In need of a motivational kick in the bum

With the New Year, along with all of the others, I also made a resolution to work out more and be healthier. I did make it to a cycle class last night, but my motivation to run as somehow flown out the window. We have races scheduled and I have barely put in any mileage. They are a relay marathon (I'll run a 10K), a 5 miler, a 10K and a half marathon, starting in February. I have also found little 100 calorie packs of baked Cheetos. OK, not anything that is considered gourmet or even palatable by most, but for whatever reason, these little puppies have been very satisfying around 3pm. I'm sure I could be doing worse, eating-wise, but still!

So, is anyone else out there feeling like me or perhaps you can motivate me with some good words of wisdom to get me off my rear?

Audrey Hepburn's Beauty Tips

I heard this poem for the first time at our Junior League meeting on Monday night & loved it. I thought that Audrey Hepburn actually wrote it ,but it was written by Sam Levenson, but the story we heard is that Audrey Hepburn quoted it in an interview she did with Vogue magazine.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.
Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Sam Levenson
Contrary to what some may think, Audrey Hepburn did not write this beautiful poem, Sam Levenson did. Levenson wrote "Time Tested Beauty Tips" for his grandchild, and it just so happened to be one of Audrey's favorite poems. She read it to her children on the very last Christmas Eve she spent with us here on Earth.

New kind of purchase

Guess what I bought yesterday? Well, yes, I did order new address labels by Boatman Geller with a cute green damask pattern. But, what I am taking about is buying pre-natal vitamins. Ack, I still really can't believe that I bought them. No, I'm not pregnant and we don't have a set timetable, but we have been taking about trying to have a baby at some point this year. So, I was at Target and they were on sale, so what the heck! I'm about halfway through my regular multi-vitamins, so when those are done, I'll start on the pre-natals.

Still scares the crap out of me... we are old enough and secure enough, but I guess it's the fear of the unknown. I'm very much a planner, so I want to control as much as I can. I did go ahead and get tested for immunity to Rubella and CF at my last OB-GYN appt. and all is clear on those fronts.

Now, I'm back to JCrew and Swoozie's... my regular shopping haunts!

Chocolate Decadence and Chicken Foot

Now that's quite a title, isn't it? I have been meaning to post these pictures from New Year's Eve. First, is the Chocolate Decadence cake from the Joy of Cooking that I made for the party we attended. This is a flourless chocolate cake that ended up being really good, if I can toot my own horn. It was actually easier than I expected. You use 16 oz. of bittersweet chocolate, butter, eggs, separated into whites & yolks, cream of tartar and sugar. Now, there is some mixing, melting and folding, but all in all a success. I, of course, forgot to take a before picture when the cake was pretty and neat. I served with Hagen Daaz vanilla bean ice cream and homemade raspberry sauce.

Next is Chicken Foot which is a dominoes game that my husband and I began playing several years ago. It is addictive and can get pretty cut-throat. Very fun... we looked up from playing and realized that it was 2:30 am and we are normally the ones who leave early!

Susan, A to Z

A-Available or single? Available only to Hubby.
B-Best Friend? Karen M. and Aim-ee W.
C-Cake or pie? Cake, warm flourless chocolate with raspberries
D-Drink of choice? Skim, sugar free vanilla latte, red wine, gin & tonic
E-Essential item I use every day: Cetaphil cleanser
F-Favorite color? Pink
G-Gummy Bears or Gummy worms? Bears
H-Hometown? Clarksville, TN
I-Indulgence? Pureology Nanoworks Shampoo & Conditioner, at $50 a bottle for something you wash down the drain, it better be an indulgence!
J-January or February? February... Valentine's Day
K-Kids and names - None yet, but the conversations have started!! So many ideas... Riley, Madison, Channel for my Grandmother, Lucy, for my favorite Aunt, Lilian for his mother, Zane. L-Life is incomplete without? Books, laughter, love
M-Marriage date - November 12, 2005
N-Number of siblings: 2, both older brothers
O-Oranges or apples? Apples, granny smith
P-Phobias or fears? Big jumping crickets
Q-Favorite quote? "Put on your big girl panties and deal with it".
R-Reasons to smile? My dogs, comfy PJ's, In Style magazine
S-Season? Fall
T-Tag Don't think I want to put this on anyone else...
U-Unknown fact about me: I won a bunny rabbit in a coloring contest when I was in the 1st grade.
V-Vegetable you don't like: English peas
W-Worst habit: Being negative about myself
Y-Your favorite food? Cheese
Z-Zodiac? Pisces

Happy New Year!

OK, is it bad that I was probably too hung-over to post yesterday? Arrgh. We celebrated the new year with a close group of friends, had a lovely dinner, but had a tad too much champagne that induced a mild headache all day!

