Seriously People

I've mentioned her before, but you all simply MUST check out Miss Avery B.

Cheeks.

Smile.

Adorable clothes.

Great momma (and dad).

An early wedding present for me.

Does it get better?

NOTE: Please do not confuse my obsession with Avery B as baby fever.  Yet.

You've got to get obsessed, and stay obsessed...

...as my friend Jen used to say. She meant it in regards to love (of friends, family, boys, your life's work, etc.). While I take it to heart for all of those things it also applies, for me, to GARTH BROOKS! It's an obsession. Clearly. I would have my wisdom teeth removed AGAIN to see him in concert (I'm glad I didn't have to last Sunday for the concert on the Mall...but more on that later). I won't even tell you what I'd consider doing if I got to meet the man.

His song "We Shall Be Free" just came on Pandora. Amazing. I wish you all could have been in the croud at the We Are One concert when he sang it. I'll post pictures later (along with other inaugural highlights) but for now...

And when money talks for the very last time

And nobody walks a step behind

When theres only one race and thats mankind

Then we shall be free

Resolution Review...

I, along with 99% of America, am bad at resolutions.  I think that I usually don't write them down or have anyone to really hold me accountable.  Well, this year is different (kind of)...so, here's how I'm doing with those 9 resolutions for 2009: 

1. Take the stairs. - Doing really well actually.  I took the elevator a few times when I was sick, but that's okay, right?  

2. Use only reusable bags...no plastic bags for me! - Also keeping up on this one.  I even walked back to the car the other day to get them.  I did take a plastic bag from Ashleigh's yesterday to tote stuff home after inauguration festivities but that one had already been "bought"...I was just reusing!

3. Exercise AT LEAST 3 days a week (I have a plan). - Hmm...slipped in the beginning, but doing better now.  I have to say that I LOVE exercising with the hubby.  Tonight we went on a run and to keep it interesting for him (he's training for another marathon people! I married a crazy!), he did sprint repeats while I kept a steady pace.  He's keeping it creative so we can spend that time together.  

4. NOT buy high heels. - Check.  A few ridiculously cute new pairs of flats (on sale at Marshalls, woot!) now reside in my closet. My feet are already happier.  

5. Have no more than one sweet (refined sugar) treat a day. And stick to serving sizes. - Failing.  MISERABLY.  Trying to get back on the band wagon...

6. Send family and friends birthday cards. - Check!  Today was Tia's birthday and we sent her an ecard and even got in a short phone call.  Can't wait to see her soon!!

7. Use our stand mixer. - Um...not yet.

8. Contribute to my RothIRA. - Okay, this may be my biggest fail.  I'm not even trying this one at the moment.  As we have a rather big trip to be saving for, I HATE the idea of putting my $$ into an account that is losing money.  I'm not sure how this will go until at least mid-May.  I will call the financial advisor (who was also one of my middle school teachers, crazy huh?).

9. Have a "just us" date night once a month with Hubster. - Hmm...yes and no.  Hubster and I haven't gone out to a movie or dinner or anything just us in January, but we've had a few delicious dinners here at home and spent loads of time together doing other things.  Wait, I guess we did have dinner.  It was totally spur of the moment Pho Vietnamese soup after going to the laundromat.  Super exciting!  :)

And on that note, I am going to go spend some more time with Hub.  I'm currently reading this book in Espanol, and he lets me read aloud to him.  So sweet.  

Via the Seeeeeeeeeeeester-in-law

The lovely Mara sent this to me and I just love it:

The Elephant Sanctuary

As some of you may know, Mom recently had to put down Sascha our black lab. A little over a year ago, Daphne (our yellow lab-cow...she was big) also left for that big pup kingdom in the sky. Watching this just made me think about how special unique friendships are, be they between people or pets or some mix! And of course how I miss those crazy dogs.

Hubster and I have been talking about dogs. We want one now (read: 6 months ago), but will have to wait at least until May when we move. We're currently looking for apartment buildings that accommodate pets...keep your fingers crossed for us!

Can't we pretend it's Monday?

How about we all try anyway, shall we?  Why you ask?  Well, because Monday, January 12 was the day the world celebrated the birth of my oldest college friend!  We were roomies our first two years at this wonderful place:

We've shared a lot over the years.  When I first met her, I called Liz by the wrong name; cupcakes at the caf; we would run over to Krista's room during thunderstorms; Liz jumped (quite literally) James Taylor; modern dance mooooooves; getting engaged and married; getting engaged and married; Liz has the most precious little girl in the world; and so much more!  Although time and distance separate us, I've been SO happy having Liz in my life as a real-life as well as blogger friend!  

Happy Belated Birthday Lizanne!!!

p.s. The mail is late too.  But better late than never, right?  :)

p.p.s. I'm REALLY trying hard to fulfill resolution #6.  And to blog more.

The Reason for the Season (Part II - aka End of 2008)

Totally out of order and long overdue, but here you go:

My favorite guys.  This is how they spent 99.9% of Christmas vacation.  They did wash the cars, but there's no photographic evidence (the classic conundrum...did it really happen?  no one knows...).

Charlie's angels!

Ma, a yummy beer, and me at the Padgett's on Christmas Eve. 

RANDOM THOUGHT: I think I've finally learned when to use "me" and when to use "I."  Took long enough.  The above wasn't even a full sentence though.  And as previously mentioned, my blog is NOT a repository of exemplary English grammar.  Moving on.

I'm a butterfly, I'm a butterfly!  Or something :).  Momma opening presents Christmas morning.

My cuddle buddy, at least until Hubster arrived.

Us in all our holiday glory at Christmmakuh 2008!

And I throw this in there for the cheeks.  The ridiculously rotund tasty-looking cheeks.  I love having nephews! 

Poo-oo-oo

Ugh.  i feel gross today.  And it seems the weather really did me a Favor by forcing me to work from home.

i am SO THANKFUL that my job gives me the flexibility to work from home, and relatively often.  As long as I don't spend my Whole day reading my friends' blogs.  :)

so Back to the Grind I shall go...

In the spirit

No one is a lost cause. All we need is hope.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

In 2009...

I will*:

1. Take the stairs.

2. Use only reusable bags...no plastic bags for me!

3. Exercise AT LEAST 3 days a week (I have a plan).

4. NOT buy high heels.

5. Have no more than one sweet (refined sugar) treat a day. And stick to serving sizes.

6. Send family and friends birthday cards.

7. Use our stand mixer.

8. Contribute to my RothIRA.

9. Have a "just us" date night once a month with Hubster.

* In no particular order.

I'm sure there are loads more things I will (and won't) do in '09. And I'm not a fan of "resolutions." It seems like when I resolve to do something it never gets done. When I determine I'll do it and ask someone to hold me accountable (what else are blog readers and Hubsters for?). Maybe I'm allowing myself to be fooled by semantics.

I think that #2 will be the easiest. And #4 & #5 will be the hardest (I love goodies and gorgeous high heels...it's my body that retaliates against both).

To you All: Happy 2009!!