Here's to another new year- 2008

Are you ready? Do you do Resolutions? I remember last year one of my resolutions was to get more healthy, and while I was doing well with my T-Tapp throughout the year, I managed to find myself a job and get completely off-track. I have managed to lose weight anyhow, mostly due to being so darn busy, and it's not a lot, but it's something. I definitely am planning on joining the local Curves or another local gym to get myself up and moving around even more in the New Year.

I know many people do not believe in Resolutions and find them pointless and I completely understand that notion. For me I look more at it as a goal than a "resolution". Goals are easy to make but can you keep them? I need more organization in my chaotic life, and I feel like maybe if I do some more goal setting I can be more productive and feel less stressed. So my GOALS for the next year are to tackle the problem areas in life: stress, finances and health. First, the stress- I need to slow down, and I am very guilty of running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I need to keep to small goals I can post for myself throughout the week so I can enjoy my weekends off and not feel rushed. Secondly, finances- we have to start saving. Right now life might be good but you must be on alert because nothing is forever. My husband is dealing with back pain and I am in the process of looking for a better job as I may need to be the breadwinner in the future and I am fine with that. We don't know what this back pain entails and we are going to get it looked at in the next month. I need to be prepared in case he needs to take time off from work, and in order for us to do that and to stay afloat, we must start saving now. Health is my last one. Health insurance is so damned expensive here it's hard to find something that will help take care of your pre-existing conditions. I am still in need of a partial hysterectomy as the Adenomyosis in my uterus is getting out of control, and I refuse to allow any GYN to ever put me on the Pill or any hormonal pill ever again. My legs now have permanent swelling going on due to taking the Yaz back in July-September. I need to take better care of that. And my dental health is something else I am focusing on. I have undergone a root planing and scaling operation (deep cleaning), have been flossing and brushing and making sure I do what I need to do, and just had my three remaining wisdom teeth pulled out a week ago (which I am still recovering from, not well, might I add! I am now on Penicillin and have to see the dentist next week to figure out why I'm still swelling, and it looks and feels like my gums have separated from the one loose molar that was in front of one of the removed wisdom teeth, and it feels as if my root may be exposed...lovely).

I wish you all a very good year and even if you don't believe in Resolutions, goals are good things to keep in mind. I found a very helpful website on SMART goal making, and hope this link helps in case you are interested!

Happy New Year's to you all- and be safe!

Merry Christmas

Wanting to wish a very Merry Christmas to those who celebrate- I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and stay safe!

I hope to blog more soon!

With arsenic sauce

It's so miserable being sick, but to be hit with both a stomach bug and the flu at the same time? Kill me now. I think the stomach bug is almost gone completely, but the flu is not. That said, I'm trying to get myself better as I have my wisdom teeth extraction on next Friday. I am not looking forward to eating soup and milkshakes, but you gotta do what you have to do, right?

My SIL wants us to do our Christmas thing on the day after I get my wisdom teeth removed. There's no other time for us to get together, which sucks, but I am hoping that I'll be at least coherent to help out a little bit.

I'm sure the wisdom teeth removal will not be nearly as bad as I think it will...I'm just wussing out right now.

Can I just say how much I HATE soup? I'm on a soup and crackers diet and I HATE it. I want real food!

I can't believe I'm actually going to say this...

but for once in my life I agree that Starbuck's rocks. You have to try their Egg Nog Creme Frappuchino (minus the coffee). Seriously. That is the best damn Egg Nog blended drink I have ever had in my life. I have tried it from a couple of other ma & pop stands here locally, but honestly, I just was not too impressed. You can actually taste the nutmeg in Starbuck's Egg Nog Creme Frappuchino. Yummm.

Speaking of cold, today we did not get up over the mid 30's here in Washington State, and the roads were icy. It was time to put my studded snow tires to the test, and they did well. There was only one instance where I actually slid when I came to a stop, but other than that I did well on the ice. *Scary*.

So, the countdown is on to Christmas...only 15 days left til it's here. If you celebrate it, are you ready yet? What about the other holidays- who is ready? I'm kind of in the middle. Still trying to get my cards out!

What in the world happened to you?

(You get bonus points if you can tell me who sang that mid 90's song, answer will be in the comments section in the next week or so if no one can pinpoint it!)

Wow, what a whirlwind the past week has been. First, we had our first snow here last Saturday, then we had a weird shift in the weather pattern and the snow melted and then we had a ton of rain. As most of you know, our neighbors to the south of us in Washington State are now dealing with clean-up from a massive flood and storm damage. Our hearts and thoughts go out to those affected.

Not much new in Foodie land, I have been very busy with work, home and PTO duties that I really have not had much of a chance to go out and do anything. I did get a chance to go out and have some fun last night at the Quarterback Pub near Western Washington University. By the way, their wings? AWESOME. And on Fridays they have special deals that tie in with their Karaoke night. So much fun. It's a fun place if you like to watch sports, with tons of big screen TV's everywhere, and many drinks to choose from and beers on tap (not that I'm into beer, blech!). I did try a "DuckFart" last night and that was very good. It's Irish Creme with chocolate syrup and Kahlua. Yummmmmm. Goes down nice and smooth. Looks pretty gnarly but it's a fun drink and sure tastes delicious (despite the disgusting name).

I have not had a chance to bake either, and I don't foresee myself going on any baking adventures anytime soon though (like the baking adventure I went on last year before Christmas- remember that?). However, now that we finally have a Trader Joe's in town (that I keep forgetting to go to! ARGH!), I am considering stopping in for some good white chocolate and maybe making some peppermint bark. If they decide to do a potluck at work, then I will definitely bake. I might end up baking anyhow...we shall see if I get in the mood!

Til next time!