New Year's

Had a nice day with the family today. KJ & I were supposed to go to the movies w/ friends but they called today and said they just weren't up to and wanted to chill at home. So, we dragged Chris to the movies with us. We went to the Dollar theater to see Where the Wild Things Are. All I can say is it was a weird movie and definitely not for little kids. Max was basically a big brat. The movie was cinematically beautiful and the puppets/costumes were incredible.

After the movies we went to DSW so T could spend the gift card Grammie & Pop sent her for Christmas. She's been wanting some kind of cowboy boot/slouchy boots. She found what she wanted but the boots were much, much more than she wanted to spend. I had a $10 DSW rewards coupon in the car, she used her gift card and Chris gave her the rest in cash. She never, ever asks for anything so she kind of got a little post-Christmas bonus.

After DSW we ran into Target so KJ could use some of her Christmas gift cards. She's mentioned she wanted the Wii Fit (we got the Wii Active for Christmas from Santa) but the entire Wii section @ Target was totally wiped out. She ended up buy a DS game and the Mario Kart game for the Wii. She still has about $30 in Target cards.

Earlier today I read a blog post written by a friend whose opinion I admire and respect. The blog post is appropriately about New Year's and starting the year off right. A couple of things I agreed with, a couple (OK. ONE thing) I did not agree with. I can forgive a lot of folks for a lot of things. However, I can NOT forgive some one when they've attacked my child and then blatantly lied to my face about it. And then, if that wasn't bad enough, this individual has acted as if nothing happened. I would like to think that perhaps, as my blog-writing friend has suggested, that she didn't realize she did anything wrong. Unfortunately, in my heart of hearts, I know otherwise (because when I first asked her about it, she denied it. Then she said "maybe" she said something, she couldn't remember. Then, by the end of the conversation, she confirmed what she did but said "it was no big deal." I guess the size of the "deal" depends on which side you're on.). So, this year, I will be making a resolution to myself. I resolve I will no longer deal with Toxic Friends or Frenemies. I will be removing this individual from ALL aspects of my life so that I may thoroughly enjoy 2010. So, dear former friend. When we run into each other at social functions or high school sporting events, please do not act like we are best buddies. Do not confide in me with your vicious gossip (this applies to your husband as well; he is no better than you and constantly tries to engage Chris in conversations about who got who's girlfriend pregnant, who's been caught drinking, etc.). I/we (this includes Chris) could really care less. We are not perfect and God knows you've made major mistakes in your life. You, more than anyone, should not be judgemental.

So, having gotten all of that of my chest (thanks Witty Smitty! you're right! I do feel alot better), Happy New Year everyone! I wish you lots of love, lots of happiness, good health and prosperity.

Christmas!

Hope everyone had a wonderful, merry Christmas! Ours was quiet and relaxing. KJ originally woke up around 5:30 AM but Chris was able to convince her to go back to sleep. T came downstairs around 9 AM and I think we sat down to breakfast around 10:30 AM (I made that breakfast casserole I love so much!). KJ's big gift this year was a camera (and she LOVES it!). T's big gift was a new jacket that she's had her eye on. Chris & The Girls bought me a handpainted window I'd been jonesing for, some of my favorite Yankee Candles, new leather gloves (have no idea where the old pair went), some kind of gadget that is supposed to fix my Sirius radio (which reminds me...I have to call Best Buy to have it installed), a new Vera Bradley ornament, some new jammies and a couple of books I had wanted. The Girls & I bought Chris a blue-ray DVD player and some new movies. I also bought him a book his friend Rod co-wrote from Amazon but it won't be shipped until January 4th or so.

KJ developed one of her headaches later that afternoon so while she napped Chris, T & I watched a bunch of old family videos. So funny! It's sad that Chris's family doesn't get together for Christmas Eve they way they used to. Since Chris's dad passed away in November '98, we moved from Cincy to AL, Joe & Laurie moved to FL and then to SC and Chris's brother Drew passed away in October '08. Tony is still in Miami so the only one living near my mother-in-law is Chris's sister Lynn.

The day after Christmas we drove to ATL to spend the weekend w/ Chris's nephew Louis, his wife Melanie and their precious little girl Eva. We had so much fun and it was wonderful to spend time w/ them. Eva's a little cutie-patootie and I wish we got to see more of her. Mel & Lou are moving to New Orleans in April and I wish they would leave her w/ us for a long weekend or something while they house-hunt. She really liked Trixie and was not afraid of the dog at all. She kept calling Trixie the "puppy" and gave Trixie lots of kisses and hugs all weekend. Trixie was exceptionally well-behaved at their house and loved all the attention from Eva.


So tonight T & I are getting together w/ some friends for dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant (basically the same ladies I got together with last week for a Dirty Santa party). Not sure what Chris & KJ plan to do. Maybe they'll start to dismantle some of the outside Christmas lights if it's not too cold out. Up North we always left our Christmas lights and decorations up until after "Little Christmas." Down here, everyone has taken their decorations down by the 27th, 28th the latest. You can't even tell there was a Christmas in my neighborhood.

