Looking Back at 2010

2010 Goals

There isn't too much to report on the goal front this year but I have a good reason for that. Mid-year, I decided I wanted to participate in the 101 in 1001 challenge and simply added the goals I had made in January to the new list instead. Other than "Complete one accounting course," (which I did do - in fact, I completed four accounting courses) all my other goals were just transferred to a list that gave me more time. They weren't forgotten; they will just be done at a later date.


2010 Numbers Game

I also made a blogging goal in January that encouraged me to post more entries each month than I had in the same month of previous years. Here's how those numbers looked:

January – 13/13
February – 10/10
March – 17/17
April – 14/18 (-4)
May – 14/17 (-3)
June – 18/18
July – 22/20 (+2)
August – 19/19
September – 30/30
October – 20/16 (+4)
November – 13/16 (-3)
December – 14/17 (-3)

I'd say I had a successful year; I was only down a total of seven posts. I had a lot of fun with this activity and plan on doing it again in 2011.


And last, but not least:

Happy Birthday to my wonderful father-in-law!

Merry Christmas

May you all have a blessed day! Merry Christmas!

2010 Christmas Ornament

Mitch and I chose an "interactive" 2010 Hallmark Keepsake Christmas ornament this year.

Polar Peekbuster

All units, we've got a 411 in progress - peeking with intent to shake!

If this ornament senses motion, it lights up and a voice responds with one of five different sayings. My favorite phrase is "Red alert. Red alert. We have a P-I-P situation. Peek In Progress." It's pretty darn cute.


Have you bought any new ornaments this Christmas?

Winter 2010

Even in winter an isolated patch of snow has a special quality
~Andy Goldsworthy~

Happy first day of winter!

Christmas Survey: Favorites

1. Favorite Christmas tradition.
My favorite Christmas tradition is one that was part of my childhood. On the evening of the 23rd, my parents, sister, and I would open presents at our house. On Christmas Eve, we would celebrate the holiday with my mom’s side of the family. We would attend midnight mass and then spend the night at my paternal grandparent’s farm. On Christmas Day, we celebrated with my dad’s side of the family. It was a very magical time and I’m so very lucky to have those wonderful memories.

2. Favorite Christmas ornament.
There are so many ornaments that I adore from my childhood and I don’t think I could pick a favorite. Here is one of the many that I love. I think the ornaments that I will come to cherish the most from the collection that Mitch and I have started are the two we bought last year.

3. Favorite Christmas decoration.
There have to be lights. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without the beautiful glow of Christmas lights.

4. Favorite holiday scent.
Definitely cinnamon.

5. Favorite Christmas song.
I have two and just can’t decide between them because they are so different. The competition is between "Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Silent Night.”

6. Favorite children’s Christmas song.
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

7. Favorite Christmas movie.
I have two (apparently I shouldn’t be doing this survey since I can’t decide on a favorite) – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Elf.

8. Favorite Christmas cartoon.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

9. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas dinner.
Grandma’s mashed potatoes.

10. Favorite holiday dessert.
Mint Dazzle.

11. Favorite candy cane flavor.
I’m a traditional gal and like the peppermint flavor.

12. Favorite Christmas colors.
I think the classic red and green, silver and gold, combinations are the best.

Sunday Smile

I can't believe it's Christmas this week!

Final Paper: Positives

While staying up late to work on a final paper is not my idea of fun, there are, of course, some positives to this situation.

It's comforting to be sitting here in the warm, quiet house knowing my husband and puppy are sleeping peacefully down the hall.

It's soothing to be wrapped in a soft blanket, seeing the leaning, undecorated Christmas tree in my periphery as I type at the computer.


It's breathtaking to think about the sole source for each and every last one of the positives in my life. This is the most perfect season with the most perfect reason.

One of Those Students and Depression

Tomorrow at this time I will be a free woman! At 4:00 tomorrow afternoon, my final final paper is due and I'll be skipping off happily into Christmas break. I'm quite seriously at the end of my rope with researching and writing papers; where are my beloved numbers?! I haven't seen nearly enough of them this semester and I'm going word crazy. My hatred for my classes this semester has gotten so bad that I've become one of THOSE students at which I used to shake my head. I've become one of those students who calculates how poorly they can do on their finals and still maintain a passing grade. If my calculations are correct, I will need a 58% on this last, excruciating paper in order to get an "A" on my transcript. The scary thing, however, is I'm not even sure I have that "F" in me. Ugh!

