Four Days In...

So.... it only took me four days, but here's my first official New Year's Post!

Quick recap:

Got sick two days before New Year's (thanks to one of my bosses) so I spent the evening drugged up on NyQuil and fell asleep before my three year old and husband. That's one for the record books, especially since I planned to rock out the evening in a sexy dress and heels until I couldn't stand upright anymore. Oh well, this is life. Things don't go as planned, and I'm trying to roll with it.

I've been trying a bit harder at work. At least today I have. I am also trying not to get my hopes up too high about this possible job opportunity because I've been let down too many times. It seems like it's legit this time, but once before it was the same situation and here I am a year later in the same place.

Hubby and I went to see a few houses last night as a "preview" of sorts - to kind of see what's on the market. The first house was surprisingly okay. The second one was locked and looked like we might get jumped if we stayed too long. Our three year old told us she saw a witch in the house with red eyes - that was confirmation enough that we didn't need to be there. The third and last house we saw was beautifully photographed online and totally disappointing in person. It was creepy and full of someone's old stuff that was just left behind. The lack of light and electricity only made it all the more creepy. So... we're moving on to another town temporarily to see if we can buy a brand new house in a development that just went up.

I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, I have to get back to work, but more posts will be coming. I am fully intending on blogging twice a week which means sometime this weekend, if not sooner.

I CAN DO IT!

Uh oh... breaking resolutions already.

I was so determined to blog twice a week... but anyways...

Christmas recap:

Got my hubby a beautiful watch. Hubby got me my iphone. Note to self - blog from phone?
Little one got absolutely spoiled with all the presents she wanted and then some.
Got a really awesome apron from my almost 70 year old grandmother. Her extremely good taste astonishes me for someone her age.
Lots of chocolate received from the mother in law.
Got to actually give my mom something she wanted this year for Christmas - more gifts are coming for her, but she doesn't know it. I hope she's just as surprised then.

New Year's Resolution Recap:

- Adding a resolution to write more often and to share it here. I've started a story about the typical teacher/student 'relationship.' It's interesting so far. I'll probably only share tidbits here and offer the full stories by e-mail (that is if anyone's reading this.)

I'll update later tonight. Too many good ideas going to waste.

Anticipation in Finger Drumming...

Song on Replay: John Mayer - Kid A (Radiohead Cover)
Newest Addiction: Designlovefest.com - really worth investing in
Best Idea Today: To wear flats

Got to spend an evening out with my husband last night. We went shopping at the mall - though somehow managed to leave with only one bag that contained three toys for my nephew, a bubble package mailer, and a roll of scotch tape. I should note that the scotch tape was really the only thing on my agenda... so two points for me for not forgetting it.

I've been trying to decide on some New Year's Resolutions that I actually plan to stick to. That's always what they say... "Make one's you can keep. Don't make unrealisitic goals that can be broken easily."

So here goes...

1.) Breathe more often. Not just stop and smell the roses kind of breathing which I plan to do anyways, but also the stop and destress, think of something that'll make this situation seem a teensy bit better, and then breathe kind of breathing.

2.) Blog and Often. I'd like to blog twice a week at least, three to four times would be more ideal, but again... trying to make small goals before the big goals. Baby steps, as they say.

3.) Push myself. I tend to not try things (and I don't mean food) simply because I think I cannot do them. It's not really idealistic for my life anymore. I will sometimes put my toe in the water then go running away screaming "It's too cold. I can't do it." Lately I find myself reminding my 3 year old daughter that "can't" is not the same as "won't" - and if she honestly "can't" to ask for help. I don't know if this is a better example of the pot calling the kettle black kind of thing or more of a preaching to the choir - whatever. It's some kind of metaphor that already exists. So pushing I must do.

That's all I've got for now, but I figure it's a good start. I try to stay away from food related goals like "eat healthier" or "stick to your diet because of your anemia" because I tend to blow those really early on, especially in February. That's like New England's "want to slit your wrists because it's so friggin' cold" month, so there's generally a lot of food ingested and regrets made about eating such food in mass quantities.

Alrighty... back to work. More blogging soon!!!

Deep Breaths Can Only Cure So Much...

Song on Replay: You Da One - Rihanna & Five O'Clock by T-Pain
Newest Addiction: Almond Hershey Kisses - delish! (bigger fan of hazelnuts, but whatev)
Best Idea Today: to invest in "Find my iPhone"

My day is dragging today. Got assigned to some seriously boring things at work today. Thankfully I'm back to my regular schedule now that school is over and I can leave at 5 everyday instead of 5:15 after all the traffic has poured into the streets of the city. Speaking of, school has been slightly delayed. I took incompletes in three of my classes and I am being forced to take a failing grade for my last class. We'll see how that actually pans out, but at least I was able to salvage the majority.

