My Holiday

I had a very nice Christmas this year. Relaxing and drama free! I loved spending it with my husband and family.

Christmas Eve
We went to my Grandma's home. She makes this FAB dinner. I look forward to it ALL year. She makes this incredible prime rib with all the yummy side dishes that go along with it. LOVED it! This year we did a white elephant exchange however, our family did not get the memo on the $5 price limit. So it was a little crazy with that part. With all the jokesters in the family....I thought there would be more "funny" gifts. Jeff (stepdad) gave an "old geezer" box. It was full of stuff older people might need. Canes, creams and stuff I don't want to imagine! It was so funny!

The rest of the evening was spent exchanging gifts, drinking and telling funny stories. Great, great night!

Christmas Day
I woke up to what has become a great Christmas morning tradition. Jeff makes this INCREDIBLE breakfast burritos. The sausage was fresh (literately....they bought a pig at the fair and had s/he butchard). Yes, that's right. Two fantastic meals right in a row. Then we did our next tradition....stocking suffers!!!! My parents go ALL out with these. Some useful, some, the same tradition every year. Any case, we love to do that. They gave me a WONDERFUL camera for Christmas!!

#60 - Buy a new camera on my 101 list! So I get to mark that off!!

Ryan's Parents gave me Wii Fit. Another fabulous gift that can help with #87 - loose 8 pounds. Great gifts padres!!!!

Ryan gave my an incredible gift as well. A Kindle. It will help me with #46 and #47. He is the best! I made out so good in the gift department this year!!!

My mom cooked a fabulous lunch. Super yummy with ham (yes, from the same pig) and all the yummy sides. Fantastic meal #3 right in a row.

After that, we went back over to Grandma's home to play some Wii bowling. I kicked @ss.

Overall, I had a WONDERFUL holiday. I am glad I got to spend it with my family, well except TiVO, my furbaby. We gave him special treats and a new goose toy. He LOVES it. I never seen him act this way with a toy. He has not put it down since he got it.

Hope all of yours was just as wonderful!

Christmas Wish

Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.

With this thought, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, all the Happiest Holidays and all the luck the New Year could possibly bring to you.

List Progress....

#7 - Try 10 new restaurants (3/10)
Latte girls and I went to Sauce. It is owned by the same people of NoRTH. Fox Restaurant Concepts did not let me down, I loved it. I was reasonably priced (one pizza and two drinks it was $15). Great atmosphere, great service, fantastic pizza.....you can't ask for anything more! I give it 3.5 stars out of 4.


# 12 - Cook 10 new dishes (1/10)
I made shredded Green Chili meat in my slow cooker. It was delish and I will cook it again. Great for parties as well!

Recipe:
1 Chuck Roast (any size)
1 Small can of green chili
1 Small can of jalapeños
1/2 cup of water
1 onion (if you want)
Season with cumin and other stuff

Cook on low for 10+ hours.
Take the meat out and cut the fat and shred the meat.
Season with more cumin and anything else you want to through in the pot.



#97 - Use my cloth bags for shopping (4/15)
Used my bags twice this weekend!!!

Five Questions Friday (I know it is Monday)

1. Which boygroup did you like most in your teens?
I was in LOVE with New Kids on The Block.

2. Do you do Christmas cards, letters, photos, nuthin', all of the above?
Last two years I did photo cards. This year I made my own (see below post).

3. If you could meet one celebrity who would it be and why?
Martha Stewart. She is such a pro at EVERYTHING! I would love so much advice on cooking, baking, stationery, decorating and especially business stuff. LOVE MARTHA!!

4. Favorite thing to cook with (i.e. stainless, non-stick, Dutch oven, microwave, debit card...or, perhaps, a cauldron, etc.)?
Debit card!!! LOL! Love me some Chipotle! I do like to use my Crock Pot. I just wish I knew more recipe (Hint: I would like you to share some recipes please!)

5. What is the one thing you wear the most, besides your unmentionables?
Jacket. I am always wearing one. Yes, especially in the summer. It is 115 degrees outside and 72 inside. A little too cold for my liking.

#47 - Read 15 fiction books - Marley & Me

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbols mean nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not." - John Grogan on Marley the dog.


I just finished Marley & Me by John Grogan. Holy water works with the eyes.

Marley & Me was a wonderful book. I smiled, I laughed, I cried and I learned so much and realized that a relationship with a dog is absolutely wonderful and can add so much joy and love to your life. A must read, but with a box of tissues!!

