Happy New Year!

I set a goal to write and blog more frequently. Technically, today is January 7th but I am going to catch up and blog my little heart out. (And apparently not hit "publish" til January 9th!)  I caught Eric's New Years cold and have spent a miserable weekend and now a Monday at home. I do go a little stir crazy when I am housebound. I mean, on the outside looking in it sounds kind of wonderful--a whole day to do nothing but rest and watch TV. But I have my iPhone, iPad and laptop on the couch with me, a marathon of Sex and the City and also I keep texting and annoying one of my friends, I am positive!

 The other thing about having a cold is nothing has any flavor but I keep eating like I am trying to find something that tastes good and what I have found is an addiction to raspberry lemon cookies from Target. I ate a whole sleeve yesterday and another one today. I am on my way to Fatville especially because with this cold/flu I haven't been working out and have missed my friend, Le Elliptical, and have missed my Zumba and Barre Burn classes.

 Anyhow - REWIND. On New Year's Eve Eric and I rang in the New Year at my favorite Italian restaurant, Mama Maria's in North Hudson. Well, we didn't actually ring it in there as I am sure we were home by 10 pm but I made a point to stay up til midnight and text at least one person a Happy New Year. What stands out in my mind about NYE is my cute hair-do thanks to my pal, Lisa, and how freaking cold it was--well below zero. New Years Eve never lives up to my expectations so I long ago really stopped having any.

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 The other thing about me that you should know is I always get a little bummed when Christmas is over. I hate when all the decorations come down, I find the after-Christmas sales and leftover merchandise kind of sad, and all the sparkle is gone. I think Eric has learned to deal with me and to try to cheer me up and I do eventually snap out of it. This year I snagged the Alice + Olivia suitcase I was coveting from the Neiman Marcus collection for Target. I got it for 70% off!



 MY CUTE NEW SUITCASE FOR ALL MY TRAVELS

On the other hand, I did NOT get the Alice + Olivia bicycle I was wanting--but Eric insists I don't need 3 bicycles and he is kind of right. But this bike is sooo cute, don't you agree? Fun and whimsical!

 THE BIKE I REALLY, REALLY WANTED

Then call me crazy, but I scheduled my annual visit to the gynecologist for January 2nd. But I guess it is best to get it out of the way. I actually don't mind the actual exam as much as I hate the scale and the blood pressure cuff. I have a well-documented file of white coat syndrome--I see a doctor and my blood pressure goes through the roof. If only someone would give me a Xanax but they won't! Or I have yet to convince any doctor that I need Xanax.

 Anyhow done with that doctor for the whole year! Then back to work for a day and a half and believe me that wasn't easy after having 12 days off. But as I said, I ended up getting Eric's cold which feels more like the flu so I have yet to actually work a full week this year. I do plan to get back to work tomorrow--I need some structure or else I just run rampant. 

 Of course, I don't want my life to be too structured -sometimes I really appreciate a nice surprise! And I do mean a NICE surprise. Actually I had a nice surprise this week followed almost immediately by an UNPLEASANT surprise. And maybe actually it wasn't so much a surprise as something I knew was coming but nothing could really prepare me for it. I know that sounds cryptic but some things I am just not ready to make "public" yet. A long time ago when I was blogging a lot, I said I wanted my blog to be a happy place and that still stands. I think it is enough that I admit some of my craziness above!

 I still hope that 2013 is a great year but it has started out with a lot of ups and downs and it is only one week in. 

 Cheering on the Seattle Seahawks in Wildcard Playoffs (in my Chicago Bears shirt - I am contrary like that)

Goodbye 2012

It's the last morning of the last day of the year and I have barely blogged. It was an amazing year for me in so many ways, a lot of them too personal to even share here. I went into 2012 so excited that it was going to be a great year and a year of changes. It was a great year and there were changes but maybe not enough. Maybe those will be in 2013. Some of the great things I will share are falling in love with a kitten from the Humane Society in June who I named Chester and a rescue dog named Violet in August. These two creatures have added so much to my life. I also purchased a new car in February, a fun, sporty yellow Mitsubishi Eclipse--one of many Eclipses I have owned--I guess they are just my car. It was also a year that I reconnected with some old friends.