I'm actually looking forward to the holidays this year. My little one will be turning three on Saturday which means she actually understands Santa Claus (and the threat of him taking back her presents if she isn't good). We were also lucky enough to be given an Elf on the Shelf from her uncle which has worked wonders in preventing unnecessary tantrums from her at the risk of Sparkles (the elf's name) reporting back to Santa that she wasn't good. Her gifts are heavily Tinkerbell and My Little Pony themed this year, but it's ok. I can't wait to see her face light up when she see them all wrapped up for her to dive into to which if I know her, she might actually do.

On a nostalgic note, I've had a strange longing for my old car - a volkswagon cabriolet. It was an '89 and ran like a go-kart, but it was awesome. The top went down - manually, but it was a convertible nonetheless. I would drive near 100mph in that car, zipping around people left and right, and praying to God that if I got pulled over it would be in an area where I knew someone who was a cop; thankfully for me, that's pretty common in most areas I would drive.

Lastly, on this strange rambling session is the prospective of a new job. I've been waiting around for this job since July 2010. I know... that's like an eternity. Thankfully I've been gainfully employed throughout this wait, so it's really just been a game of "now?" "how about now?" "maybe now?" and maybe officially.... "now." We'll see though. I'm super excited. I'm supposed to be meeting with him on Thursday to discuss things and find out what's what as far as when, where, who, and all those other 'w' words.

Tonight I will be baking. I plan to make cookies - of what type I haven't decided, but the good ole standby of chocolate chip is likely to make an appearance. I was also thinking some kind of Heath Bar themed cookie or perhaps meringues if I feel up to it. I'll post pictures tonight or early tomorrow with the results. I'm lucky enough to have a holiday luncheon tomorrow and on Wednesday.

Fabulous Giveaways!

It's Christmas time and it seems like everyone's getting in the spirit. I've already hit up a bunch of blogs who are giving money to donations for every blogger who leaves a comment. Some of them are donating to places who don't have clean water sources and others are donating to local food banks, shelters, and so forth. What a wonderfully splendid thing to do!

So I thought... I'll indulge in a giveaway that's perhaps not for giving, but maybe for getting. I had said in my previous post that I was highly determined to add more photos to posts... so here's one.

One wonderful blogger who I follow "Oh So Posh Photography" is giving away a Nikon Camera to one lucky member. I think this would definitely help me head in the right direction, as well as indulge my photography dreams. I'll cross my fingers and hope I win. Here's a link if you'd like to enter too: http://www.ohsoposhphotography.com/blog/?p=5458

I'll be posting later this evening with details of my week. Emma's birthday, Xmas plans in the making, and a possible New Year's party. All good things! In the meantime, it's back to work!

Domain Name Not Found

I'm considering taking this whole blogging thing to a new sphere. I would thoroughly enjoy having my own domain name, though which one I would like I have yet to decide. In the meantime, I've been browsing for outfits for my meeting with some business folks and for New Years and possibly a dress that would serve it's purpose for both.

This is tentatively what I have in mind. I adore the rich dark chocolatey red/burgundy color. The bow is just a fancy addition and I am absolutely in love with the open back. Mostly because I love any reason to show off my tattoo. Since I don't exactly have a big rack either, I don't have to worry about wearing a bra, though I imagine I might be able to wear a bra halter style if I work it just right. I was also thinking of finding a super thin black ribbon and doing a loose chignon and tying it throughout it. Though maybe down is better.

These are on their way to me. Should have them by the end of next week.

The high necked black one will serve wonderfully as business appropriate, but the white one was just a bonus. He's a new seller on eBay and was offering a special, so I got it. I might wear it out in the summer or with a pair of sheer leggings and cute knee high boots or booties. We'll see.

Thoughts on the dresses and ways to style them?

My day...

I had a rough day yesterday.

-I found out that I am barely passing a class because of a minor infraction of not knowing how to italicize when taken a written exam. Yea... try and figure that one out.

-I am overwhelmed with the massive amount of papers that I have to write in order to finish this semester. Breathing does not seem to be a part of it.

-I cried for the first time in a long time in acknowledgement of my father having replaced me, in a way. He divorced his second wife of 20+ years for his mistress of 6. She has an 18 year old daughter who has gotten more attention from him in the last six months than I have in 25 years. I think abandoning the idea of "daughter" and "father" finally hit me. I'm coming to terms with the fact that my mother, whom I had an estranged relationship with for seven years, made the right decision to change and fix our relationship. I appreciate her gesture of good faith so much more now that I see that some people may never change.

-I realized that my husband is a good man. He gave me my space to "grieve" over my own problems. Then he crawled into bed and held me until I fell asleep. I need to remember sometimes that when things seem their worst, he still knows best.

That was my day. Five hours of corporate level work, three hours of driving total, nine hours of class, and about two hours spent in a meltdown before drifting off to sleep.

I think Friday I am going to push to go out and do something. Drink with my friends, see my friend's new place, something. I can't keep pushing myself and never taking time to stop and "smell the roses" as they say. But all in all I feel better. I plan to come home tonight and just write as much and as many of my papers as I can. I can do this... I want to do this. I don't want this to all be a waste.