End of Christmas, beginning of health

So we took down our decorations and tree last night (sigh). I guess it had to come sometime. Our tree was looking a little on the parched side. I also realized recently that tomorrow (New Year's Day) is the last paid holiday off until memorial day. Boo. On the bright side of things, I am now healthier than I was yesterday. Yes, I have begun a health binge yet again. Okay, but it's not a binge this time: it's a lifestyle change. Ha, I'm getting healthier by the minute. 2009 marks the year when I turn toward great health and prosperity.

Ways I will make sure I achieve my health goals:

1. Nicole will buy me coffee on Fridays if I've worked out 5 times that week (mon-fri)2. Rachel will walk with me on the weekends to help me move more

3. Kristen will help me control portions and plan healthy meals

4. Whitni will make sure I'm buying plenty of fruits and vegetables and snacking healthfully

5. I'm blogging about it right now so everyone knows and I HAVE to stick to it
6. I'm going to dominate Nicole's fitness success with my amazing results.
7. I have a calendar with my workouts scheduled on it and when I complete my workout, I get a star sticker! Who can resist that?

2009 = The Best Year Ever!

Blog facelift & Sickening sugar

You likee?

I decided I was bored with the old look. I wish there were more layouts to choose from.

So my life for the past week has been baking and decorating and melting and sugaring... I'm making my Christmas presents this year and I have now reached the baking portion. I have made approximately:

54 Sugar cut out cookies

40 Chocolate covered peanut butter cookies

40 Almond joy clusters

45 Peanut butter balls

and a whole vat of White chocolate cranberry popcorn crunch

I actually got nautious when smelling everything last night. The great thing about it is that I have had no desire to sample any of the treats.

Ugh, sorry everyone, for Christmas I'm getting you fat.
Goodbye healthy heart! (wow, that's a little Grinchy).

O Christmas Tree!

I love love love a hundred times more love real Christmas trees and I haven't had one for about oh, 15 years. That's right, my mom gave them up for a two-footer fake tree when my brother moved out of the house and it was just the two of us (lame mom!).
I am happy to announce that yes, I have a tree! A real one. It's a little non-traditional and slightly squat, but I super love it.

Some decorations currently on the tree:
Giant letters C, K, W
Underwear (decorative and tasteful of course)
Bush patch and barbell chain necklace from middle school
Va-j-j visors (don't ask)
A pink feather boa (actually that's the tree skirt)
A sparkle-tastic belt
Giant fake flowers
...Just to name a few.

It looks magical and surprisingly Christmas-y.

You should get a real tree too. Just don't be like these people

The Jobens

Home away from home. I spent last week with a fun little fam I like to call the Jobens. Also known as Lulu, Chuck Deisel, Nickitynangle, Kyky the Clown, Ryry, and D-Rock. I may have made some of those up. I did not make up the absolute JOY of spending Thanksgiving with this lovely group of people.

Here is a list (not exhaustive) of why I love the Jobens:

1) The laughing - I am constantly laughing when I am with the Jobens- whether it's because Kyle just smashed a bag of Nicole's chips in front of her, Lulu just riled Tucker up and then called him something regal, Ryan put on a dance performance (along with the DDC), Charlie made an ugly pose, or Derek competed with himself to finish a meal. It's the most funniest time ever.






2) The animals - Cooper, Tucker, Sassy, Ivory & Spooky - they are the best.

3) The competitions - I thoroughly enjoyed the one where we all had to make the weirdest noise or maybe it was just an animal noise - I don't know but all of the sounds were amazing. Also I enjoyed when we played Scattegories and people were yelling across the room - it was fantastic.

4) The snack drawer - Always stocked with the tastiest trendiest snacks - mmm, delicious.

5) The bonus room - From a fridge stocked with drinks to the softest couch in the world to the ginormous TV, this is a room I like - there's always fun things happening in that room too.

6) Shopping with Lulu- It's nice to know that even though Nicole didn't inherit her mom's fashion sense, I can power shop with Lulu and receive great advice.

7) Sports - I actually love watching sports, but I don't have people around me who do most of the time. It's nice to be inundated with sports while at the Jobens - from tv sports to school team sports to live action in the living room sports. It's a good time.

8) Visiting the magic of Puyallup. They have a new Target - it's pretty amazing. Also, I like to see Mt. Ranier everytime we leave the house. "Hi Purple Mountain Majesty"

9) Just being. Sometimes it's nice to just be somewhere and not have any expectations - I mostly feel that way while at the Jobens

10) Crazy times - With a family of six, five pets, and a family of six's friends, things get crazy sometimes. But I think I like that because there's so much life - it's like a life explosion and THAT is exciting.

Make money money, make money money money!

That's right. I'm on a mission. It's all about the Benjamins. Well, it is when you're in debt. My car loan, my student loans, some unmentionable credit card debt from my student days - it's the American way. I, however, am now a fiscally-responsible ghetto pig and I am about to dominate my debt like I dominate the streets. That's right. Yeyah.

First, I don't buy crap just to buy it anymore - like when I bought a new cell phone just because my old one didn't have a camera with zoom...honestly, how often do I take pictures with my camera? Almost never.

Second, I keep track of things. Everything is accounted for, even that $1.90 coffee I bought last week - it's in the budg.

Third, I moonlight as a profesh childcare worker and a life-giving plasma donator. Pretty much I help raise the struggling younger generation and save lives in my spare time. The extra cash -> straight to savings...or debt...or coffee. No, not coffee. Crap. Financial Breakdown!!!

No, I'm in control.

Feel free to send me additional cash at your leisure.

Will give ghetto pig advice for money!!

I'm not poor, I'm po. Can't even afford the o and the r....

Bring it on down to Turkey-ville

As a society, I really don't think we dress up in costume enough. That's why on most occasions with my friends, there is a costume involved. A certain group of friends referred to as the BSBs held a Thanksgiving extravaganza where some choice costumes were worn.

Can you tell what I am?

If not, you're not ghetto enough. Obviously, I'm mashed potatoes and gravy (Do you see the pat of butter? Do you recognize the white pillowy-ness? The gravy streaming down?)

Some other noteworthy costumes were

Pilgrims:

Indian:

Sparkling Cider:

For actual Thanksgiving I plan on being Plymouth Rock.

CHRISTMAS!

Who's excited? You know, don't tell me it's too early because people who grew up in the ghetto like myself need reasons to celebrate life - Christmas is joyous forever.

Here are some ways I have already begun celebrating this joyous season:

1. Getting out Christmas decorations

2. Shopping for/making gifts

3. Listening to Christmas music

4. Planning holiday events

5. Budgeting for Christmas expenditures

6. Visiting Santa's workshop at the mall

7. Looking for elves

8. Using only red and green paper and pens at work

9. Thinking of things I don't need for Christmas but would definitely like

10. Wondering if overweight old men wearing red could actually be Santa in everyday clothes

11. Watching Christmas movies (so far: The Santa Clause, Santa and the 3 Bears, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation)

12. Looking Christmas-y (Today I'm wearing a green shirt and my, uh, cheeks are red)

13. Volunteering to help people (well, I do that everyday because I'm so thoughtful, but it is Christmas spirit-filled)

14. Looking at the sky often and thinking, "It might snow tonight!"

15. Baking sweet treats

I'm such a Christmas-pig.