 Of course, with hellos come good-byes and I said goodbye to my cat, Trista, who died in May suddenly. Eric also lost his mom after a 5-year battle with brain cancer. She was so brave. I also closed the door on a pretty long friendship due to a falling out. I don't see that ever changing. I think it ended for a good reason as some friendships are just too draining. There were changes at my job, some upheavals and reassigning of duties. Eric also started a new job in September and he loves it and it has the career challenges he is looking for, as well as giving him the opportunity to really move up that corporate ladder.

 I went on some great trips to Southern California and Vegas, and also to Savannah and Charleston. I spent a fun birthday weekend in Milwaukee and was able to visit Salem, Mass. on Christmas Eve. A year isn't complete without some travel. I also always tried to get down to Des Moines once a month. Oh, and in January, how can I forget, my fun girls weekend to Chicago!

 So now the year winds down today and I find myself reflecting. I really wish I had blogged consistently this year instead of TRYING to pick it up again in October and failing miserably except for a few random posts. I am not one for resolutions - I try to stick to the basics, laugh as much as possible, be kind always to myself and others, exercise, don't text and drive (oops, a work in progress), save more (again WIP), get organized, etc. But sometimes I really think I waste my brain and imagination and creativity and so I want to write more, be it here or in my neglected diaries, or short stories or even an actual book. I have so many thoughts flying around in my head that could be harnessed.

 I read something on Twitter yesterday where someone said she blogs so she can look back in 20 years and see what she was doing. I agree with that. I want to document my life, really only for myself as I have no kids.... So that's my one big resolution for 2013 - WRITE MORE!

 Today will be low-key as I am also not really into New Year's Eve. Eric and I have reservations at my favorite Italian restaurant tonight. He is working til about noon today so I have the house to myself, which I love! I can do my own thing like blog! Then at 3:00 I am going to get my hair done because I feel like NYE requires a blowout, hair-wise! So Happy 2013 and good-bye 2012--even though I barely


documented you, I will never forget what a wonderful year you were!

Pinterest!

I love Pinterest - I am a little bit obsessed with it right now. I also Pin for work on our company Pinterest boards but my personal boards are here.

I have one for Decorate, one for Style, one for Hair, one for Pugs, one for Things I Find Adorable, one for Fleurs and one for Le Cycle. Stop by and follow me if you would like, and also let me know if you Pin and I will follow you!

Better Late Than Never

Better late than never is often my motto in life. I wanted to do a little Halloween update. Halloween is always one of my favorite times of year - I love anything to do with black cats and witches. And candy. Definitely candy! My pets always get in on the action, too. My vet's office had a Halloween party and costume contest. My dogs never take home any prizes--I don't think I am original or inspired enough! Oh, I take that back--Noodles once won Most Humorous at a party when dressed as a bumble bee. Here they are - Noodles and Violet on their way to the party.

Noodles was a football player and Violet a cheerleader. Her skirt wouldn't stay on. This is Halloween evening. Violet switched to a dress and Noodles a shirt!

Chester was a vampire

I am always a cat or a witch.

And that is my little Halloween update!

A Wonderful Wednesday

After I just got done saying what a wonderful year I was having, Monday was absolutely awful for a lot of different reasons so I didn't feel like blogging. I just felt like crying. By Tuesday I had snapped out of it thanks to great friends and by today, Wednesday, I was happy again especially because I took a mental health day or what I call playing hooky. Don't worry--I asked for the day off, I didn't call in fake sick or anything!

Sometimes I just need to sit around in my pajamas til 9 a.m. drinking coffee and watching Will and Grace. But then me being me I had a whole slew of things I wanted to do. But I also need a list to follow because of my self-diagnosed attention deficit disorder. I can't just give one thing my undivided attention; I have to multi-task at warp speed. It is the same reason I am always reading 4 books at once. My To Do list looked something like this:

Blog
Journal
Walk
Elliptical
Yoga class?
Laundry
Pick up house
Organize closet
Watch a Movie
Send thank you cards
Buy birthday cards

You get the picture. The main thing I wanted to do was organize my walk-in closet (an ongoing project/disaster area) watch a movie and waste time on Pinterest. I wasn't able to find the time for a movie mainly because I was watching multiple episodes of Sex and the City and Beverly Hills 90210 all while working on the closet, Facebooking, checking my work email, shredding old bills and picking up the house.

