Sunday, November 28, 2010

Thanksgiving Madness

Ok, I shouldn't say madness!  It was quite a relaxing and quiet 4 day weekend!  I enjoyed it so much!  I really need to win the lottery so I can have more of quiet, relaxing days!

Thanksgiving
This year I was lucky that my parents decided to stay in town and we had Thanksgiving dinner together.  My sister couldn't join us as she had to work on Black Friday (the joys of a retail career!) but she will be coming home for Christmas!

I have many things to be thankful this year even though I've had some major losses.  I am thankful that I've been given an opportunity to use the degrees I earned and the brain I have at my new job.  I am thankful that my family is safe and healthy.  I am thankful for the friends that have stuck by my side this past year and for the new ones I have had come into my life. 

My Dad does most of the cooking for dinner.  He makes the cranberry sauce (fresh not from the can!), the stuffing, and he fries the turkey (the best part!).  My Mom and I make the mashed potatos, sweet potatos, green bean casserole and the crescent rolls while Dad is outside frying the turkey.  This year, I made the desserts.  Well, one of them anyway. 

For the first time, I made a cranberry apple pie.  As I was putting it together, I had very little confidence in it.  Soooo, before putting it in the oven, I ran to Whole Foods and purchased a sweet potato pie for back up!  LOL!  I wasn't the only one doing that!  Came home and put the cran apple pie in the oven and crossed my fingers.  My Dad loved it!  Ok, he may have just been saying that because I'm his daughter but I tried it to and thought it was quite yummy!  It is the recipe from the Betty Crocker recipe book.  I suggest it to anyone who likes cranberries and apples!

Movies
This has been a week for movies.  On Monday I went with my movie buddies, Kati and Doug, and saw Harry Potter.  Yes, I loved it!  Yes, I've read the book and ultimately know how it ends but I enjoy seeing the interpretation on the big screen!  It did not feel like a 2 1/2 hour movie!  In fact, at the end of the movie I actually said out loud "NO!  I want more!"  Doug laughed at me and said he agreed! 

I also watched a few movies from my cable's On Demand.  I saw "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant".  If you like campy, cheesy vampire movies, this is one for you.  I enjoyed it thoroughly.  I think it is based off a comic book or maybe some type of anime story but I'm not sure.  The next movie I saw was "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.  Cute.  Good story for the older crowd.  It passed the time for me as I stitched! I also watched "Leap Year", a cute romantic comedy. 

Shopping
Luckily most of my shopping was already done.  I had a few last things I needed but nothing that could get me to go out on Black Friday.  In addition to it being Black Friday, the temperature had dropped 40 degrees (it was 80 degrees on Thanksgiving day) and was raining.  I stayed in, watched football and stitched.  My idea of a good day!  Saturday was a nicer day.  Still on the cool side but the sun was out.  I ventured out before the important football game of the day (LSU of course!) and picked up a few deals.  Nothing for myself.  Gifts for friends and family!  We have a rule in our family: You can not buy yourself anything new starting from November 1 til Christmas.  You want it, put it on your wish list!

Christmas Decorating
I used to put my tree up on the day after Thanksgiving.  I would put it up and decorate it while I watched the LSU Arkansas game.  But starting last year, they have moved the LSU Arkansas game to Saturday so the tree didn't come out until then!  I did start off on Friday with putting my Nutcrackers out.  I love Nutcrackers.  Just one more thing for me to collect.  Luckily though I only have 4 so not too many to store or put out!


Football
Well, the Saints won on Thanksgiving day!  That was a nice way to spend the late afternoon.  But then the Tigers lost on Saturday.  It was a horrible way for us to end our season.  We did end up 10 - 2.  That's a great record, if you think about it. I guess we are so jaded these days that anything less than the national championship is a failure.  So I should be happy that we had a winning season and look forward to whatever bowl game we end up.

Stitching
Of course with 4 days of relaxation I would have a stitching update!  I have a finish!  Yay! I made this for my Grandmother for Christmas this year as I pulled her name. It is a celtic cross. I love the colors in this piece!  The pattern is from Scotland, a gift from a friend who visited there.



I also finished one whole page of HAED's Mad Tea Party!  Woo hoo!  I am doing this one 2 over 1 and it is very slow going.  It has a tapestry feel to it.  I'm liking the way it is looking but not that it is taking so long to stitch on!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Last weekend before the holidays!

This past weekend was the last weekend before the holidays begin!  And although at the moment I don't have much planned, I know that it will be a busy time through the New Year!