In other news: It looks like I have a bright, sunshiny future ahead of me. Health magazine recently came out with a list of 10 careers associated with high rates of depression and accountants made it onto the list! Yay! I have so much to look forward to . . .

Christmas Survey: This or That?

1. Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Christmas Day has always been the big day for me. I do, however, like Christmas Eve service the best.

2. Giving or receiving?
I like receiving (who doesn't?), but I love giving. It's especially fun to give if you've found or made the perfect present!

3. Real or artificial tree?
It's always been and will probably always be artificial.

4. Angel or star tree topper?
I like the stars.

5. White or colored lights?
On the Christmas tree I prefer white lights, but I enjoy the colored lights in windows and other decorating.

6. Tinsel or garland?
Garland; tinsel is frustrating and messy.

7. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper.

8. Stockings: Before or after presents?
After presents! It's like the icing on the cake.

9. Snow or no snow?
There has to be snow at Christmas! It's not Christmas if it's not a white Christmas!

10. Candy canes: Eating or decorating?
Eating.

11. Hot chocolate, apple cider, or eggnog?
I wouldn't argue with a glass of any of these! I'll say eggnog, though, because it only comes around once a year.

12. Cookies: sugar or gingerbread?
Can I pick both? I think I might have to say gingerbread for the holiday season simply because I don't have them any other time of the year.


Get yourself in the Christmas spirit and play along!

Sunday Smile

Happy 2nd Birthday to my fur baby!

Too Much Information

Am I pregnant? No.

Am I extremely bloated? Yes.

Do you need to know that I'm menstruating? No.

Did you find out anyway? Yes.

Do I care? No.


I'm in a sharing kind of mood. Sharing means caring here at our house so I guess that means I care greatly for my readers. So, let me discuss this bloating issue a little more with you all.

Mitch and I are going to Florida in several weeks. Can you guess what else will be joining me on our trip? If you guessed my dear, sweet period, you would be correct. I normally wouldn't care about this little annoyance except for the fact that I have to put on a swimsuit while we're down there. The thought of my pasty - hasn't seen the sun in YEARS (no joke) - stomach sticking out further than my boobs just doesn't sound like an awesome look. Any suggestions on how I can go about making this attractive?

On the bright side, my bloated belly will take some attention off that interesting orange-peel look I'm sporting on the back of my thighs.

I love being a woman . . .

Wanted: Bars, Not Recipes

I think I may have to drop out of the bar competition.

On Thanksgiving morning, I awoke with visions of being a domestic goddess for the day. Okay, I shouldn't go that far, but I was hoping to be a bar babe of sorts. I had plans to not only attempt a bar recipe, but to surprise my in-laws that evening at dinner with a "Look, I baked!" contribution. Well, both events happened. I attempted a bar recipe and my in-laws were surprised.

I should have known things were going to head south when I didn't have any baking powder. I'm not completely dense in the baking department and knew that this leavening agent was important, so I headed down the road to my aunt's house to borrow a whopping quarter teaspoon of the white powder.

After the baking powder problem was solved, I thought my bar adventure would be nothing but smooth sailing. Of course I was wrong. Apparently my oven hates me and decided to bake only the edges of my bars. It refused to work its magic on the center of the pan; toothpick after toothpick came out exclaiming "they're not done!"

Now, my dear husband seems to think the Broil setting on the oven is the answer for any baking problem and promptly switched settings when he heard about my dilemma. Shortly thereafter, my bars came out of the oven smoking, edges and top burned to a crisp. After seeing the disaster of my creation and hearing my husband explain "they taste a little charred," I had no intentions of this pan leaving the house. Mitch, unfortunately, had other ideas. He took the bars to his parents and presented them as if they were an acceptable baked good to eat!

My in-laws were good sports, however, as they have long known about my domestic downfalls. My mother-in-law cut out the center and served that portion to her guests. Brave souls, those who ate my bars.


So, there you have it. I think dropping out of the bar competition is my only option. Unless . . .


instead of sending me the recipes, you just go ahead and send me the baked goods and I'll try to pass them off as my own. I'll let you wear the crown if I win - how does that sound?

Sunday Smile

I'm feeling like little Zoe as of late.

Snapshot Saturday: Cuddle Buddies

Happiness is a warm puppy
~Charles M. Schulz~