Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy New Year!

I can't believe another year has gone by. I'm pretty okay with 2014, although it wasn't a fantastic year it was far better than 2013 with so many people in my family passing away. I'm actually looking forward to the new year. I love this quote by Brad Paisley:


Yes, write a good one. Kind of makes it sound like we have control over that (insert sarcasm smiley)..but when you really think about it - WE DO! It's not WHAT gets thrown our way but HOW we react to it. One of the things I'd like to concentrate on for me is my reaction to things. My reaction to strangers misfortunes. My reaction to things I have absolutely no control over. My "quick" reaction to negativity and negative people. I need to breathe.

I'm looking forward to the new year although resolutions aren't in the picture. I have "plans" lol. Plans to start the 21 Day Fix tomorrow. I bought it in the beginning of December and for Christmas Paul bought me a month's worth of Shakeology. I'm super excited about it. The 21 Day Fix isn't about losing weight in 21 days. That's how long it takes for the average person to break bad eating habits. Eating fresh veggies and fruits and not all the chips, dips, cookies, chips, fries, cakes, chips...well you get the idea. I did try out the exercise video the other day and haven't walked straight since! But I'm feeling better and tomorrow is the "official" start day and I plan on only doing 50% of the workout. Not the time but the weights and duration etc.

Tomorrow we're having our annual New Year's Day barbecue. Paul has made his macaroni salad and I made a pecan pie. (I WILL have a sliver). In the morning I'm going to make an old fashioned potato salad.

So, I will update my blog on my progress with my new healthy lifestyle. I wish you all a very Happy New Year! Here's to 2015...BRING IT ON!



Saturday, December 27, 2014

After Christmas...

Well it's just a couple of days after Christmas. I had a great one. A bit different from years past as the grands weren't here for the first time and Paul and I also had an empty house. Still, it was nice just the two of us.
I was so busy over the holidays I didn't get a chance to post some of my baking. I baked a lot! I made the regulars; peanut butter crinkles (with the Hershey kiss), chocolate walnut puffs, & magic cookie bars. This year for Sue's party I decided to make some cupcakes. They're made with peppermint oil and crushed candy canes. I also bought some sugar sprinkles to spruce them up a bit..


I've also been knitting Christmas gifts. Now that I've given them to the recipients, I can post pictures! Yay!

Here's a keyhole scarf I made for my daughter in law with a little headband to match..
The headband has a few beads in it. 

This is a keyhole scarf and some fingerless mittens I made for my friend Bev. The gloves I made with hand dyed yarn from our trip to NY. I LOVE the yarn. Hopefully I have enough left to knit a little something for me :)

And my last knitted gift was for the coffee drinkers in my life, a coffee mug sleeve for my sister and sister in law.

We went to the Christmas Story House in Cleveland on Christmas Eve. Paul and I took Jennifer and her bf Dan. All of us except Jenn had never been. We do LOVE the movie though and I came home with an awesome leg lamp that fits perfect in my upstairs windows. Paul says it looks like a beacon! LOL!

New Years Resolution...blog more! I must wrap my head around the idea of blogging without pictures. Seriously, they aren't necessary!
As always...

Saturday, November 22, 2014

More Christmas decorating...

I've been decorating like crazy! A good crazy! I copied this kitchen cabinet wrapping idea off of Pinterest . I did it last year, not sure if I posted pics or not but if so, who cares right?



                                

I'm glad I did those last year so all I had to do was pull them out of the box. I did have to attach the bows though. Maybe I'll leave them on there after Christmas and box em up as is :)

I also put the little sprigs of greenery on the stairs along with the Hallmark Father Christmas Santa's.

 

 And lastly, I finished the tree. I'm so happy that this is the last year with this one. We're a little sad but when your artificial tree starts losing it's needles because it's so old, yea-it's time. Since this is it's last year, we're letting it go out with a bang...TINSEL!!




Poor Paul. He struggles every year with lights. Every year I have to go buy boxes of little lights. Last year I bought 11 boxes and brought them home, put them on the tree and they were LED! Ugh! They all looked lavender colored. I wanted all clear but when Paul said we didn't have enough working, I thought we could put up what clear lights we could and then put up colored. We have a ton of the multi colored bulbs. So, this old guy has a combo :)
Notice the tinsel? The bottom half of the tree doesn't have any since I have two cats. 

I spent the rest of the day on my belly and knees putting the Christmas Village under the tree. I am so out of shape I can now barely stand up straight! My knees and my back hurt LOL! Here's some pics of the village...