Another book I read awhile ago was The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. GREAT book! Another must read. Especially for dog lovers. It was in the point of view of the dog, Enzo. Crazy, I know, but still worth every word. It was the first book after Twilight, that I found interesting and couldn't put down. To this day....I still talk to TiVO as if he knew what I was saying.

“In Mongolia, when a dog dies, he is buried high in the hills so people cannot walk on his grave. The dog's master whispers into the dog's ear his wishes that the dog will return as a man in his next life. Then his tail is cut off and put beneath his head, and a piece of meat or fat is placed in his mouth to sustain his soul on its journey; before he is reincarnated, the dog's soul is freed to travel the land, to run across the high desert plains for as long as it would like.

I learned that from a program on the National Geographic channel, so I believe it is true. Not all dogs return as men, they say; only those who are ready.

I am ready." Enzo, The Art of Racing in the Rain

Both of these books will yes, make you cry. But they will make you love life more and cherish the little things. Good or bad. They make you love your pets more and make them more apart of the family and your life....not to mention your heart. They make you feel grateful for the time you do have with man's best friend.

Go read both books and go adopt a best friend of your own. Arizona Animal Welfare League / SPCA is a great place to start!

101 Things in 1001 Days - Progress!!

#65 - Buy a "As Seen on TV" Item - Completed!

The only bad thing is, I bought it as a white elephant exchange item....so I can't say anything yet due to the blog stalkers in the family. It is half gag gift / half real present. I can't wait for the reaction....good or bad.


#4 - Send out Christmas cards for two years - 1/2 #67 - Make cards for friends and family instead of buying them. 2/5

I made all of my Christmas cards this year. I think they turned out super cute and fun! The theme colors were fire engine red with light green and matching envelopes in metallic paper. They have a little bow in front in the belly band. They turned out cute I thought. And yes, that is damask at the bottom. I like it and I am not afraid to admit that I heart damask!


Sorry about the quality of the photo. My camera has gone to electronic heaven. Hopefully I get my camera for Christmas!!! (Which takes off #60 - Buy a new camera. I totally forgot I had that on my list.)


#97 - Use canvas bags instead of plastic 2/15
Yay! I used them again! I need to keep one in my glove box so even if I run into Walgreens, I can use the bag.

Honest Scrap

I was given the Honest Scrap Award by Mya. So this means I have to share 10 Honest Facts about me, and then pass the torch to 7 other bloggers!

1. I usually sabotage most of the things I really want to do/accomplished. I don't want to fail, so I fail-on-purpose before I really get an opportunity. (Like the triathlon and school)
2. I am very sad that my dog, Tivo like Ryan more. I wish he treated us equal or at least pretended to care a little bit about me.
3. I find myself very odd that my two favorite shows of all time are Six Feet Under and Dexter (and it is not because I am a Michael C. Hall fan). It is all about death and horrible family dynamics.
4. I wish I was more motivated to do more stuff and get stuff accomplished. I have no clue why I am so lazy. I wish I can be more like Ryan.
5. I don't like leftovers and much prefer any restaurant food to a good home cooked meal.
6. I feel stupid when it comes to grammar, spelling and pronunciation. I can't do any of them and I don't know why. It makes me feel very ashamed and stupid. When people point it out to me....of course it is better and I need to know what I did wrong and maybe correct it. But a big part of me gets my feelings hurt and makes me feel sad and ashamed.
7. I HATE my hair and thighs.
8. I hold grudges.
9. I like to cry when I am driving home from work.
10. I wish I fit in more at work and had "friends", but I just really don't like a lot of the people I work with.

So I am not going to pass along to 7 people, however....I would love for 7 people to contact me and share their 10 Honest Facts!

Five Questions Friday

I know it is Monday.....somehow I always remember Five Questions Friday on Monday. It should be changed!!

1. Does Santa wrap the presents he leaves at your house?
He left them....I think I will do the same when I have children.

2. When is your "big" Christmas celebration...Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Tell us about it...
Christmas day. On Christmas eve, we would get to open one gift. However, I always masterminded the process of finding out what all the gifts were under the tree. I pretty much knew what 80% of them were. So when it came around Christmas Eve, I would open up one I really wasn't sure about.

I still to this day try to find out what the gifts are. I am REALLY trying VERY had not to cheat this year. Doing good so far!

3. Are you big on keeping tradition every year?
I really like going to my Grandma Shirley's home on Christmas eve. It is so much fun, plus she makes this INCREDIBLE dinner.
4. Do colored lights or white lights tickle your fancy?
I like the simplicity of white lights.