 I somehow made it to Clothes Mentor with some designer handbags that I no longer carry. I have about 40 to 50 Coach bags from the early to mid-2000s that I decided I should really try to cash in on because I really only carry one of my old Louis Vuittons or the newest Kate Spade I have picked up. I took 5 Coach bags with me, 2 fall coats and one top from Anthropologie. I have to admit I felt kind of judged and under the microscope as they evaluated my things. They told me to come back in 30 minutes so I did some other shopping at Francesca's (found some cute things!) When I came back the clerk told me they couldn't accept my leopard Guess coat because it was missing a button nor the Arden B I found in Seattle because it was missing a size tag. Really? Anyone could clearly tell it is a medium! The Anthropologie top had a spot on it (I think I can wash that out!). So 3 rejections. And then two more rejections as 2 of my Coach bags were too "worn". Sigh!

They did accept 3 of my bags but they only gave me $60 total which granted is more than I would probably make at a garage sale. But one of the bags I clearly remember paying $400 for and I bought it while on vacation in Southern California and it's sparkly so I had a momentary pang about selling it so cheap. But it has been sitting in my closet for the past 4 years so I may as well put my purses to work and have them make me some money - to support the new bags coming in--like those 2 kate spades I just purchased. I think Clothes Mentor is better than consignment because you don't have to wait for the item to sell--they give you cash up front. I think I will take in some more items but next time I will be ready for the rejection and also now I will know what some of the requirements are (size tags? really?).  

Making A Comeback

I haven't blogged since December 10, 2011. Somehow I got out of the habit of blogging and I guess life just got too crazy and I stopped making time. I have kind of missed my blog and I have been thinking I would start it up again and had the idea I would start again on October 13, my birthday which was last Saturday. That didn't happen but better late than never.

 I probably should catch up with what has happened in 2012. I feel like this has just been one of the best years of my life. I actually know a lot of people who think it is has been a terrible year, including my husband but for me personally it has been a great year. A few really sad things happened - my sweet fluffy white cat, Trista, died in May. We put her to sleep after the onset of a sudden illness and the diagnosis of lymphoma. My husband's mom died in August after a long, brave battle with brain cancer. Those are the sad things but wonderful things have happened too.

TRISTA 

 In June I adopted another Siamese kitten from the Humane Society and named him Chester, and in August I adopted a dog from Small Dog Rescue--a Papillon Chihuahua mix who I named Violet. These two have added so much joy to my life and I had room in my heart (and home) for a few more pets. That brings us up to 3 cats and 2 dogs and I think that 5 is a good round number.

CHESTER

VIOLET

 In February I also traded in my VW Beetle convertible, Daisy (shocking a few people) for a yellow Mitsubishi Eclipse named Daisy 2. I have owned several other Eclipses and I really do love this car. I just couldn't keep driving an automatic so I drove 5 hours to purchase the perfect car with a 6-speed stick shift. It was fun owning a Beetle and I would buy another one--just as long as it is a stick shift. Lesson learned.

 I have been on a few trips this year--one in May to Savannah and Charleston, which was wonderful. I have always wanted to visit the South and both cities are so historical. I want to go back someday and spend more time. In July I went to Vegas for a girlfriend's wedding-that was a quick weekend but also very fun (and hot!). I flew to Boston for Eric's mom's funeral which doesn't really count as a trip because it was not for fun even though I flew first class. We will be headed back to the East Coast at Christmas time and also to Southern California for our anniversary in December - 10 years.

VEGAS

CHARLESTON 

 I also had a very fun birthday weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin--sort of an under-rated city. We stayed at the Iron Horse Hotel which is rated as one of the top boutique hotels in the whole United States. They are a very dog friendly establishment, which is how I chose the Iron Horse - I Googled dog friendly hotel properties in the Midwest. They completely spoiled my dogs with treats and toys, and so that also made my birthday special. It was a really rainy weekend and I just loved ordering room service and drinking wine and having my best buddies with me (Noodles and Violet).

BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

 My husband started a new job in September. We ALMOST moved back to Des Moines...almost...but with everything going on with his mom he couldn't handle selling our house and moving to a new state--it was just too much. He accepted a position in DT Minneapolis which I know was the best career decision for him--but I was a little sad--there is a part of me that was ready to move. But it wasn't meant to be at this time. So that pretty much brings me current with what has happened this year. I am ready to start blogging again!