As far as New Year's Resolutions are concerned, I want to do a better job with my overall fitness. We have several races planned, but I want to be better about going to the gym on a regular basis. I also want to do a better job about going to church. We found a church that we love, but just get lazy on Sunday mornings. I also want to continue on a search for more fulfilling employment.

So, there it is.. in "print". Happy New Year!

Lighted Christmas Balls

This is an interesting little phenomena that is going on in our city. Throughout the Sunset Hills neighborhood, one of the oldest in the city, literally hundreds of these really cool balls, orbs, etc are hung from the tree tops. Hubby and I were driving to a party on the 23rd and noticed these. We both squealed like 4 year olds and drove through this canopy of lights. They are truly amazing. This blog shows photos and even directions on how to make these. Lots of chicken wire, lights, extension cords and some way to heist these into the trees!

Post Christmas shopping

I love shopping post Christmas. Not only for the little deals and treats to save for next year, but to find the perfect matching pants for the argyle sweater I received. Hubby bought me this great argyle sweater (no longer listed online), but then today I found these. Perfect. Then to Ann Taylor for deals on cute slingbacks. A fun leopard pair, perfect for black pants and a brown faux crocodile for work.

Now, I'm not really into waking up at 4am to shop for the sales.. I leave that to my mom. She's the real pro. She knows what she wants and can work her way through half the city in an hour with goodies galore.

Merry Christmas!

The tree is trimmed, the presents are wrapped, the dogs are wearing their Christmas collars and are patiently waiting on Santa. After church, we will head to my in laws for the holiday.

Merry Christmas to you & yours!

They Might Be Giants

Last night, I was at dinner with hubby and a few friends. Somehow the conversation turned to one of the guys talking about holding small demitasse spoons and acting like a GIANT. I can remember a similar conversation at Suburban Cupcake about how when ladies visit Costco and walk around the giant store with oversized carts, humongo cans of peaches and extra large boxes of Frosted Flakes, we begin to feel like Barbie!

I guess it just shows that men always want to be big, burly and strong, and ahem, oversized while we want to remain small, petite and dainty.

Wrap it up

My husband's family believes in buying for every single member of the family. There will be no only buying for kids, or drawing names. So, I have accepted this past time, because I know that I would lose this fight. We make a list on a legal pad about who wants what, then we divide and conquer.

I added new new items to his list to include monogrammed scarves and purses. Then, I was the designated wrapper. He boxed, I wrapped. At one point he asked if I had done this professionally. I actually had in college!

I believe in pretty bows and nice paper. Bows should follow the Martha guidelines and should be pretty and sheer, gift wrap should have neat corners and no sloppy tape.

We were both impressed with our handiwork when it was all over and hopefully so will the recipients. I doubt his young nephews will care, but still!

The Hair Trifecta

For those of you who suffer from flat iron burnout (literally) or issues surrounding keeping your hair straight and silky, you must try the CHI products by Farouk. My salon sells these & I have become a convert. I now use the dryer, flat iron and CHI oil. They keep your hair silky, the flat iron doesn't seem to catch on any hair and cause to break. These are pricey, but wonderful products!

I did buy the pink breast cancer flat iron that is too cute, plus it works great and I supported a wonderful cause.

1964 1/2 mustang something or other

I love my mom. I really do. However, some of her requests just crack me up. She has collected Hallmark ornaments for many years - since before I was born, but she doesn't really use them at Christmas or even really like them. But, she has some of the entire collections, so why give up now?

Enter the last and final ornament in the Kiddie Car series... the 1964 1/2 mustang kiddie car.

So, they were sold out everywhere. She called, I called, I looked online. I got on a waiting list to buy the display at one of our Hallmark stores to find out that the display was stolen! Who steals from the Hallmark store!?!

So, after being outbid many times on eBay, I finally secured one for her last night at only $5 over retail. Whew. So now, she will have the entire collection that we will probably sell on eBay next year! Go figure!

Christmas Cheer

This has been "the week" for my husband's birthday, holiday parties, festive gatherings and, best of all, the stomach flu! Yes, my husband had it last Sunday, I left work early with it on Wednesday and we are down a combined 8 pounds, but back on the mend.

Whew, I would not wish that stuff on my worst enemy. My appetite came back yesterday and luckily, the party we attended had a mashed potato bar. Pure genius and served in cute martini glasses. I've seen this done at wedding receptions, but it was perfect for this gathering. As Rachael Ray would say, yum-o.

Today, hubby is off to watch the Steelers play, I am finishing some last minute shopping and attending a holiday tea. Very fun and girly for me. Dogs are snoozing near the tree, so life is good.