5. Do you decorate outside your house for Christmas?
Not at all.

#53 - Give out a “just because” gift to a friends/family

#53 - Give out a “just because” gift to a friends/family - COMPLETED!

I gave my BFF, Cathie an embellished business card holder. I know it sounds wierd, but I like business card holders and it usually isn't something people buy for themselves. Plus, she is just starting her own marketing business. GO CATHIE!!!!! The card holder is totally her. It is pink glittery thing with an embellished crown on it. I found this holder....it is not exact, but close.


I got it at Nostrums Rack! I also bought one for myself. Purple with a fleu de lis. LOVE THEM!


Another update on my list. Use my cloth bags for groceries. I had them in my car for over a year and only used them a few times. Even in the rain, I took a minute longer to get them out of my trunk. Let's just hope this is a new trend for me! Oh, Target gives you $0.05 back per bag. Every bit helps!

#7 - Visit 10 New Restaurants - NoRTH

#7 - Visit 10 New Restaurants.

Ryan, Cathie and I went to NoRTH. I LOVED it. It is fancy-pants Italian food. It is owned by Fox Restaurant Concepts. They created several restaurants in the valley and around the US. They are known for their upscale - modern designs that also translate into their food. A few other restaurants are Sauce, Olive and Ivy, Zin Burger, True Food, Wildflower and a few others.

I had their risotto with scallops. YUMMMMMMY! I wanted to be a person at Hells Kitchen. They always have risotto on their menu and I have never had real risotto before. My only complain was that the scallops was not cooked the way I ordered them. I ordered them medium and they came medium-rare. Ryan and Cathie very much enjoyed their meals. I give them 4 out of 4 stars!

5 Questions Friday

1. Favorite gift you are GIVING this year? I/we are not doing much this year (parents, In-laws). So I am going to say TiVO getting doggie behavior lessons. I am really wanting to buy blankets and sweatshirts for the homeless or care packages for the troops. That will be a great gift!

2. How many parties are you attending between now and Christmas? Not very much this year - three.

3. What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night

4. Who was your favorite elementary school teacher and why? I don't have one that sticks out at all. I liked 3rd grade....but it wasn't because of the teacher. I liked my friends.

5. If you had a choice to live in any other period of time (other than now) what era would you choose and why? I would have liked to live in the 60's as an young adult. The music, the culture, the art, the drugs. I would have liked it.

101 Things in 1001 Days....Progress!

I have slowed down a bit, so I need to get focus!

#7 - Eat at 10 new restaurants. I have given up on Ryan participating in this, so I am going to "modify" my list to me trying 10 new restaurants. I am sure it is not allowed.

I went to K Sushi Bar Grill in Glendale with Mya for her belated b-day! I had such a great time with great people. The sushi was actually good and fresh. (I am kind of bratty when it comes to sushi....once you eat at Stingray....it is super hard to eat anywhere else.) The server lady was equivalent to the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. She yelled at us....we were scared. So I give K Sushi 2.5 stars out of 4!

Next new adventure will be: revo burrito in the Biltmore. Looks like it's the next Chipotle (my fav btw)!

#46 - Read 3 non-fiction books. I finished I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max. Funniest book that I EVER read. My stomach got a work out for sure. After I was finished reading, I swear I had a six pack from laughing so much. The book was all about Tucker's life as a drunk, arrogant, walking STD a-hole that beds more women than I have ever heard of. He is about the rudest person on this planet, but loved every word! He is a person I would like to have known at 22 (the age in my mind that he is stuck at). I would have had such a great time listening to his crazy drunk ass stories. They truly are unbelievable. Just read the "Famous Sushi Pants" story and you can tell where the book is headed. He started a website years before the book: TuckerMax.com. You can check it out and read some of the stories. There also is a movie coming out soon.

#47 - Read 25 non-fiction books. I just finished A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris....Sookie Stackhouse series, AKA True Blood. It is book 10 and yes, I did read all 9 other books. This book is several mini stories within the series. It tells about the "gift" that Neill gave her or Claude's bar. It wasn't bad. I still crave more.....but hopefully it will hold me over until May when the final book comes out.

Next, I started: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

#77 - Pay off my auto line-of-credit. With the help of my generous, intelligent husband....I am finally able to pay it off this week!

#78 - Open a savings account and start saving for a new car. I am planning on putting away a car payment every month. So in 3-4 years....I'll have enough for a new car without owing on it.