I Am...

A meme inspired by my Pal Amber at  a Little Pink...


1. I am good at…fashion and decorating, spelling and word games, socializing, entertaining, making people laugh, shopping and driving a stick shift--haha!  



2. I am happy when… I am driving my car (although not in rush hour traffic), listening to music, exercising, eating well, spending time with friends, snuggling with my pets, when I am shopping and when I have on a cute new outfit and my hair has been professional styled!  Also, when I am on a plane to somewhere fun!

3. I am working on… making boards on Pinterest and organizing my walk-in closet so I can donate some things as well as consign some others.  My closet = disaster.  

4. I am interested in… so many things, traveling, reading, meeting new people, wanting to learn a new language, and taking classes in basically anything.  

5. I am always… worried about something ridiculous.  

6. I am enjoying… the holiday season.  I love this time of year - the hustle and bustle, the decorations, the music, the lights, the anticipation.  

7. I am in… in my house at my Yellow Pottery Barn Desk.  

8. I am reading… "I Don't Know How She Does It" (like the Sarah Jessica Parker movie)

9. I am concerned about… animal welfare and homeless animals - I am a big advocate of animals.  

10. I am looking forward to… 12 days off for Christmas vacation!


If you do this meme, let me know--I love to read them.  

Read more here and here.

New Blog

It's so funny how I don't blog anymore (please sing to tune of "It's So Funny How We Don't Talk Anymore", Cliff Richard, circa 1979).  Yes, I am old!!

My New Year's Resolution (and I don't really make those) is to blog more in 2012.  I was up at 4:30 a.m. to drive Eric to the airport, as he is flying to New Hampshire, via Detroit, to visit his parents this weekend and so I was up super early.  I have a whole list of things I want to do this weekend - update my blogs, write in my journal, make boards on Pinterest, organize my closet, bake Christmas cookies, meet two groups of friends for brunch, buy some more Secret Santa gifts, finish putting up the last few Christmas decorations in my house.  It will be interesting to see how many of my goals I accomplish!

Anyhow just checking in.  I hope everyone is having a Happy Holiday Season!

Read more here and here.

What Holiday Is This?

I actually agree with this cartoon--Thanksgiving does get over-shadowed by Christmas and Christmas trees & decorations do start appearing in the mall as early as September which is definitely ridiculous.


But having said that, I have already been listenting to Christmas music in my car and I have the urge to put up all of my Christmas trees this weekend. So I am split...


What camp do you fall into? Christmas now? Or let's wait and have Thanksgiving first AND then get into the holiday spirit?



Read more here and here.

An October Recap

 October is my favorite month.  It has my birthday and Halloween and apples and pumpkins and witches and chilly nights and bonfires and pretty leaves and fun-sized candy bars.

This October started with a bang--literally.  I was driving this car

and almost hit this creature.


So I braked and I got rear-ended on my way to work.  I was pretty shaken up because a) I almost ran over an animal and b) I caused damage to such a delightful yellow car!

The other driver was a mom with her small child who just happened to live in the same townhouse development as me.  We were about a mile from our houses.  We called the police and no tickets or citations were issued.  I think he felt we were both equally at fault--she for following too closely and me for braking for an animal.  He told me, quite frankly, that I should have and I quote "taken the squirrel out".

I stood my ground and said I would always brake for animals.   And I always will--that is not going to change.  I am still sad about the time I ran over an oppossum.  Or the time a bird flew into my windshield.  These are things I don't forget!

Later that day I declined a visit to the doctor for whiplash and went to work at our Annual Warehouse Sale at a certain upscale fragrance company I work for.  Somehow my name tag got lost in the chaos and so I was Lucy, your friendly cashier!

This was honestly not the best day of my life!  Look at the look on my face!

The next day was better.  My dear pal, Amber, came up for a visit.  We went to the warehouse sale - much more fun as a customer!  Then we went to Crave with a bunch of my girlfriends and had a little early birthday lunch and drinks, and we did some shopping/browsing at Anthropologie and then we went to see "What's Your Number" which is based on the novel 20 Times A Lady by the wonderful Karyn Bosnak!  I loved the movie and will definitely be buying the DVD when it comes out.

