out, which was super nice of her! She was sleeping not too long ago, probably is still sleeping. I bought her some Gatorade at the store, it’s helped her stomach settle down and she’s kept it down.
I went to a new gym today. I really like it. It’s an express gym set inside a county building that has an ice skating rink and other fun community things. There’s even a rock climbing wall! Anyhow, the gym is just set up as a gym, the bathroom, showers and lockers are part of the building, so you can’t use one in the gym itself. There are drinks sold in those stand up coolers, cubbies for jackets and pegs for keys. I did the treadmill today and then bike and abs. I’ve been losing inches, trying to get my abs to catch up with that! The best part is there’s not a lot of members, so I can work out on the weekends as well! It’s open 24/7, so if I want to work out at 3 a.m., I can. I don’t think I will, but I could if I wanted to. It’s pretty inexpensive only $20 a month. Compared to the $40 a month I’m paying for my current membership, it’s nice! I changed and worked out, didn’t see anyone in the bathroom at all. Afterwards I showered and dressed, still no one. It was like 9:30 a.m.! How weird! No classes, just machines in there and 4 plasmas suspended from the ceiling on each side. That’s it. I couldn’t hear anything from the other classes that are outside in the main area. There’s Jazzercise, which is really old people doing it. I guess it’s good though that they are active. Wasn’t that in the 80’s? They offer step as well, but I’m into the running thing, so that’s a pass from me. Anyhow, I have to write a letter to cancel my EFT for the old gym, my membership will roll over in February if I don’t.
Anyhow, I hope everyone had a good Christmas. It’s the weekend! Greg and I will try to do something tomorrow, he’s got a cold, so he’s relaxing today for the most part. I want to see “Marley and Me” at the theater, maybe we can do that tomorrow afternoon.
TTFN!
Merry Christmas!
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.
Almost Christmas!
It’s almost Christmas, did you know this? I have just mailed out all the cards today. We were down and out for a couple of days with some sort of stomach bug, so I’m running a little late with them. Look for your card! I put a photo card and a letter in there, hopefully everything makes it okay to everyone. I have NONE of the gifts wrapped! ACK! I have a goal to wrap them up by Sunday night. Jess will be arriving sometime late on Monday from Richmond. All the gifts are in the guest room, so I do have a time factor here. Greg usually pitches in and helps. I just have to start with his and then he can help with the other ones. Jess is driving up from Atlanta tomorrow, spending a few days with Brian, then heading here for a week! I can’t wait! Christmas is my favorite time of the year. 
The only good thing to come out of the sickness is that I dropped 3 pounds. I would much rather have lost it a different way, but, since I did lose it and that’s all over and done with, I’m happy. I’m now at 125, which puts me within 10 pounds of my goal weight! Holy cow! Hopefully I will get to go to the gym next week, at least a few of the mornings. I haven’t really been posting about my weight loss and JC as of late. I was stuck at a plateau for weeks. I maintained over Thanksgiving and have lost about a pound a week since then. I’ve been trying to work on my abs as there’s a lot of flab right there, but, not as much as when I’m not PMSing, it’s actually not too bad. Hopefully I will start off the New Year in a pants size smaller than I’m in right now. I’m currently wearing a 6 in Levi’s and I did try on a bunch of dress pants a few days ago, all 6’s. Some were tighter than others, which is totally hormonal and how they are cut. One day, hopefully, I can just buy something without trying it on. That would save so much time and since I hate shopping, maybe I will finally like it again. I used to, a long time ago when I was in a smaller size. I’ve given away 6 bags of clothes over the past few months. Everything I owned was too big! In fact the shorts I tried on in Sept. are now so big! I just did a house cleaning, all shorts, tanks and t-shirts are gone if they were too big. I have no need for things that I cannot wear. I need to get some new things, I have some long sleeved and short sleeved shirts, but, they are smalls and some are a little bigger since they aren’t all petite. Weird to think that I wear that size. Nothing has really clicked with me in that sense yet. I think it’s because it’s such a gradual change and even though others see me a certain way, I still see myself at 144 lbs. So weird! It’s definitely a mind set.