Venus vs. Mars

I like to Facebook. I like to Blog. I like to Twitter. I've noticed a disturbing trend: there are a lot of profile names like: MomTo2Boys, AtlantaMommy, DesperateHousewife, MommyLikesWine, SassyMama, MyThreeSons, SouthernMama, etc. Very rarely do you see men on social networks with names like: ZachsDaddy, ProudPapa, or LifeWithDaughters, etc. Most men have usernames that are sports-related (i.e., NYJetsFan, YankeesRule, ROLLtideROLL) or an alleged sexual prowess (i.e., Big Daddy, ChickMagnet, etc.). Men seem to have no problem maintaining their identities. And why should they? They keep their names when they get married, their bodies don't betray them after they've had kids and they don't give up their careers when they've had a family.

So why do women do this? Have we lost our identities and can only gain respect by touting the many hats we wear? When you met a woman for the first time and ask her about herself, she usually responds with "Well, I've been married for 14 years and we have 2 daughters -- Emily (10) and Hannah (7)." When you ask a man about himself he usually says "I'm an accountant" or something along those lines.

I'm a lot of things to a lot of people -- daughter, wife, mother, neighbor, friend, etc. I am all those things but that's not all I am. Don't get me wrong. I love my husband, I love my kids but I will hopefully also have a life when my girls go off to college.

Sunday Survey

Ten things you wish you could say to 10 different people (don't list names):

1. I will NEVER forgive you for the way you threw me under the bus this summer and totally betrayed me.

2. You are so wrapped up in your own life, you don’t even know me anymore.

3. You are such a good friend to me and I love you very much!

4. I think you are beautiful and amazing and you sell yourself short too often!

5. Stop worrying so much!

6. You dance to the beat of a different drummer and I love you for it.

7. You are so special to me and I love talking to you.

8. I miss you and wish I got to see you more often!

9. You are truly one of the most selfish, stupidest people I have ever met in my life.

10. I am so tired of hearing about how wonderful your kids are.

Nine things about yourself:

1. I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters.

2. I love to read.

3. I will always remember where I came from and how I got here.

4. I love to travel.

5. I'm not much of a clothes horse but I love accessories, sexy shoes, designer handbags, expensive perfume and make-up.

6. I am a loyal and true friend.

7. I tell it like it is but do my best not to hurt any one's feelings.

8. I have so many layers to my personality but only show a few.

9. I am thankful for all I have.

Eight childhood memories:

1. Family charades.

2. Dance lessons and recitals.

3. Flashlight tag in the summer.

4. Lots of Kickball!

5. Cheerleading.

6. Summers at the swim club.

7. Samsondale.

8. Ice-skating at Low Tor.

Seven things that cross your mind a lot:

1. Taylor driving.

2. I need to go to church more!

3. I need to exercise more!

4. My Grandparents

5. Money

6. Remodeling/re-decorating I'd like to do.

7. Europe

Six ways to win your heart:

1. Make me laugh.

2. Be a good listener.

3. Indulge me everyone once in a while.

4. Be intelligent.

5. Be charming but not smarmy.

6. Love your family and mine.

Five turn offs:

1. Arrogance

2. Selfish people.

3. Strangers who don't respect my personal boundaries and stand way too close to me.

4. People who think their kids/husbands/dogs/houses/cars/whatever are better than everyone else's.

5. People who constantly talk about money.

Four things you'll never forget:

1. My wedding day

2. The birth of both of my daughters

3. 9/11

4. how precious and unpredictable life is!

Three wishes for your future:

1. A career I'm passionate about.

2. more family time!

3. Long life for all of my family!

Two things you want to do before you die:

1. Go back to my birthplace

2. Ride a gondola in Venice, Italy.

One confession:

1. I really wish I had gone to college!

Christmas Survey

"Please, another list?" Yes. Another list. I luv, luv luv hearing this kind of stuff from friends.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? both (depends on the gift and if it's easy to wrap)

2. Real tree or Artificial? prefer real, but we've had an artificial tree for years

3. When do you put up the tree? no specific date, whenever it gets done!

4. When do you take the tree down? usually after New Year's

5. Do you like eggnog? in very small doses

6. Favorite gift received as a child? anything Barbie! I loved Barbie!

7. Hardest person to buy for? my dad

8. Easiest person to buy for? T-bone

9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail -- e-mailing a Christmas card is just tacky

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I'm going to take the 5th on this one

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I kind of shop throughout the year but kick it into high gear early November

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I'm going to take the 5th on this one

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? my mom makes really great peanut butter cookies

16. Lights on the tree? we have colored lights but I would much rather have all white lights

17. Favorite Christmas song? Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? usually travel but will be staying home this year

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? yup

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? we usually let the kids open up one small gift on Christmas Eve

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? the "gimmies"

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? well, I guess my decorating is all over the place: I have a Santa corner in the foyer, the kitchen is Snowmen and this year I've tried to decorate the tree with a red & white peppermint candy theme. We also have a tall skinny tree in the foyer filled with ornaments from our travels. Oh! and candles! I decorate with lots and lots of candles!

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner? we usually do a spiral ham and we HAVE to have crescent rolls!

25. What do you want to do for Christmas this year? spend quality time with Chris & the girls

26. Favorite Christmas tradition growing up? I always liked going to Bear Mountain at the holidays when I was little. They used to have ski jumping, ice skating, a visit with Santa, etc.

