Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010!

This has been a rough, crazy year. And I am glad to see it go. With my father getting sick and being in and out of the hospital at the beginning of the year, to trying to plan my wedding while working 9 to 5 and starting my own business... you could say it's been a whirlwind. I am ready to leave it all behind and start fresh and new in 2010. I have compiled a list of 2010 Goals for the year and divided them up into 3 categories:

Health & Fitness:
1. Get in the best shape ever--- this will include starting my P90X, that I have so greatly procrastinated against starting since I got it and running more
2. Finish the Mini Marathon I am running in April with a better time than last year (2:23 is the time to beat)
3. Loose a bit of weight - no set number, but a few pounds could afford to be shed.
4. Cook healthier meals
5. Drink more water, less soda (may cut out soda completely for first few months, but can't let my real coke go completely!)
6. Run a 2nd Half Marathon in the year
7. Learn to cook new recipes

Career & Finance:
1. Get my personal business rolling again
2. Gain new clients
3. Update my business website
4. Get my finances in order- including make a budget. (G and I have also planned not to eat out at all for the month of Jan, we'll see how we do)
5. Pay off all debt (I am hoping to be debt free by the end of 2010)
6. Save money/Invest

Everyday Life:
1. Strive to be a better mood more often (2009 saw a lot bad mood from me, striving to be happy is a major goal)
2. Decorate the house (buy new furniture!)
3. Blog more and really get more into the blogging community
4. Be a better wife, daughter and friend
5. Make new friends
6. Start reading more, especially the "classics"

I realize this is a crazy way to make a list of goals.. but I definitely think it is all do-able (and I love lists!). We'll check back at the end of 2010 and see how I did. YIKES!

What are your 2010 goals?

Best Gift EVER!!!

Have I told you all how much I love my husband... and how he is the BEST person in the whole wide world?!?!?
Well, if I havent, let me just explain why... Back in college I got really into photography. I loved to take pictures, go into the darkroom (yes, an actual darkroom) and develop my own film and pictures. It is kind of an amazing process and I truly enjoyed to do it. I even received a Hasselblad camera for graduation (which is awesome in itself). But I kind of got out of the whole picture taking thing once the "real world" started. And then all I wanted to take pictures of was my friends and family at special events (or nights at the bar), so G had bought me a nice digital camera a few years ago to do that. But since then, I have started to want a manual camera again. The pictures just turn out sooo much better. And a friend of mine had gone to Italy after me and taken the same shots I had, but her pics were way better than the ones I had taken, all because of her camera.
Well, ladies and gents, my wonderful and adoring husband bought me a BRAND NEW DIGITAL SLR!!! (Canon Rebel T1i)I realize this may be greek to some people, but it's a fancy new camera that works like a manual 35mm camera but is digital. I am SOOOO pumped!! I cannot wait to learn all the features and really get back into taking and editing pictures. He really out did himself and I am forever grateful. I just love it.
I know this is kind of bragging, but it is just to awesome of an experience not to share. And that was my gift from G this year for Xmas. So while he is out riding on his new bicycle, I'll just take pictures of him in his shiny new helmet!!
COME ON SPRING!

Super Mario Bros. for Wii

This is totally not what I was planning on posting about today, but it's too fun not to mention.

I had seen a while back, on TV, a commercial for the new Super Mario Bros. game for Wii. And me, being like every other kid that grew up in the 80s and 90s, thought it was the coolest thing that they now have it for wii. I remember my sister and I spending hours playing our old Nintendo trying to beat levels and collect coins. G and I received our Wii last year for Xmas from my parents, but haven't really played it too much in a while, with everything else we had going on (you know, wedding planning and such). But when I saw this commercial, I knew I had to have it. So I convinced my mom to buy it for G for Xmas this year. Well, I busted it out today while on my lunch break... and it may just get to be an addiction. It's soooo fun!!! You can even have up to 4 people playing at once! How cool is that?! They have even kept some of the same features from the original (and even from 2 and 3) including the music, levels, characters, etc.. Even some of the hidden stuff is the same.. GENIUS! I love it.. I cant wait to get home and play again. So if you have a wii.. get this game.. a must.

Wedding Pics

I said I would share some.. and we finally got them from the photographer.. and loaded them on to the internets.. Here are some of our favorites. Enjoy!
(I realize there are alot! I couldnt decided). And I realize they are in opposite order of events, but I cant figure out an easy way to move around images.


Me and the pops "dancing".

I really like this pic because it looks like I have great arm muscles! haha.


The BEST wedding cake ever.... truly one of a kind!!

First kiss!

My beautiful flowers


LOVE LOVE this pic.. sorry G, your head is cut off!

Our gorgeous wedding party

The Boys

The lovely ladies

First site!

War on Christmas.. please!

Ugh. Seriously. Why in the world is this a political issue?! What happened to the seperation between church and state?!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/18/war.on.christmas/index.html

Read it.

Random Thoughts for the Day

I know I have read this list somewhere.... and I think it even had more.. but I thought I would share because it made me laugh. I dont even know where the original list came from.