After the movie we went to Flame for a yummy dinner.   We were pretty tired after that so I made sure Amber got checked into her hotel and then we went to get her car and then I headed home for some sleep!

**(Then we realized Amber had forgotten her designer shades in my car so we made plans to drop them off the next day when Eric and I were out and about and Amber was checking out of her hotel.)

**Not sure why I included this in my post--haha!  Definite a sidebar.  :-)


Things continued to get better when we left for my birthday weekend extravaganza to Southern California.  We stayed in Newport Beach and rented a lovely white Eclipse convertible (like I used to have!) and I did a lot of shopping and ate a lot of cupcakes and drank a lot of wine and did some more shopping and celebrated my birthday over dinner at Melting Pot.  We met my friend Angie for lunch one day and my other friend, Katie, for brunch at her fancy hotel (St. Regis in Dana Point!)--she and her husband just happened to be visiting at the same time.

Then it was back to Minnesota and time to celebrate my good friend, Jason's 40th birthday.  We have been friends since he was 21, can you believe it?  There was wine and cake and a cute doggie. 

The month finished up with Halloween, of course.   We went to the Screamtown Haunted Houses with our neighbors and it was so much fun.  Of course, I was the girl who got picked on the most by the actors.  Go figure! 

Noodles dressed up like a banana split for the Halloween party at his vet's office.  But he has lost so much weight on his diet that his costume no longer fit properly.  I bought it on clearance at Target last year but this year he is too skinny!  He spent Halloween night answering the door for the Trick Or Treaters in an orange Halloween t-shirt with fur trim & glitter. 

That was October in a rather long nutshell!!   I will put up some pictures at my other blog so stay tuned if you are into that kind of thing! 









Read more here and here.

I Promise I Will Be Back!

I know, I know. I am such a bad blogger. October was my hiatus and November is quickly becoming mid-November so...I promise to be back! Don't give up on me.

This is kind of depressing!!  I want to do a recap of October with all of its ups and downs and always my favorite month (birthday month!) and tell you what is going on with me now.    But right now, I am off to the doctor--wish me luck!  My blood pressure has been going wacky!



Read more here and here.

A - Z

This idea comes from my pal, Amber at A Little Pink in the Cornfields who is coming to hang out with me in a few weeks for my early birthday weekend!




A. Age: I haven’t decided what age I am going to be this year, but my birthday is coming up – October 13th!

B. Bed Size: Queen

C. Chore that you hate Housework in general – that is what cleaning people are for—and husbands.

D. Dogs: My Pug, Noodles who is my best friend. I wish I could have a second dog as well, but so far my husband has vetoed that idea. So far. I never give up!

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee and Kare 11 Sunrise on the couch—and if I am really motivated, I will watch it while doing the elliptical.

F. Favorite Color: I go back and forth between purple and yellow. But right now, probably yellow.

G. Gold or Silver: Platinum

H. Height: 5’3” on a good day but in reality just a tad under

I. Instruments you play: Sadly, none

J. Job Title: Receptionist extraordinaire

K. Kids: No, thanks – all my “kids” have 4 legs

L. Live: Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area

M. Mother’s Name: Glenda Jean

N. Nicknames: Les, Lester, Pookie, Ladybug, Junebug

O. Overnight hospital stays: I had major surgery in 2003 and was in the hospital for 3 days.

P. Pet peeve: Negative, complaining people, people who don’t use their turn signals or know how to zipper merge and people who are rude in general and also in traffic. People who put an “e” on the end of my name even if they have known me for DECADES.

Q. Quote from a movie: It’s A Desperately Important Scarf – from “Confessions of a Shopaholic”

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: One brother who lives in New Zealand and a sister who died as a baby

T. Time you wake up: 5:30 a.m.

U. Underwear: I like boy shorts

V. Vegetable you hate: Green beans, broccoli, lettuce on sandwiches, brussel sprouts – for a vegetarian, there are a lot of veggies I don’t like!

W. What makes you run late: Pets, traffic, weather, not allowing myself enough time

X. X-Rays you’ve had: teeth, broken leg, mammogram

Y. Yummy food that you make: I make a really delicious dip known as crack dip. You can get the recipe here.

Z. Zoo Animal: Baby elephants, big cats, zebras.

P.S.  I also did this in March - let's see how well my answers match up!!






Read more here and here.