Arts & Crafts Fair
On Friday afternoon, I attended an annual arts & crafts fair at a local high school.  I went with a friend of mine and we had a good time looking and visiting but I really do not know why I go to these things!  I go through each booth saying "I could do that" "I can make that" but of course I don't!! But because I have those thoughts, I rarely if ever buy anything.  The only thing I bought at this fair was the cinnamon sugar pecans!  Yummy! 

Football
Football season is slowly winding down.  LSU is 10 and 1 and only has 1 more game before the bowl game.  It is impossible for us to get to the SEC championship game.  Unless of course Alabama manages to beat Auburn this Friday, then maybe?  I'm not sure.  But without football what shall there be?  Oh yeah, baseball starts in February!  (Our basketball team is still "rebuilding" and not so good).

The rumors are circulating as to what bowl game we will end up in.  According to my father (and he's always right or so it seems) they will be headed to the Cotton Bowl.  Although that is now held in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, I'm not really happy about that.  Of course I think we should be in the BCS championship!  The Sugar Bowl will try to avoid taking us if they can since we are pretty much in their backyard and it means less tourist dollars for New Orleans.  The Sugar Bowl is never happy when LSU comes to town.  We buy the tickets just no need to stay in the hotels!

Christmas Gifts
I am acutally way ahead this year!  I set a goal of buying all gifts by December 1 and I think I am on track.  I only have 2 more gifts to buy and the two that remain are turning out to be my toughest to get.  I don't want to just settle on something but that may be what happens!

I plan on pulling out the decorations either Friday or Saturday.  Probably Saturday as I traditionally decorate while watching the LSU Arkansas game!  I will have to do some  cleaning this week though to make room for my tree.  I have a little apartment and I don't have a lot of room to put up a tree.

Duke
Duke is doing well, or so it seems!  I am supposed to watch him for behaviorial changes.  Does eating count as a behaviorial change?  He ate very little before being put on this medication and now he eats all the time!  Will I now end up with a little butterball?  Hopefully not.  He still runs around like a little maniac and likes to play.  I hope that will counteract all the extra calories he is now eating.

New Kids on the Block
Yes, I admit it.  I am a NKOTB fan!  Yes, I did watch them on the American Music Awards last night (along with the performance by my all-time favorite Bon Jovi!).  NKOTB has currently joined with the Backstreet Boys for a concert tour.  As of last night, they had only announced 7 dates, most of them in Canada BUT today an announcement came out with a bunch more dates.  They are coming to our area!  Yay!  My friends and I are already on top of this and planning our trip to Lafayette to see the concert! 

Mad Tea Party
In my quest to complete another stitching goal for this year, I've been working on HAED's Mad Tea Party.  I am so close to finishing this one page!  I really want to get it done so I can scratch it off the list and not carry it over to next year!

Before

After 1 week

Monday, November 15, 2010

Another Overdue Post

Where has the time been going?  I feel like it is just flying these days!  So much to do and so many things on my mind!

Weekend with Marly
Two weeks ago I was able to spend a weekend with my 9 year old niece.  We had so much fun!  She made her first pizza (it was quite nice to not have to cook dinner!).





We also made yummy caramel turtle brownies!

We watched movies, Shirley Temple's Little Princess and Alvin and the Chimpmunks, The Squeakquel.  I have to admit, the Alvin and the Chimpmunks movie was very cute!  I want a cute little chimpmunk that can talk, dance, and sing like Theodore!

Marly was also able to see my parents.  We had a great lunch at a local soda fountain (yep, we still have one of those) where we had the best cheese burgers and fries! 

We also did crafts.  Of course we did!  Or rather she did and I just pitched in when needed.  She made Christmas ornaments, Christmas magnets, and a Thanksgiving scene which will make an excellent centerpiece for dinner! She had a blast doing those! 





Then we watched the LSU Alabama game.  Yep, we've raised her right.  She is a little Tiger fan.  She did crafts during most of the game allowing me to focus on the game but then she watched the 4th quarter with me and we cheered our Tigers on to victory!

New Job
The new job is going well.  So much to do.  At times I am so overwhelmed that I don't know where to start so I just pick up one thing and try to see that one task to the end.  At this point, that is about all I can do.  But I am enjoying re-learning things that I had forgotten since college due to lack of use! 

Thirty One Gifts
Thirty One Gifts.  Has anyone ever heard of it?  I hadn't until I was invited to a party for it.  I mostly went because it was being given by an old high school friend and I like to catch up with her every once in a while. Anyway, Thirty One Gifts is a business that sells things like purses and totes in different styles, patterns and you can customize with monograms.  You should check it out if you have the chance.  I was able to get Christmas presents for my Mom and my Sister.  Two checked off my list!

