What Up?

OMGosh, will you look at that ... gee only ~ 2.5 months since my last post.  Niiiice.  I got kinda busy.  You know, the Holidays, a new school term, the January blahs (so not my favorite month even though the Bubby and I both have January birthdays), oh and I turned 40!  Just a little thing, you know, 40.  Midlife?  Hopefully!  Actually I took 40 in stride, not such a big deal to me.  30 was rough, we had yet to receive the blessing that is Bubby and I think I struggled with the idea that maybe I wasn't where I thought I would be at 30.  But 40!  40 is good and life is good and Hubby is good and Bubby is good and my health is good and our finances are good (I'd prefer great, but good is better than other alternatives) ... so, yeah, 40 is good and Thank You God.

Despite a few well intentioned friends that offered to ring in 40 with a big shebang, I opted for a couple of quieter celebrations.  Hubby took me out for a very nice dinner, Hubby and Bubby presented me with an awesome Brighton charm necklace, and then I went down to see my bff for a weekend of shopping and eating and an awesome Aveda pedicure.  All was good, I am so blessed.

Now it is back in the swing of things and I can't believe that February is almost over.  Spring in Colorado is always interesting and can vary from uber cold and miserable (with late season heavy snows that wreak havoc) to almost summer-like temps and dry.  We need the moisture but is it too much to ask for wet in the form of rain and not snow?  Skiers hate me.  I'm ready to wear sandals and dresses w/o tights and maybe a tee shirt w/o a heavy sweatshirt or sweater.  I'm always early for everything.  I'm quite annoying, I'm told.

So here are some of my new likes ...

Kristin McGee
Yoga and Pilates wonder gal, I love this blog and have her S3 home workout DVD which is FABULOUS ... perfect short workouts (yoga and pilates styles) that you can do alone or in combination.  Love.

The Americans
Do you remember Keri Russell from Felicity (WB circa 2000)?  Well she's back and so not that sweet naive undergrad anymore.  Wowzers.  Who knew she had it in her?  This little gem airs on FX on Wednesday nights and is the story of husband and wife KGB spies posing as middle class Americans in 1980s Reagan times.  Hubby and I don't watch a lot of TV but we do like to have at least one hour a week to chillax together on the couch and really get into this type of thing.  Another good one that we have been getting from Netflix is the Showtime series Homeland, but alas, we have to wait for the second season to become available on DVD.  Again, good stuff!

Downton Abbey
I remain in love with this series, am so glad that I stumbled upon it during the first season.  Gosh Season 3 was a downer, tho .... SPOILER ALERT ... dagnaggit I wish the actors would stop leaving and thus the characters would stop kicking up heels.  I have and will continue to miss Sybil the most.  She and Tom irritated me in the beginning (did she really love him or was he just telling her that she did?  lol) but I got very much into them in Season 2 and feel so bad for him now.  I wanted to smack that little hussy housemaid Sunday evening, leave a grieving widower alone already.  Hiss.

Ben and Jerry's Greek Froyo
OMGosh B&J are my heroes!  This stuff is so good I have to hide it from Hubby and Bubby (I made the mistake of raving about it never thinking that they would try it because of its 'healthy' image).  The Blueberry Vanilla Graham is my favorite ... it is like the perfect blueberry cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.  Holy Wow.

I've recently read a couple of good books as well:  Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks (this is great and the movie was done well) and La's Orchestra Saves The World by Alexander McCall.

I may be ending a long term relationship soon.  One that had been pivotal to my emotional well being for ~ 13 years.  I speak of the ohso important relationship between a woman (such as I) and her hairdresser (such an old school title).  Alas, my hair gal could simply not get me in for a cut and color anytime near when I need her and I have been told for years by a few friends to try their hair gal and so I will.  Once I got over the initial guilt and trepidation, I started to feel almost excited at the prospect of change because for the last several years my hair gal has ignored my wishes for 1) the majority of my hard grown hair to remain on my head and not on her floor - a trim, just a trim!  2) thicker bangs - I bang, ok?  and 3) caramel highlights (CARAMEL!).  We shall see ... I'm aiming for something like this wonderful Jennifer Anniston late Friends look (although a litte more blond) ...

We shall see ...

Time

If I could save time in a bottle ...

Isn't it strange how time passes so quickly as we get older?  I remember, as a kid, a school year was a very long time.  Now, Bubby's school years fly past us.  My Bubby is a 3rd Grader and some days I can't even fathom that this is a fact.  It is so strange how quickly he is growing up.  Sure, day in and day out we just go about our lives and don't really make note of the growth and changes, but then we look back and bam! - we are slapped with the realization that Bubby is tall and smart and sweet and kinda bratty and fun and obnoxious and so much Me and so much Hubby - amazing.  One moment I think about how I could never live without him and the next I think maybe he should go to college out-of-state. 