27. Favorite tradition now? staying in on Christmas day and staying in our pj's all day long playing with our Christmas loot

28. Favorite Christmas Memory? see post titled "Christmas with the Kranks" /div>

Christmas with the Kranks

Chris & KJ are Christmas shopping for me tonight. I know Chris really wasn't in the mood, he's had a busy week so far and he's tired, but KJ really looks forward to having special time alone with him. It reminds me of when T was little and just the two of them would go shopping for my presents. One time, in Cincinnati, T was about 3 and she came running in the house and was SO excited! She said, "Mommy! Mommy! We bought you lots of presents!!!" Being the smart ass that I am, I jokingly said, "Oh yeah??? Whatcha' get me??" Well, she proceed to tell me. In great detail. Chris was SO mad!!! I guess he forgot to tell her it was a secret!

So, I'm 42 years old and have known Chris since I was 15 (you do the math). That's a lot of Christmas's together! Some have been wonderful, some have not. Some of my favorite, most memorable Christmas's would have to be:

-our very first married Christmas. God! We were so young (and SO skinny!). We had an apartment and felt so "grown-up" shopping for our first tree together. I'll have to dig up some photos. I think that was the year Chris gave me a day @ the Elizabeth Arden spa in the city AND a Fendi bag. I wore that bag TO DEATH!!!

-the Christmas I was pregnant with T. I was barely pregnant but it was still a very special time. Our living room in our house in NY had a vaulted ceiling so we had a HUGE tree that year. As a matter of fact, it was so large we actually had to tether it to the staircase railing. One night we heard a loud crash and sure enough....the tree had fallen over (that's when we decided to tie it to the railing.).

-T's first Christmas was also very special to me personally. All of our family was there to help us celebrate (my grandparents, my parents, my brother, Chris's mom & dad). She was not quite 6 months old and looked like a little China doll in her red velvet dress.

-The year we drove up North for Christmas and hit an absolute white-out in Knoxville. The girls were so excited to see snow, we pulled into the first hotel we could find and they made snow angels right then and there in the parking lot.

-KJ will tell you that last Christmas was especially nice because she got Trixie just a couple of days before Christmas.

-Believe it or not, I actually think the Christmas right after 9/11 was especially memorable. We went home to NY and went into the city for the night with my folks. It was bitter, bitter cold but crystal clear and I honestly never felt more safe. There was also an incredible sense of patriotism in the air, there was a feeling of togetherness, of "one-ness". There was still plenty of horrible sadness but there was also a wonderful feeling of "family." Like you could tell people were making it a point to be with their loved ones. We took the girls to the Bronx Zoo to see the lights and yes, KJ was in the stroller (poor thing! she says all of her milestones start off by me saying, "I think you were in the stroller." It's a running joke in our family.)

Some of our less than stellar Christmas's:

-the year my Grandfather passed away. He died in 1996 (oddly enough, on December 16). We were living in Cincinnati at the time and rather than drive to PA for the funeral, back to OH and then all the way to NY for Christmas, we just stayed in PA then went on to NY. Well, by the time we got home to Cincy (after New Years), our tree had lost all its needles and alot of my glass ornaments had fallen off the tree and smashed all over the wood floors in the living room. What a mess. Glass ornaments and pine needles everywhere. I think the very next year we bought an artificial tree.

-the Christmas after Chris's dad died. His dad really loved the holidays and really loved having everyone at the house for Christmas Eve. I know Chris misses his dad every day.

-the Christmas/New Year's Eve we lost Buddy. God that was rough. We had been at my mom & dad's in PA for Christmas and come home in time for New Year's. I let him out the back door shortly after mid-night on (officially) New Year's day and we never saw him again. KJ & I cried for months and months.

And, like every other family, we have our share of family traditions at the holidays. I particularly enjoy decorating the tree. Each daughter has their own box of ornaments -- things they've made throughout the years, personalized ornaments, Chris puts up his beloved Jets ornaments, etc. I love hearing "ooooh!!! I remember THIS ornament!" or "Do you remember when I made this?" Since we moved out of state in June 1995, most of our Christmas's have been spent on the road. Lots of singing in the car, lots of movies in the car and even a couple of "don't make me turn this car around's." Aaaah....the holidaze.

Going Green

I've been making more of a conscious effort to use my canvas tote bags when I go grocery shopping and run errands. I have a couple of really nice bags and keep them in the car. I don't like it when the bagger at the grocery store puts fresh meat in them. It really grosses me out. Does this make me weird??

Nutcracker Gets me in the Mood

Gets me in the mood for Christmas that is! Yesterday the girls & I went to Oak Mountain HS to see the Nutcracker performed by the Alabama Dance Academy. Both girls had several friends in the show and we had such a good time! It's been so nice watching the girls grow up and play different roles. And now, we're watching KJ's friends dance. T & I have been several times to the particular Nutcracker but this was KJ's first time. I remember ME being a toy soldier one year, Kristy was a candy cane one time and I remember Rory doing a lyrical dance. The costumes were gorgeous and everyone did an amazing job! I really loved the "Let It Snow" jazz routine at the beginning...it was very Broadway, very Rockette! Kristy's performance as the Snow Queen brought tears to my eyes (my friend Judy was sitting behind me and she was tearing up too!). Kristy, Molly, T, ME have been friends since Kindergarten and it's so wonderful to see the girls supporting each other. They've all gone their separate ways and do their own thing but I think they'll always be friends. I got emotional because I know this is such a big deal for the girls (and their parents) and the wonderful result of many many months of hard work.