Wait a minute, Mister Postman...

As long as the packages actually get picked up tomorrow, I think I have just found one of the best holiday time saving tools. I had to ship two packages for Christmas and I hate dragging the boxes with me to work, then running out on my lunch hour, to stand in line at the Post Office for an hour in order to mail them. Since I kept seeing the ads for package pickup & online postage, I decided to try it. In all of about 5 minutes, and that included setting up the account and weighing the packages, I have my postage paid labels and the packages scheduled for pick up. Whoo-hoo! Time for this girl to go have a slim a bear and see if there's anything on TV.

Holiday Edition - Getting to Know You

A friend sent this to me tonight, so I thought I would add it for a little holiday fun.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly gift wrap, unless it's just a crazy shape.
2. Real tree or artificial? Real
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually Thanksgiving weekend
4. When do you take down the tree? After New Year's.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A life like doll named Pumpkin or a doll named "Whoopsie" and when you pushed her stomach, she said "whoopsie" and her pig tails went up & down!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, a small one on the tree. The big one is somewhere lost in the storage unit.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My mom
9. Easiest person to buy for? Me, of course!
10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmmm... My mother is notorious for giving practical presents - I started to receive Lenox Holiday china as a child. Now, I appreciate it, but it wasn't cool when everyone else got an Atari!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie(s)? Miracle on 34th Street, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Sometime in November
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I'm sure I have
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Real gingerbread cookies, those little round, light peppermints, iced sugar cookies...
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? clear
17. Favorite Christmas song(s)? O Come all Ye Faithful, Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee, Joy to the World.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Nothing one this one - nothing would fit
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? When things get so hectic that it makes it hard to slow down and enjoy the season.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love glass ornaments and have started the Swarovski star collection.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Growing up, we had Christmas Eve dinner which was usually pork tenderloin or ham, broccoli casserole, etc. My in-laws do a yummy Christmas Day dinner of ham, turkey and all of the fixings.
25. What is the real meaning of Christmas for you? For me, the real meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus. I really appreciate the quiet times that Christmas brings and time to spend with family, friends and loved ones.

Waiting to Exhale

OK, I'm up relatively early on a Saturday, because my husband actually wants to go try out a new Bikram yoga studio. They told us to hydrate before class, so I'm enjoying a cold Dasani, instead of a cup of coffee. I've done yoga before, and enjoyed it, but I am a little intimidated by all of this. It's an 1.5 hour long class AND the room is heated to 105 degrees! I may just fall over from heat exhaustion while trying to hold the warrior pose! Wish me luck!

Faux sugar provides morning inspiration

Has anyone else noticed that Splenda is providing "sweet", inspiring messages on their packets? Since I bought the new box, I have noticed little messages on the packets as I artificially sweeten my morning coffee. A nice touch!

I also heard this story on Good Morning America today..http://http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/
about mothers not only having issues with post-partum depression, but bi polar disorder and other mental disorders. As A), someone who is seriously considering pregnancy and B) someone who inherited the worry gene from both Grandmother and Mother, this bothers me! I know that if and when I decide to have children, I will be bombarded with advice from friends, family, co-workers and strangers on the street, but I guess it just really hit home about serious of a problem this is and how it often goes undiscussed or undiagnosed.

Christmas card drama

The Christmas cards are on their way, so now it's time to take the cute, we're newlyweds, here's our cute picture, picture!

I had asked my hubby if we could take our photo for the card this weekend. He agreed, even willingly and dressed nice on Sunday and even asked a friend to stop by and assist. So, our "photographer" Ben arrived and took some shots of us with the dogs. After I uploaded them, I realized that they weren't really that good - zombie eyes on the dogs from the flash, we were laughing too much, etc. So, I set up the camera and the timer and thought we might be able to get a better shot. By then, we were all a little tired - the dogs were running out of the picture, dog decided to roll on back, lick a paw, etc. Total disaster! I sent a few shots to Ritz last night to see if they will possibly look better once printed, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I think everyone will run and hide if I pull out the camera again tonight! I may post a few of our rejects later.

Hubby thinks we should just send a picture of ourselves with a note that says the dogs were out chasing squirrels. May not be a bad idea!

Little Pissers

I recently ordered a "waterer" like this one from Drs. Foster & Smith. It always seemed like the water bowl was empty or just a huge mess. Our neat 2.5 gallon waterer arrived yesterday. This little contraption works much like the water coolers in your office. I filled it to the top & set it up. Our dogs drank and drank, dripped all over the floor and then drank some more. I think they are intrigued with how it automatically refills. Needless to say, we woke up to two wet blankets in their two kennels this morning. My sweet hubby forgot to let them out last night for their late night potty, so I have put the blame on him!