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this -- ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

19. I think the freezer deserves a light as well..

20. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

Slight Panic Attack

I am BROKE! UGH.
I mean, only to the point that my entire paycheck every two weeks goes completely to bills. Some how I have racked up a nice credit card debt (I only have 1 visa and a GAP card). I am not sure how I am going to pay all this off. I want to do it today! This stresses me out. I hate having this looming over my head. How did I let this happen? I am usually pretty good with money. I don't go out shopping all the time, although lately I do need a completely new wardrobe. I don't spend money on frivolous things. I guess the hubby and I do like to eat out a lot, and at good restaurants. This is not good, not good. I will be happy when I finally pay off my car in April.. that is extra money to put towards paying off the CC. I want to be completely debt free by the end of next year (yes, I think it is going to take that long). How do people do this? Or does everyone (but my hubby) have debt. This sucks. I dont mind paying bills, ok I do, but having a lot of money that i just "owe" is not fun. panic panic! I may have to hole up and eat ramen noodles for the next several months. :(

Skin Care Pt. 2

Last week I posted about wanting a new face care regimen. I received a few comments on suggestions of what to use. But on Sunday, I was doing a bit of solo Xmas power shopping and had to go into Ulta for some shampoo for myself (ok maybe not for Xmas, but it was needed). I decided to look at the skin care products that they carried and ran across Philosophy. I have heard good things about them in the past and so in an impulse buy situation, I decided to try it.
I bought this kit:

I have very oily, blemish prone skin with larger clogged pours. So, their website says:

you need this product if...

you want makeup optional skin - a plus.

you want to decongest and minimize the appearance of large pores - check

you want to reduce blemishes - double check!

you want to reduce excess shine - triple check!!

you want to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles - a definite plus!

I am going to try this out and see what I think. I am on day two and so far so good. And really, my skin hasnt been as oily (maybe it's due to the fact that its freeezing and everything is drying out, including my face! Anyone else having this problem? even my hair! )

WEDDING PICTURES

We have finally received our wedding pictures and couldnt be more excited about them. Josh at Bella Grace Studios did a wonderful job capturing our day. I am still waiting to see if I can use some of the photos online, but for now, here is one shot that is definitely one of my favorite details! Hopefully, I will be able to post more soon!

It's 2009 (almost 2010) People!

Read this article today in the NY Times.
My only conclusion... people are crazy!
Read it.

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, whatever...

I am so sick of people going around saying "If someone says 'Happy Holidays' to you, respond with 'Merry Christmas' because this time of the year is about Jesus Christ"!
Well guess what people, other religions, that don't believe in JC, have religious holidays during the same season... they are called Hanukkah and Kwanzaa (and probably others that I dont know the name of )! I don't understand why people get in such a tizzy about these things. Yes, it's great that the Christian faith believes that JC was born on December 25th, and we celebrate that by putting up large, decorated trees, buying tons of gifts and stuffing our faces till we cant breathe.... but really, to act like there is nothing else that can happen during this time of year is a little ignorant in my book. I mean, celebrate your holiday, but let others celebrate theirs as well! It really does drive me insane. Who cares if someone says "Happy Holidays"?... maybe they are also referring to the fact that New Years is in the same time of year.
And really, dont you think that America has gone a little overboard with Christmas? I mean, any more, it has become a holiday to get the best deals on material items, that are probably not even needed in the first place. Shopping malls and stores start decorating in October for crying out loud! It's all a bit over-saturated and ridiculous. Especially when these same people who get up at 6 am the day after Thanksgiving, trying to claim "It's all about JC's birth!".. Bologna people!!!

I'm over it..

Just a little rant.

Skin Care

Oh..
And I also want a new skin care line. I am pretty good at using toner and moisterizer after I use my cleanser, but I want a complete system to make my skin look RADIANT! I want to start using stuff to prevent wrinkles, and start using a night creme (I know, sexy). But I am serious. I feel that if I can do all this now, it will help me in the long run! ya think?
So again, any advice is welcome (and needed). I would love for it all to be from one brand... if that is even do-able. And, just an FYI.. my skin is pretty oily and prone to breakouts and clogged pores. :)

I need a stylist

Anyone? Anyone?
This chick needs a stylist in the worst way. I feel that I have a sense of taste, but just not "style". I am constantly checking out new blogs with all these cute little ladies in the most adorable clothes, but dont look like they took all morning to figure it out. And I am a little jealous by all this. Maybe its the fact that all my clothes are 100 years old and I seriously need an update to everything I own. (I could also use $1,000,000 for spending money, anyone!?) But I am getting to the point where I dont know what to wear that is "age appropriate" (I have been watching to many "style" shows). I mean, late 20s... I am thinking Gap (when they have good stuff) and J.Crew might be my best bet.
But I am definitely open to suggestions (or someone to nominate me for What Not To Wear :D )

Hair Cut

After growing out my hair for the last several years, I finally went and chopped it off today. Probably the most drastic hair cut I have ever gotten, cut about 6 inches off!! It's crazy. But I do LOVE my new hair cut. Holly, my stylist, rocks!!
Here are the before and after pics.















These pictures are terrible of me, but you get the idea.. and it's sooo much cuter in person!