After the show the girls & I grabbed burgers at Baha Burger. I am totally addicted to that place and love the Baha side salad (I wish I could get it as my entree). It has a wonderful citrus dressing and mandarin oranges. One of Chris's little laxers was there with his family so we chatted a bit w/ them. It's always funny to run into a laxer. Speaking of laxers, today in T's Sunday school class one of the boys told T that I was "pretty cool" but Chris "is always mad and yells alot on the field."

Friday night Chris & I went to the Christmas party at church. We had never been before and had a great time. The band was AWESOME and there was plenty to eat and drink. We were actually an hour late...I thought the party started at 7 PM but it really started at 6 PM.

Today we had a nice relaxing family day...Chris took the girls to Sunday school and he made a lasagna for dinner. We got some laundry done, some cleaning and straightening up done too. I also got some photos of the girls for Christmas cards and started writing them out. I'm doing pretty good with my Christmas shopping too. I don't have too much more to buy; now I just need to start shipping some packages home.

Jersey Shore

OK, I know it's hard to think about the beach with winter snow storms threatening my Northeast friends but apparently there is a storm a-brewing at MTV (sorry! I couldn't resist!).

If you don't watch MTV anymore, here's some background info: MTV has aired a new reality TV show that is a cross between the ground-breaking Real World and the HBO series The Sopranos. The new show follows a group of "loud and proud" Italian-Americans (also known as self-proclaimed "Guidos" and "Guidettes") during a summer at the Jersey Shore. And yes, it's called "The Shore" not the Beach and you don't say "I'm going to the Shore this weekend" you say "I'm going down the Shore." Where you going 4th of July? I'm going down the shore. Daughter #1 cracks up at this!

I grew up in Rockland County, New York just north of the GW Bridge on the "Jersey side" (meaning I had to take the Palisades South into Ft. Lee, NJ to get onto the GW) so I do have a bit of experience and knowledge on this topic. As a kid I went with my family to the shore for weekend trips and then as a teen and a young adult. Each beach has it's own personality and kind of caters to different age groups. Very similar to the "Redneck Rivera" here in the south (when we first moved here, everyone was simply aghast that Chris & I liked to go to Panama City. I was told that no one and I mean NO ONE goes to Panama City. Birmingham folks only go to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Destin. We liked PC because it's seedy and tacky and reminded us of home!).

Here's the thing about the Jersey Shore: the water is freaking freezing and doesn't really start warming up until August. A typical day at the Jersey shore went something like this: leave your house at the crack of dawn, fight the traffic on the GSP and drop a couple of bucks at the tolls (and no GSP doesn't mean a Garmin or TomTom, it means "Garden State Parkway"), hang out on the beach, check out members of the opposite sex, walk back to your seedy mom & pop-owned motel to shower (nothing like drying off with a scratchy, paper thin towel) and get ready for a night on the boardwalk. Walk back to the boardwalk, eat funnel cakes, play games, go on a couple of rides (always save the log flume for last...you get really wet and it totally messes up your hair), have the most delicious lemonade EVER, check out the tatoo parlors, play some mini-golf and basically walk around seeing and being seen.

I will admit I have not been to the Shore in years and years but I do understand that a lot of the mom & pop motels have been replaced by upscale high-rise hotels and condos. So sad. Those little drive-up motels are a Shore institution with many families frequenting the same motel for generations.

When I was growing up and went to the beach on family trips, we went Wildwood a lot...it had a great boardwalk. We also went to Ocean City a couple of times. When we were in high school we went to Seaside Heights (aka "Seaside" --infamous for one of BonJovi's earlier videos) and thought we were so FREAKIN' cool! Seaside was maybe 1 1/2 to 2 hours from home and going to Seaside sans parents was a big right of passage for my group. As a matter of fact, we (as in 20-25 of our closest friends) went to Seaside the night after our Senior Prom for the weekend. It was the mid-80's and big hair was totally in. At that time, I-rocs, Camaro's and 280Z's were the big muscle cars (you HAD to have the t-tops) and no self-respecting IA (Italian-American) was without one. Neon was also in and I seem to remember a lot of guys with hot pink or hot yellow, neon green board shorts. After high school the big thing to do was rent a house with a bunch of people at Belmar (I had very strict parents so I was never allowed to do this but Chris did one summer and still has stories to tell).

So, as a Yankee living in the South, I can honestly tell you that yes, Guidos and Guidettes are alive and thriving in the Northeast, particularly New Jersey. It is a total lifestyle...the big hair, the nails, the gold jewelry, the cars, the tans. IA's are also very, very loyal and very, very family oriented people. The show is creating a lot of controversy from several Italian-American civic groups and has been blasted for stereo-typing this particular ethnic group. My question is this: is it stereo-typing when the "actors" are proud, true Italian-Americans simply being themselves?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/09/mtvs-jersey-shore-critics_n_385387.html

I can NOT believe How FREAKING Sick I am!

Friday night we drove down to T-town (Tuscaloosa, AL) for the 6A High School State Championship game between Hoover and their arch-rivals, Prattvillle. It was bitter cold out and yes, we even had some snow on the drive home!