 



I did learn a few things. One is, next year I'm setting up the village before the tree! I'll get the tree stand in place and then do the village. Another thing, I don't think I need the snow tree skirt. We'll see. I do love looking at it. A couple of years ago, my mother in law gave me her village. It's very old and I have quite a few pieces here under the tree but not all. I couldn't fit them all! So, we may put them under the tree in the study...yes-I have 2 more trees to decorate! LOL. I'll post pics when I get them done.

As always...

Sunday, November 16, 2014

It's another this and that...

Hi!
We are so excited to have the stained glass put in above the french doors leading into the study. Originally my brother in law Harold, put a piece of wood above there. Well, I wanted glass to match the front door transom and it just so happens my friend and co-worker's husband does stained glass! So, essentially we hired him and he did a fantastic job!


The last couple of days have been super cold! It been snowing and we're expecting more snow soon. I'm going to take advantage of my Y membership and start running inside.


I've started decorating for Christmas early this year. Not sure if it has anything to do with the fact that Logan and Emmy aren't going to be here and therefore I won't be able to get into the holiday spirit or what. I don't want to wait until after Thanksgiving as I always feel so rushed. Wanting to shop for Christmas and knowing I want to set up the tree and decorate always stresses me out. So! I've started and it feels really good! I think I'm going to every year...just start after the Halloween party. Here's a couple of pics...

I hand painted all these nativity figures about 20 years ago. I never really had a place to set it up. It excites me to be able to display it, finally :)
No Toby! I WILL notice if you chew off the little pine cone! 
Toby thinks laying nonchalantly on the end of the sofa gives him rights to sprigs and branches within reach...NOT!

One of my pet peeves and I know we all have them, is people not turning left when the light turns yellow and therefore "hanging out" in the intersection!! I hate it! The other day I must have seen it 5 times and decided as I'm sitting there watching drivers struggle to get around this person...to snap a pic!

C'mon people!! Learn how to drive LOL.


I hope you had a nice weekend. I'm heading to the Y!
As always....

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Let's review a pair of Sketchers!

I've often said to myself "well that only rates a 4 in my book", or "if I gave a review of those, it would be fabulous..would recommend those to all my friends".

When we went on our NYC trip, I knew I wanted comfortable shoes but something not so beat up as my old running (turned into everyday wearing) tennis shoes! Something I could walk around in and still be nice enough to wear to Wicked. I found what I thought was the perfect thing...

I got this picture online because I'm too lazy to go downstairs and take a pic, then upload it to my computer. Anyhoo...the only difference in mine is they don't have the little hole in the heel. They ARE comfortable once you get them on. But that was the challenge, getting them on. You see the inside is made of a soft rubber. They (Sketchers) call it a yoga mat insole.



 Which is all fine and dandy but the surface isn't smooth so your sock literally doesn't slide in, it sticks!! Then you have to somehow get your fingers under your foot to smooth out your sock, otherwise you'd land up walking around with a creased sock underfoot...NOT GOOD! And why in hell did I not notice this in the store?? Because I was wearing sandals and tried them on with those little nylon footies!! Ugh! And, problem #2 is; since the Goga Mat doesn't give, it also doesn't breathe! No holes and rubber make for a mighty warm, sweaty, not happy environment.

BUT! Since they are cushiony (is that even a word?) and that makes them comfortable and puts a bit of bounce in my step, I've grown to like them. I bought a Dr. Scholl's shoe insert that BREATHES and it was pretty thin so now I can slip them on (with thin socks) and wear them all day in comfort. I just wish I had figured that our before our trip. But, live and learn right?

I rate them a 3 because no one should have to buy a breathable shoe insert when paying over $50 for shoes.

As always...

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Happy Halloween!!

I know it was a couple of weeks ago, but I'm just getting around to posting about it. Playing catch up here.
For the 5th year in a row, we've had a Halloween party with Joe & Diane. We didn't have nearly as many people this year but it still was a lot of fun. I decided to dress up same as last year..Day of the Dead, but this time I got Paul in on the action...


I love his hat! I glued all the flowers on and some of them have skulls as centers. I also added quite a few flowers to my headband.


I also decided to play around with the bathroom decor a little more. I found this awesome Freddy idea on Pinterest...


I made a cool spider web nest...


Best costume couple went to Lisa and Steve Scheer...

They looked so awesome! 
Best costume went to someone who wore the Maleficent costume and had slit eye contacts in. This year we decided the hosts and hostesses would be judges, meaning me, Paul, Joe and Diane. Diane LOVED the contact eyes. I myself really thought Wendy should have won. Anyone can go out and buy a costume and put contacts on, but to be the famous Leg Lamp from a Christmas Story?? That was my vote...