I delivered some photo prints to Tammy and her family on Wednesday and I have to say that I really think they turned out well. I’m going to order some clear bags to put the photos in for future deliveries. They aren’t really that expensive and I think that they will be nice to have. Even though I don’t get a lot of print orders, this was my first in fact, hopefully more are in the future! She’s also going to book a photo session for her uprising senior! So exciting!
I’m missing my Pay Pal debit card. I cannot find it anywhere. I’m not super concerned as there’s nothing in the account, it’s just annoying. I will have to order a new one, what a PITA! I’ve looked everywhere for it and it’s hiding, laughing at me. AND I know I will find it the exact second I order a replacement.
I have a few things to do in the craft room over the holidays and next month. I have to clean off the table for one thing, it’s a MESS! I have not even unpacked my crop bag from November. I hope to finish the few pages that I need to title and then start filling the new Creative Memories books that I ordered. Since Jess will be here it will be easy to get into the crafty mode. I have a Father Christmas to paint as well as the scrapbook stuff.
I’ve been reading blogs and trying to comment when I can. Usually I read and only comment if I have something to contribute. Don’t think I’m not reading, because I am.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Cookie Exchange
The exchange went really well. Everyone was here around 2:30 or so, well, most were. One gal didn’t show up until 3:15 or so. We exchanged at 4 and then everyone pretty much cleared out. Next year I will send out the invites at the beginning of November to have more people RSVP earlier. And I plan on having it from 2-4, where we exchange at 3:30 or so.
I bought a meat and cheese platter at Safeway, put out some spinach dip, crackers, peanuts, tea, soda and there was wine for those that drink.
All in all it was FUN! We have about 12 doz. cookies here, too many. I’m packing up a bunch to mail to a few friends and sending some in with Greg tomorrow.
I hadn’t baked cookies in this oven before this exchange. I have to take off 2 minutes baking time (it’s a gas oven/stove) and they come out pretty nice. I need to buy 3 more wire cooling racks.
I plan on baking next weekend and while Jess is here, so I have to get ready! We have a few new recipes which is great. I will have to post them soonish.
15 more days!
Only 15 more days until Christmas! So, are you ready? We finally have the tree decorated, yay! I have to wrap presents on Friday and Saturday. I also have to address all the cards and mail them out. Violet and I may go to Target today and get them, I like taking her places. I just have to write the letter to put into the cards! I’m finally in the Christmas spirit, somewhat. The weather is making it hard, since it’s in the high 50’s and 60’s here this week. It will be dipping down to the 30’s and 40’s for a few days, but, then next week, it’s warmer again. Doesn’t make sense! I did finally get some photos, I will upload them to Flickr this weekend. I took some of the front of our house with the outside lights on. And of the tree, it’s so pretty. We all decorated it the other night. We added the nativity set that Greg’s mom made when she was a teen, under it. For the past few years we haven’t been able to do that as there wasn’t really room in the townhouse for everything. This house is much more spacious and since the tree is in the living room, there’s a lot of room. The room is pretty empty except for a bookcase and a Lazy Boy! *LOL* We don’t put gifts under the tree until Christmas Eve and there aren’t any stockings hanging on the fireplace yet. We are getting some new ones this year. We usually fill those on Christmas Eve as well.
I was going to take my Nikon up to DC this morning for a few days at a spa. It needs cleaning, there’s some debris inside the viewfinder. I’ve tried everything, but, I cannot get it out of there with anything. Anyhow, I woke up at 2 a.m. and it’s now 5 a.m., so it’s not happening. The tech is off all of next week, so I will have to try to bring it up there after the holidays. There’s nothing on photos, thank God, so it’s okay. I’ve been living with it for a couple of months now, it’s just annoying y’know? I think it’s caught between the actual glass somehow. Everything is covered since it’s still under warranty, but, I have until May 2009 to get everything done under warranty, so I think it can wait until after the holidays.