Thursday night my throat was starting to hurt and Friday morning I woke up with a headache and a sore throat. Fortunately, we were able to sit in Chris's company's office at the Bryant-Denny stadium (not a sky-box but an office in one of the tunnels....2 leather couches, 3 flat screen TVs, a fridge, a microwave, snacks, bevvies, etc.). The Bucs won and I spent Friday night on the couch because I was so icky by the time we got home. Well, now it's Tuesday and I've been on the couch since then. I don't know if it's a head cold or a sinus infection but my nose won't stop running and if I lay down it drips down my throat into my chest and makes me cough all night. I sound like I have black lung and I've been in the same sweats since Friday. Gross.

Saturday Chris's buddy came over Saturday for a bonfire and the guys watched the Alabama game on the back deck. Troy brought over shrimp cocktail and his deep fryer and made chicken wings. KJ and Trixie sat out there all day/night w/ the guys and made s'mores. I watched the game inside and I also watched Angels & Demons w/ Tom Hanks. Sunday we watched Star Trek and Taken w/ Liam Neeson (he totally kicked ass). Last night Chris & KJ put up the family room Christmas tree but there are no lights or decorations on it yet. We'll do that tonight.

Foxy Knoxy???

Couldn't resist that title. In all seriousness, after a year-long trial, American student Amanda Knox was found guilty of murdering her British roommate in Perugia, Italy on Friday.

I am very proud to be an American and extremely proud of my country. However, when we will learn that once we step onto foreign soil we are subject to that country's laws and legal practices? The Knox family is now slamming the entire Italian legal system. Do you remember a situation several years ago with a young American teen in Singapore (I think??) who vandalized some cars or something like that and was subjected to caning? What an uproar that was! What about the two American journalists accused of being spies when they stepped onto resstricted land and were sentenced to hard time in a labor camp? My point is, when you travel out of the country, you are subject to that country's laws (i.e., when you go to the UK you travel on the left side of the road, when you're in America you speak English, etc.).

Chris & I love to travel and we both have an incredible sense of history. Whenever we travel, with or without our children, we make it a point to learn and respect the people and their culture. I am often embarrassed by the "Ugly American" stereotype...the American who refuses to learn a few polite phrases in a foreign language, the American who mocks another country's traditions or living standards. We have witnessed it time and time again...the American bigshot at the hotel bar in Cabo bragging about "how little he tipped the bartender" because "he's grateful for anything I toss his way; I mean really, how much is a peso worth these days?" The American student screaming the words to the Spongebob Squarepants theme song as we walked the streets of Rome two summers ago. The American women in Cancun saying "God! I can't believe these people live this way!" The rude American in the Bahamas asking "What do I have to do to get a decent cheeseburger in this place?"

I have no idea if Amanda Knox is guilty or not. All I know is that her parents, and now it seems Hilary Clinton (WTF??), are demanding an appeal on the premise that her character was defamed in the press (which, in my opinion, is no different that what has been done here in the US in the Casey Anthony situation). In a case like this, her character should be brought into play. Whether or not she did drugs or was sexually promiscuous should be questioned. It says a lot about a person. Amanda Knox has admitted to being in the home at the time of the murders and says she can't remember anything because she was smoking some weed. That story has since changed several times.

Personally, I don't think slamming the Italian judicial system makes much sense and I really don't think Hilary Clinton is gonna help their little girl.

Black Friday

Great day today! Chris woke up early as usual and let me linger in bed for a little while. He spent most of the day @ the lax store getting everything ready for the upcoming holiday season and I spent the day @ home w/ the girls. I took down all the Thanksgiving decorations yesterday and spent today wrapping them properly in tissue paper/bubble wrap and packing them away in the attic. T & I took almost everything out of the attic, went thru some boxes, consolidated some stuff and actually threw away 2 empty boxes. She is such a huge help to me. 99.9% of the time she does what she's told/asked and rarely complains. She is a joy to be with and is truly growing up to be a wonderful young lady. She went shopping this morning around 4 AM w/ friends and come home and snored on the couch for a little bit. It was pretty funny. She was out like a light.

I started to decorate for Christmas today and have decided I decorate waaaaayyyyy to much (not just for Christmas! I decorate for just about every holiday except St. Patrick's Day; we're not Irish). This year I will not be decorating as much as I have in the past. I usually empty my china cabinet and put out all my Christmas china. I have a complete service for 12 (and every serving dish you could possibly imagine!) and set the dining room table with 6 place settings, linens, glassware, silver and accessories. I don't think I'll be doing that this year. My Christmas china is very, very special to me. My mom, grandmother and aunt started this pattern for me years ago (I believe I was still in high school). It means so much to me and I'd love to pass it on to one of my girls (that and my wedding china!).

I have a wonderful collection of Santas (wooden, ceramic, metal, etc.) and I think I'll concentrate my Santa's in the foyer and my Snowmen stuff in the kitchen. I also always do two Christmas trees -- the big one in the family room and the "travel" tree in the foyer (filled w/ ornaments from our various travels/family vacations). I like to make the kitchen look like a candy shop at the holidays and decorate w/ a lot of candy canes, gum drops, etc.

In case you've been living under a rock the last couple of months or don't live in the state of Alabama, today was the Iron Bowl (annual Alabama vs. Auburn game) and it was a very exciting, nail-biter! In other football related news, the Hoover Bucs beat Gadsden City tonight and are headed to the 6A State championship game next weekend.

