Happy New Year -Lunar/Chinese that is

Due to my line of work I was wished a very Happy New Year today several times.  This is the time of the year when I change from a Scorpio to an Ox. Yes one of the least sexy signs of the Chinese Zodiac. 

However this is the Year of the Ox and I was reminded that it will be a great one for me. I don't really buy into the Horoscope or Zodiac but at times for a good giggle they are fun to read.

So as an Ox my traits are as follows: Leadership qualities, dependable, great organizers, loyal, patient as well as strong and responsible. Posses strong work ethics and display their creative sides, especially when it comes to decorating their homes. Reliable and logical, usually turned to for suggestions and guidance. Honesty and eye for details prove their worth. Also stubborn and very far from being emotional.

Very interesting in some aspects very far from my Scorpio descriptions. Thank goodness I really don't live my life according to what the Zodiac says I am supposed to be, even if it is flattering at times.

So I will make this a good year whether or not it is my year.

Happy Birthday Brooke!

The day I met her I knew that she was perfect fit for my brother. I am so happy she is part of the family and now I can call her sister.

Happy Birthday to Beautiful Brooke! May you be pampered and enjoy a Georgetown Cupcake.

Sniff Sniff

I am sick again! This one came on suddenly late Friday night and continues to get worse. I hate being sick, I really do. Other than wanting to get rid of the top half of my body, it is boring. I should enjoy the time off to read a book or catch up on movies but when you feel blah you watch bad TV.

The good thing about this nasty cold is that I was able to watch the inauguration yesterday (yippee) and then watch a marathon of West Wing. A show that I am now obsessed with. Always late to the party.

Anyway, when I feel a bit better I will blog more.

LarLar is Growing Up

My Niece LarLar was so lucky to be able to come down to Grandpa & Grandma's house without any parents or siblings after Christmas. She was able to hang out with her Awesome Aunts, watch movies, go swimming every morning, play games and spend all of her Christmas cash.

My Sister Emily and I always make a run to the Outlets in Park City after Christmas and brought LarLar along for the ride. Unfortunately shopping isn't her thing. She patiently waited for Em and I to hit all of the stores wanting to make the Toy Store the last stop. She didn't find anything there and was a bit disappointed but quickly made up for it with a stop at Wal-Mart finishing off her cash.

I was able to spoil her a bit however. She has gone through a growth spurt in the last month and I wanted to buy her something fun to wear. She looks so adorable in the outfit! I am happy she indulged me and even let Melissa braid her hair.

It was fun to have some one on one time with her.

Marshmallow World

I am a marshmallow fan, I love them! Hot Chocolate is better with them, S'mores are yummier because of them, Camping isn't the same without them, Easter isn't fun without Peeps and what is a Rice Crispy Treat without them. 

So when my Sister in Laws family introduced me to the Scotchmallow at See's Candies I was smitten. Yummy dark chocolate with honey marshmallow and caramel. They are my favorite things. 

This year in my stocking was a box of them. I shared a couple with my Sis but for the most part I have eaten the whole box by myself. As I sit here eating one of the last I am loving every moment and my Mom for making sure that our stockings had our very own favorites this year.

If you are a marshmallow fan, I highly suggest trying these out. Stop by Sees and buy yourself one besides they always give out a sample.

Happy Birthday Melissa!!!

Happy Birthday to my Animal and Rudolph loveing, Sassy, Silly, Planner of great pranks younger Sister. She hates her photo to be taken unless she is making an obnoxius face...Yet I will continue to take pictures, cause she is cute, to her annoyance.
I hope this year is filled with as little stress as possible. Ok I know dreaming..

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Today was a bummer of a day. It was filled with anxiety and loss. I knew that layoffs in our Company were not far off, I guess I wasn't prepared for the magnitude of it. A lot of really great co-workers were let go. I miss them already.  

So what does one do to lift the blues? They long onto NPR and listen to Andrew Bird's new album. The album won't be released until the 20th, but they have been kind enough to post it for those of us who just can't wait.

It is blissful and temporarily breaks up the blues.

So if you are a fan go here and listen. Also go here to read more about it.

I am hoping tomorrow will be better even if it is a bit lonelier.

Christmas Eve Fun

The longer I live away from Utah the thinner my blood gets. I thought that I was going to instantly turn into an icicle the moment I stepped out of the SLC Airport. I no longer have in my possession clothes or shoes that would be ideal to wear on cold snowy days, let alone a pair of gloves. Before I moved here I hardly wore a coat, things have really changed.

Christmas Eve was spent with my younger sisters Melissa and Emily and Bro-in-Law Jake. Dinner was a yummy roasted Chicken and potatoes. It was delicious! Unfortunately they had to wait to eat until I arrived so dinner was served at 9:30...we were all very hungry.

After dinner we put the annual Christmas puzzle together. I even helped even though I have this strange dislike of the Rankin Bass Rudolph (Melissa's obsession), maybe I need therapy.

The highlight of the evening, (besides spending time with awesome people) the cats choosing my coat to mate on....yeah disgusting!!! I think they knew that I would not appreciate their cat fur all over my coat so they went the extra mile.

 

So happy to be with my Sisters.

Puzzle fun!

Rocky pre-mating session....argh. They kindly moved the coat to the floor leaving Melissa's coat unscathed...She is a cat lover.

Holiday Baking

A-gril and I decided to bake for our friends this year. Because we were so delayed a few of them had already left town, so they didn't get to partake of our tasty delights.

We made Ginger cookies, Poppie Seed Bread, Sugar Cookies,Chocolate/Butterscotch Peanut Clusters, Crinkle Cookies and Chocolate covered Pretzels. It was fun to bake for others, However I now know that it is much more fun to frost only a couple of Sugar cookies instead of 52. 

We had a grand time delivering to and surprising many of our favorite people. Even though it was a very busy and exhausting weekend it certainly brought out the Christmas Spirit.

Who knows maybe this will become a tradition.

Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Stephanie is turning 30 something today....Happy Birthday to a great Sister and friend.