Duke
Many of you know that I have a little miniature poodle named Duke.  He is 11 years old (this December).  He's my baby but he is also an old man!  Recently he got sick.  An upset stomach.  It lasted for 2 days so I took him to the vet.  The vet said that something just didn't agree with him and he should be fine in a few days BUT, yep there is always a but in there, he did not like the sound of his heart.  Two years ago Duke was diagnosed with a heart murmur.  Very common in little dogs.  However, since his last checkup which was 6 months ago the murmur had become worse than they thought it would and are now recommending medication.  So now my baby is on heart medication.  It isn't too bad.  The pill is so tiny it is easy for him to take but since he's been sick I can't tell if the reason he is moping around is cause of his stomach or the new medication.  One of the side effects of the medication is that it will make him loopier and more lethargic. He's not playing with his toys anymore which kind of bothers me but like I said not sure if that is because of the medicine or his upset stomach.  However, he has been eating everything in site which is very unusual for him.  I guess I'll just keep an eye on him for a few more days before calling the vet again.

Mad Tea Party
I have been stitching.  In fact I was able to spend the weekend stitching as I stayed home to watch over Duke.  So between football, naps, and parties, I stitched on HAED's Mad Tea Party.  I'm hoping to finish one page of this pattern as it is one of my stitching goals for the year.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Where in the World Have I Been?

I have not been blogging as much as I usually do.  Life has been busy or I have been so darn tired I can't muster any imagination to sit down and write out a posting.  But today, I was determined to do just that!

Let's go back to this past Friday:

Friday was my last day at work (today is Wednesday and last Friday seems like months ago).  I was dreading this day because I really thought it would go on FOREVER.  But it didn't.  It zipped by so quickly.  I busted my butt and got a TON accomplished. Had a great "last" lunch with the other girls from the office and when 4 pm came, I was out the door.  I think I ended my chapter there on a good note.  My boss offered me all the luck in the world and assistance in any future endeavors should I need it.  He also offered me a job as one of the other girls in the office decided to put in her 2 weeks notice 30 minutes before I left!  The president of the association I worked on also offered me any assistance should I need it.  It was all very nice and bitter sweet. 

Friday night, my friend Jill and I met up with my sister at a new pizza restaurant.  It was awesome!  Loved it!  Had me a spicy taco pizza.  I LOVE taco pizza and hardly anyone makes it anymore.  After a nice dinner and some teasing of my sister about her "goth" makeup (she says it is what they do in the "big city", puhlease, she lives in Austin), Jill and I headed to the daiquiri shop to wait for another friend so we could head to the middle of no where for the corn maze.  That was our little halloween adventure.  After traveling down a deserted highway for MILES, we finally came across a giant blow up doll and lots of lights, figuring it was the corn maze I almost pulled in UNTIL I saw the sign "girls girls girls" and "exotic dancers".  My two friends in the car insisted that was the place as they hadn't seen the signs but I continued on and sure enough the next place with all the lights was the corn maze.  I think it took us an hour to get through the line and then another hour to stumble our way through the maze.  Thankfully I had brought a flashlight because it was super dark out there, being away from all the city lights. But we had fun!


This past weekend was a bye weekend.  No LSU football.  I didn't quite know what to do with myself.  So I stitched and did some cleaning and watched other college football teams.  But those football games just weren't the same!

I did accomplish another one of my goals for the year!  This goal was a stitching one.  I finished one whole page of HAED's Queen of Hearts by Rachel Anderson!  Yay me!!!  Only have 48 pages left to go! I love making progress on projects! This one section had only 4 colors in it.  Mostly black, some grape, dark brown and garnet.


Monday I started my new job.  I am the business manager of a small, local engineering firm who is currently rebuilding from the ground up.  It is going to be a lot of hard work, anxiety, and stress but if I follow through on this, the end results are going to be phenomenal!  After two days of work, I spent last night doing a lot of soul searching and praying.  Had a long conversation with God about the things going on (yep, me.  I do talk to God!) and I'm looking forward to everyting that comes. 

This Friday brings in my niece.  It's been so long since we've had some girly time together.  I cannot wait! Her dad and brother are going to the Bama-LSU game and she is going to stay with me.  I've got crafts for us to do together, brownies to make, ingredients to make pizza, nail polish to do each other's nails!  It is going to be a hoot! LOL

That's my world at this time.  I hope yours is going well!