Tonight we fondue'd for dinner and relaxed w/ a nice bottle of wine. Chris fell asleep on the couch and T went to the movies w/ friends. It has gotten really, really cold tonight (seriously! like 38!). I have the heating pad on my feet to keep me toasty.

Thanksgiving

Had a wonderful, relaxing, delicious Thanksgiving today. We've been married 17 years and I think I started cooking Thanksgiving dinner our first year in Cincinnati. Thanksgiving's tough for us as far as travel....too short of a trip for us to get all the way back "home." This year was particularly nice because both girls helped with the preparation. T made an awesome "no-bake Oreo cheesecake" yesterday and today KJ helped w/ the mashed potatoes. T also helped with the crescent rolls (it's not Thanksgiving w/out crescent rolls!) and she peeled all the potatoes. After dinner both girls went for a bike ride in the neighborhood and we played a played a couple of games of "Apples to Apples" (great game!). Of course, no Thanksgiving is complete w/ out watching the Macy's Day Parade. As I cleaned the table, I started to pack up all my Thanksgiving decorations/table linens / dishes, etc. and have to start thinking about how I'm going to decorate for Christmas. We've been in the house 10 years already and I try to change things up each year so I don't get bored.

Loving this gorgeous fall weather!

After Ida's rains earlier in the week, we've had some very wonderful weather. Lots of beautiful sunshine, clear blue skies, zero humidity.

Today Chris had a new player clinic at the high school and we couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous day. I didn't get an exact count but a decent about of kids showed up and. more importantly, several high school girls. We graduated a lot of girls last year so we're in desperate need of some new players. In any event, it was a nice family day.

Thursday night KJ participated in a dance team fund raiser. The high school dance teams sponsors a clinic, give the girls dinner and a t-shirt and teach them a half-time dance which them peform at the basketball game. It was really cute this year. They danced to Hannah Montanna's "Party in the USA."

Tomorrow is the 11th anniversary of Chris's dad's passing. Honestly, it feels like yesterday. I can't believe it's been 11 years already. I know Chris misses his dad every day.

2010 Horoscopes

Your Astrology Guide 2010: Rick and Jeff’s Tips for the Yearby Rick Levine & Jeff Jawer, Authors of Your Astrology Guide 2010

ARIES

March 21-April 19
Conscious Self-Restraint

It’s imperative that you cut back your activities, for effective pruning allows new growth to flourish. But you may bump into deeply rooted resistances as you attempt to play a larger role on the stage of life. The contradiction now is that you are at your most brilliant and nothing can hold you back, yet paradoxically the walls of reality continue to close in. You cannot get away with shooting from the hip, even if you’re confident of your aim. The full enterprising power of Aries is yours when you accept the limits of society that require more precision this year. Whether you like it or not, you must slow down to get what you want.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20
Look Outside the Box

Your potential to transform your life is incredible this year — but your resistance to change is equally great. You don’t have to tear apart what’s working well or take crazy risks that are likely to fail. All you need to do is stretch your boundaries and allow alternative perspectives to hang around for a while to see if one might eventually fit. It’s as if a strange visitor has arrived at your door — so strange you’d prefer him to leave as soon as he arrives. But thanks to your kind heart, you let him stay the night . . . and end up discovering a close friend. Similarly, you will find happiness this year as long as you remain open to surprises.

GEMINI

May 21-June 20
Fear Not the Darkness

You can no longer be the champion of avoidance, Gemini, and that means you’re playing in a whole new ball game. If others accuse you of being shallow, it’s just because they don’t understand how fast your mind works and how it jumps from one thought to the next. Now, However, something has changed, and it may at first seem scary. Instead of planning your escape routes, you are content, even eager, to search for hidden metaphysical wealth that was previously obscured from the light of consciousness. Overcoming your own resistance to fully feeling your emotions enables you to uncover buried treasure that can enrich your life for many years to come.

CANCER

June 21-July 22
Aim for the Top

It’s better to be ambitious this year and struggle in the pursuit of your goals than to passively respond to whatever life brings you. Even if you run into obstacles, meet them on a course of your own choosing. Taking charge and pushing forward — sometimes awkwardly and sometimes with grace and confidence — are the next steps to assuming a leadership role. Your power and passion grow when you have strong allies and adversaries. Seek out those with talents you admire so that you can learn from the best. Step outside your comfort zone; you’ll discover that it’s not foolish to take risks. There are enormous rewards when you invest in your own excellence.

LEO

July 23-August 22
Ask for Help

You expect great things from yourself, Leo, and you can work quite hard once you make a sincere commitment. This is why you must now think carefully about any promises you make — to yourself or anyone else. There are powerful forces at play that can lure you into believing that anything is possible. It’s true that this year brings great potential, but exhausting yourself trying to achieve the impossible dream is not a sensible strategy. Heed the counsel of wise friends and seasoned professionals before making any life-changing decisions.

VIRGO

August 23-September 22
Fearless Warrior

Challenges to the core truths you cling to can be a source of irritation and a cause of physical, mental, and emotional fatigue. The battles you face, though, are not with outside forces but within yourself. It’s time to reexamine the ideas that have kept your life in order for years, but may be holding you back. What worked in the past won’t necessarily be effective now. The desire to return to familiar places in your mind is understandable, but it’s not likely to be productive. Certainly, you need times to retreat and take refuge in comfortable concepts. Catch your breath when you can, yet remember: You’ll grow much stronger by moving ahead than by turning back.