Jac and Storm have ended their relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend. Really didn’t surprise Greg and I too much as there were some issues for the past few weeks with them. But, they are still friends and he’s over here every day, although it’s different and in shorter spurts. He’s a really nice guy, but just not right for her.
I received an email from my mom last night. I’m probably going to email her sometime this weekend. Maybe. I’m still undecided. Maybe email will be less stressful than the phone.
The Biggest Loser thing is bogus. I think I will vote for Ed, I cannot stand Heba at all. Either way if one of them win the prize, they share the money. I hope Michelle wins the entire thing, I’ve been rooting for her for the last 2 months! She’s such a fighter and so PRETTY! We rooted for Ali last season and look what happened there!
We are going to have a Redneck Party on February 7, 2009! Totally copying Cady’s idea. It’s the Budweiser Shootout! I think we’ll have a beer tasting party, everyone bringing different kinds of beer. I think we can find a few people that will RSVP now for it, since they are big NASCAR fans! *LOL*
Have a good day!
Cookie Exchange
I’m hosting a cookie exchange on Sunday, so I thought I would share the recipes I found to bake some yummy cookies!
I haven’t used these before, I’m sure they will turn out great though, they have good reviews!
Santa’s Chocolate Thumprint Cookies
White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies
I’m really actually excited about the exchange as it’s a social event as well. Some of the gals that I met via scrapbooking will be here as well as one client and a friend I know through Greg. Jac is baking cookies for Violet and she will be here, hanging out, not exchanging though.
Greg will probably be here for a little while to meet everyone, then out the door he goes to Christmas shop for me. The lens I just bought is counting towards Christmas gifts, but, I do have a few cd’s and other things on the list that I hope he buys.
Are you doing a cookie exchange? What did you bake and take? What did you receive?
We are doing the recipes as well. I usually print them in color and mount them on a red or green piece of cardstock, punch a hole in one corner and add some ribbon.
Have fun!
Christmasy feeling
It’s been pretty hard to get into the Christmas spirit for me this year. I don’t know why. I usually am the first one to want to get the tree out and put things up! Maybe it’s because we’re in a new place? Doesn’t make sense.
I do have almost everything purchased, just have to buy something for Brian (Jess’s boyfriend), a Wii Fit if they still have them at Costco for Jess and something for Storm’s mom. I’m thinking a coffee mug with coffee stuff in it.
Today I put the lights up on the railing in front of the house. I put garland on first, then double wrapped the lights. I wanted little white twinkle lights there. It offsets the multi-colored lights around the eves really well. I will have to get out there and take a photo, it’s just too cold right now!
We received our first Christmas card in the mail today! It was from one of Greg’s pals that he grew up with. Weird that it’s the first one, it’s the 6th of December people! I usually have ours mailed out on the first, haha, they aren’t even bought/made yet. I really hate the photos we took just for this purpose, back in October. I had been losing weight, but, I look totally different now and so does everyone else! So, this year we’re gong back to the yearly recap letter and a card, no photo. Sorry if you were looking forward to a photo, check out the Flickr page instead!
Hopefully I will get the letter written this week, printed and then address the cards next weekend. Don’t shoot me if you don’t get a card until Christmas Eve. Things here have been insane and I cannot wait until the semester is over!
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Feed Burner
Netflix Movies at Home- Next in the Netflix Queue
- 001- The Backyardigans: Into the Deep
- 002- Balls of Fury
- 003- The Backyardigans: Mission to Mars
- 004- The Backyardigans: Polka Palace Party
- 005- Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 2: Earth: Vol. 2
- 006- Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 2: Earth: Vol. 3
- 007- Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 2: Earth: Vol. 4
- 008- The Backyardigans: Movers & Shakers
- 009- The Backyardigans: The Snow Fort
- 010- The Backyardigans: The Legend of the Volcano Sisters