November is always a strange month for me.  Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.  My dad died in November.  My mom died in November.  Several other family members have died in November.  Oh November, you piece of work.  My sisters and I attended the Memorial Service of our aunt on Saturday.  Our cousins had put together a video tribute that was beautiful and it inspired me to pull out the tribute that my younger sister made for our mom 3 years ago.  Depressing, right?  But actually, notsomuch, time has made it a little easier to view and I actually found myself smiling and laughing a time or two.  Oh and wow does my Bubby ever look like me at 9 years old! Aha, proof that he is not just a product of Hubby (note to my mother in-law). 

Time.

So, November is done.  I welcomed December by refusing to leave the house on Sunday.  I stayed in my pjs all day.  It.  Was.  Awesome.  I watched the best little movie ever - Salmon Fishing In The Yemen with Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor.  If you like indie films, films that may lack the big screen pizazz but make up for it with inspiration and perspective and sweetness and comfort, this is a good one.  I made candy.  I ate said candy in large quantity.  I felt no guilt.  I still don't. 

December promises to bring some stress (work, shopping, wrapping) but I hope that it also brings joy (holiday lights, holiday music, High Tea with my younger sister, family, friends, vacation, more lazy days).  I also look forward to putting 2012 to bed (sorry but you kinda sucked) and ringing in 2013.  I turn 40 next month and fair warning ... I plan to make 40 my beeeyatch!

Go forth and make merry!



Giving Thanks

Wow, how is it that time of year ALREADY?  I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is almost here.  I love Thanksgiving, it is hands down my favorite holiday.  This year we will be with Hubbys's family in Kansas ... should be a good time.  So, here's what I am thankful for this year ...

Obviously Hubby, Bubby, family and good health all top the list.  I am also thankful for 20 years of my bff - my soul mate - the yin to my yang ... here's to 20 more!  Seriously, I thank God for her (and probably not often enough), she has stood by me through some rough patches and her steady soul and calm presence have always brought me so much peace.  She's been better than Valium, my bff.

Enough of that mushy stuff, tho .. here's a much more lighthearted list ...

Whole Foods Pumpkin Cookies ~ I think I've consumed my body weight in these this fall.  I've tried replicating them and just can't quite nail it.  As a lover of all things pumpkin, I have to say that these cookies might be the Grand Poobah of Pumpkin Land. 

Hudson Jeans ~ I love, love, love my Hudson Jeans.  In fact, I'd sleep in them if they didn't need washed on occasion.  I have two pair that I live in and I feel the need for another (eek, hide the credit cards).  Seriously, designer jeans (read: overpriced) are dangerous for a shopaholic like me.  I was warned by a good friend before I bought my first pair, she was right, no other jeans compare.

Junk Gypsies ~ I may have mentioned them before.  HGTV needs to hurry up and produce more episodes already.  I'd even enter the state of Texas (read: hell) to meet these two and tour their junkified masterpieces.  Or better yet, I need to bring them to me and let them work their magic on my house (Hubby would leave me). 

Books ~ Always.  Hubby's MBA classes have resumed, so I'm spending my nights reading again.  I plan to load some good stuff on the Kindle this week and knock several reads off my To Be Read list during the holidays.  Thank.  You.  Writers.

Black Friday ~ I love me some early morning deals.  Unfortunately, we'll be in No Mans Land on Friday, so I won't get to partake much this year but I hope you all enjoy.  Shop Local!  Go Small Businesses!

So, I really am thankful for family, friends, good health, a roof over my head, food on the table, a strong faith, a free country, and all that jazz. 

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

 

 

Scenes From This Morning

We awoke to this!

I'd rather be home doing more of this!

See, I told you that fall threw-up all over my house!

 

 

XOXO

Low Brain Power

My battery is running low today, might be the weather ... we're set for snow (?) here in Northern Colorado by tomorrow.  I'd really like to be home with some hot cider and a good book right now, oh and my blue Snuggie that my guys bought me as a joke ... joke's on them as I keep threatening to take it to sporting events and movie theaters.  No.  Joke.  Anyway, here goes some mindlessness ...

Have you read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn yet?  If not, you better crawl out from under that rock and go get it.  Seriously, stop reading this crap and go find the book.  You will not be sorry.  Even if you don't like it, you will be unable to put it down ... it is that good.  It is a story of a really dysfunctional marriage and it is brilliant and completely f-ed up all at once.  Good Stuff.

Gillian Flynn has one twisted imagination, I want her to be my new bff!

 



Fall always brings out my (limited) domestic side.  Mostly I just like to make my house look like a pumpkin patch/craft fair blew chunks all over it and bake with pumpkin.  I made the BEST brownies this weekend by adding a can of pumpkin to a box of brownie mix ... I left out the oil and eggs but used the water the box called for.  WOW!  I know, really impressive, right?  I can open a box and a can!  Hold your applause, please.

 

This is the best canned pumpkin, IMO!

 

 

I'm contemplating leaving my husband and son for life as a 40 year old groupie.  What do you think?  See I've been listening to this CD non-stop and I really do love these guys ...

 





This is their second album (is that the word anymore?) and I do believe that it is even better than their first!

 

 

That's about all I have for today, really life has been a grand compilation of leaf raking, soccer game watching, pumpkin baking, crock pot cooking, crazy-good book reading and some really good boxed wine drinking around these parts!  Loving.  It.