LIBRA

September 23-October 22
Rise to the Challenge

Although relationships can offer you a newfound sense of freedom this year, they can also distract you from the discipline you need to organize your life. The decisions you must make this year are not easy ones. You may have to be ruthless when evaluating what and who should be cut out of your life, but pruning is absolutely required to ensure maximum growth. Your overall success during the coming years will be based on your ability to pay careful attention to your long-term goals rather than short-term successes.

SCORPIO

October 23-November 21
Innocent Expression

Looking foolish is not your idea of a good time, but giving yourself permission to express yourself freely can be extremely rewarding now. Surrendering some self-control to reveal your emotion can feel risky, of course, but it’s a great way to open your heart and enhance your creativity. Making mistakes is not the road to failure but the laboratory of invention. You can surprise yourself by discovering new talents when you put away the heavy hammer of self-criticism. Being honest while also being kind is a gift to yourself and those around you. If your explorations veer off course and threaten your stability, seek wise counsel. There are angels around you who look like ordinary people, yet will gently guide you back on track.

SAGITTARIUS

November 22-December 21
Be Here Now

There is so much work ahead as you strive to make the most of your future. Running out on previous commitments won’t bring you happiness; delivering on your promises will. Try not to seek adventure in the same old dreams of world travel. This year, you can take an incredible journey of the mind without leaving home. Open yourself to new philosophies, learn about new technologies, and re-create your future by being more conscious in the present moment.

CAPRICORN

December 22-January 19
Field of Dreams

Your journey this year could be one of extremes as the most visionary planets — Jupiter and Uranus — light up your life with exciting new perceptions while the most conservative ones — Saturn and Pluto — keep stepping in to turn down the volume of your enthusiasm. You can avoid bouncing from high hopes to deep disappointment by giving yourself time to assimilate and consider your dreams. Slowly roll them over in your mind, do some research, and talk to those you trust to help you find ways to shape them into reality. Then commit to work with patience and persistence. Remember, conceiving a brilliant idea happens in an instant, but giving birth to success takes a lot longer.

AQUARIUS

January 20-February 18
The Joy of Sharing

The emotional heights will be higher this year and the descents lower, yet you must fully experience these peaks and valleys if you hope to find a middle ground between the opposing forces pushing and pulling on you. Although you cannot avoid the changes that continue to unfold, you’re also blessed with an open mind that eagerly looks beyond the current difficulties. Don’t waste too much energy resisting the inevitable. Instead, focus on the exhilaration you’ll feel once you’ve overcome the obstacles and your life is heading in a new direction.

PISCES

February 19-March 20
Go the Distance

The highs and lows you experience this year accentuate the contrast between your greatest hopes and darkest fears. Expansive Jupiter in your sign makes your life seem so big that even the smallest act can appear to take on enormous importance. You may be exhilarated by this wild ride at times, but in the end it can be exhausting and confusing to rise so quickly and fall so fast only to rise again. Moderating your reactions with a bit of philosophical detachment reminds you that the current drama is just one moment in a life rich with experiences that you’ve encountered before and will likely meet again.

No Matter Your Location and Circumstances, Get Rid of Negative Thoughts

I know everyone usually associates "renewal" with Spring, but I like to do a lot of my "deep" thinking in the fall. Autumn, particularly Thanksgiving, makes me re-evaluate my life, set goals and make plans for the future. Autumn makes me take stock of what/who is important to me.

To follow is an article from Erica Johansson of Travel Blissful that helps set the mood for my Autumnal soul-cleansing:

Of late, my usual positive, optimistic self gave into a number of negative thoughts and feelings. To pass through this state of limiting beliefs and put myself back on the right track, I read a couple of self-development books.
Earlier today I finished reading Notes from a Friend by Anthony Robbins, leader in the science of peak performance. In the last lesson of his book, he presents the Ten-Day Mental Challenge (which enabled him to control his mind by not allowing himself to hold any negative thought consistently). Since I aim for a more blissful life, one of my main intentions is to eliminate all negative thoughts from my mind, irrespective of my current location and circumstances. As a first step towards this goal, I have decided to take Anthony’s challenge, starting tomorrow. I encourage you to do the same.
The rules of the game:
1. During the next ten days, refuse to hang onto any crummy thoughts, feelings, questions, words, or metaphors.
2. When you catch yourself focusing on the negative — and you will — immediately ask yourself questions to get you to a better place. Start with the Problem-Solving questions.
3. When you wake up in the morning, ask yourself the Morning Power questions. Just before you fall asleep at night, ask yourself the Evening Power questions. This will do wonders to keep you feeling good.
4. For the next ten consecutive days, focus completely on solutions and not on problems.
5. If you have a lousy thought, question, or feeling, don’t beat yourself up. Just change it immediately. If you dwell on any of these for more than five minutes, however, you must wait until the following morning and start the ten days over.
The goal here is ten consecutive days without dwelling on a negative thought. Anytime you dwell too long on the negative, you must start over, no matter how many days in a row you’ve already met the challenge.
According to Anthony Robbins, the power of this challenge is amazing. And, if you stick with it, you will gain a heap of benefits:
1. It will make you see all the mental habits that hold you back.
2. It will make your brain search for powerful, helpful alternatives.
3. It will give you a tremendous jolt of confidence as you can see you can turn your life around.
4. It will create new habits, new standards, and new expectations that will help you grow and enjoy life more and more, every day!
For your reference, the questions Anthony Robbins refers to in the challenge:
The Problem-Solving questions
1. What is great about this problem?
2. What is not perfect yet?
3. What am I willing to do to make it the way I want it?
4. What am I willing to no longer do in order to make it the way I want it?
5. How can I enjoy the process while I do what is necessary to make it the way I want i?
The Morning Power questions
1. What am I happy about in my life right now? What about that makes me happy? How does that make me feel?
2. What am I excited about in my life right now? What about that makes me excited? How does that make me feel?
3. What am I proud of in my life right now? What about that makes me proud? How does that make me feel?
4. What am I grateful for in my life right now? What about that makes me grateful? How does that make me feel?
5. What am I enjoying most in my life right now? What about that do I enjoy? How does that make me feel?
6. What am I committed to in my life right now? What about that makes me committed? How does that make me feel?
7. Who do I love? Who loves me? What about that makes me loving? How does that make me feel?
The Evening Power Questions
1. What have I given today? In what ways have I been a giver today?
2. What did I learn today?
3. How has today added to the quality of my life? How can I use today as an investment in my future?
Rather than doom and gloom, the world needs more blissfulness and loving, positive thoughts. Taking the Ten-Day Mental Challenge is one way to support that belief. When you’ve pulled off ten consecutive days without holding onto any negative thoughts, I’m sure you’ll see and feel the difference.
The challenge and the questions will make even more sense if you’ve read the book though. If you live in Europe, you can get your free copy of Notes from a Friend at http://anthonyrobbinseurope.com/