She made this out of a lampshade. She spray painted the word "FRAGILE" and only one let had a fishnet stocking and her leg painted to glow in the dark. Genius!! I couldn't get over what a great job she did. She won 1st prize in my book!!
Jenn and Dan

Jason and his girlfriend Rachael





As always....

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Satireday!

So, yes it's Saturday and I'm ready for a little satire! Here's one of my favorite videos...


Friday, November 7, 2014

Hello NYC!

I got an email from a very good friend of mine, Helen, and she mentioned that she missed my blogging. Can you believe it? I was floored...and flattered that someone actually missed my blog. I need to free up some time so I can come and post...I have sooo much to talk about!
So, today I deleted my Facebook account. I didn't realize how much time is taken up with that thing. I mean I am SUCKED IN! I couldn't spend any time away from it! It reminded me of when I used to smoke. I would check Facebook, I'm thinking maybe once or twice an hour?? That's really bad! It was consuming me! I was getting fed up with my friends and acquaintances posting animal awareness stuff with abused animals etc. I mean REALLY?? Then I'd have to "hide" that post so I wouldn't have to look at it. Then Jenn's ex is "friends" with most of my family members! Another REALLY??  So, I've decided to concentrate more on blogging, Twitter and Instagram.


Paul and I took a little vacation to NYC. We had a lot of fun! Talk about different! We're so used to our little bland Ohio lives LOL. We did most of the touristy things; Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, 911 Memorial, Central Park and my highlight was seeing Wicked (again) at the Gershwin Theater! Here's a few pics...

Inside the courtyard there is where John Lennon was killed. Manhattan near Central Park.

We used a Hop On-Hop Off double decker bus system they have. It's a huge money maker for the city and big convenience for tourists like us! There were probably 20 buses and you can get on and off every few blocks throughout the city.  Plus the tour guides were great and very knowledgeable about their city.

NY Cheesesteak sandwich - which sucked!
So I take a lot of pictures of food...always have, always will. It's just a thing of mine. Anyhoo, we did not have much in the way of good food in NY. We went to McGee's Pub where they filmed the show "How I Met Your Mother". Ugh, my sandwich was dry-dry-dry. I had to ask for some mayo and that still didn't help. Mr. Hero's is MUCH better. We went to Guy Ferrari's place "Guys American Kitchen". I ordered a rotisserie chicken and thought that's the way they cook it, not the way they present it! Anyway, that was my fault.

Cheesecake from Jr's was FABULOUS!! 

I did have one delicious meal and it was bacon wrapped shrimp with homemade potato salad. Don't even remember where we were but it was AMAZING!
I have such fond memories of Seinfeld! Bev and I used to have favorite shows that we'd incorporate tidbits of into our daily work life. Agents would come into our office and if they complained or gave us a hard time, we'd say (behind their backs) "NO SOUP FOR YOU" with the heavy accent! 
Those were good times and I had to get a picture of the Soup Nazi's spot. Super crowded so we didn't stick around but came back an hour later and they were closed. Apparently they were only open from 11-2 for lunch.

Very beautiful and emotional visit to one of the waterfall memorials where one of the twin towers resided. 
 We did not go into the museum. It was emotional enough (for me anyway), just seeing the memorial and reading some of the names inscribed. I didn't need to relive the whole horrific day by going into the museum. We did go down the street to a little building that was created by all the victims' surviving family members. That was really nice.

The new Tower is simply exquisite! On a sunny day it gleams!

And there she is!! 
Seeing the Statue of Liberty was also emotional for me. Not sure why but standing next to this American icon after only ever seeing it in movies or pictures, just really made me proud to be an American and got me a bit choked up. 
The Empire State Building
Taken from the top of Empire State Building. Notice the gorgeous tower (tallest one) in the background?


Paul helped me find a knitting shop. I really like to buy hand dyed yarn from out of town places.
I plan on making Christmas gifts with NYC yarn! 

I LOVE the Blacklist, and apparently so does NY!



One of my favorite places is Times Square. We were lucky we had a hotel just about a block away. Decided to check out Good Morning America one morning...
We went to Upper Manhattan, Lower Manhattan, Wall Street, the Theater District, Soho, and all over. Did a lot of walking. I have to say that if smells could kill, I would have been dead. The smells in Time Square were revolting LOL.

On our last day we went to Central Park. It was nice but I think the reason is, WE MISSED GREENERY!! I really missed the grass and trees here in Ohio. To be honest, Paul and I both felt that if a New Yorker were to come to Ohio and spend an afternoon in the Metro Parks...they'd be blown away by the beauty!



I did take lots of pictures of buildings..I love intricate architecture, but I won't bore you anymore. As always....