Homecoming 2009

What a Week

Tonight is the homecoming football game, tomorrow is the dance. I hate that the game and the dance aren't on the same night this year. Part of the fun, as a parent, is to go to the game and see all the kids dressed up. I haven't missed a homecoming game in years but decided not to go tonight. Chris took the girls and I'm sure they'll keep me updated. I also follow the football coverage on Twitter (still not sure how I feel about Twitter).

So let see....last Sunday was a gorgeous day for lax. It was so wonderful drinking up all that sunshine! KJ went to Sunday school and T had part 2 of her clinic w/ the Washington & Lee coaches. Saturday she went to the clinic, went to Yogurt Mountain w/ friends, Johnny Rockets for lunch and then Chris drove the girls to Atrox (haunted house) and T's friend Beans was driving home. It was a little nerve-racking for us.....it was the first time we've ever let T drive w/ a friend who has their license. I was nervous about Beans driving at night, on the highway, being distracted, etc. Thankfully, the girls made it home safe and sound.

After fall ball lax on Sunday we ran to the mall to find shoes and a bag for T for homecoming. Love the shoes she bought and since her dress is basic black, she went with a really cute red and black leopard print clutch to brighten things up. T's had her mani & pedi and had a haircut last week so I think she's all set for the homecoming festivities!

Monday we were woken up by a phone call from the Vestavia police. Our lax store was broken into. Without going into the details, the little turd got a couple hundred dollars in cash. In return, we have his white car and his face on video.

Today I learned that a gentlemen I worked with years ago in New Jersey lost his son in Afghanistan earlier this week. Ken was a very kind man and I'll be keeping his family in my thoughts. Everyone, please....regardless of your thoughts on the war, please keep our servicemen and women in your daily thoughts.

Chaz???

I understand that this is really none of my business but I can't help but comment on this recent photo of Chasity/Chaz Bono.

All I can say is WOW. That is a serious transformation. Everytime I see pictures of him/her in the news I think of the little girl that used to appear on her mom & dad's TV show.

Birthdays and Anniversaries, Oh My!

So begins our annual Crazy October Family Week. Our neice's birthday is today, our anniversary is today, Chris's birthday is tomorrow, KJ's b-day is Tuesday and my Mom's b-day is Thursday.

Since it's a 3-day weekend, volleyball and Fall Ball were cancelled so we had a fairly free weekend. After T's usual dance class, we made homemade pizzas for lunch and T made a cake for her friend's b-day and KJ & Chris decorated a haunted ginergerbread house.

Today KJ & I went horseback riding at Oak Mountain and had 5 Guys for lunch while Chris had a lacrosse game. Monday she's having her birthday party with friends so today we decorated the house and made cupcakes.

Busy week coming up!!

Payback

"Karma, ahhh. We sow what we reap... We reap what we sow! We reap whatwe sow. The law of cause and effect. And we are all under this law."- Nina Hagen

Karma's a bitch, huh sweetheart? I'd say based on your deceitful actions this summer, you're getting everything you deserve and then some! What's that saying??? What goes around comes around.

"Like gravity, karma is so basic we often don't even notice it."- Sakyong Mipham

"I would never disrespect any man, woman, chick or child out there.We're all the same. What goes around comes around, and karma kicks usall in the butt in the end of the day."- Angie Stone

Sweet Home Alabama

Saw this photo (left) on an event planner's website and thought it was so beautiful. I love candlelight.

Sitting here with KJ watching Sweet Home Alabama. I know I've seen this movie but don't really remember it.

KJ had volleyball this morning. The team is getting better each week. T had dance bright and early as usual and in the afternoon we went to the mall. She found a really, really cute homecoming dress. I seem to gravitate toward elegant LBD's (Little Black Dress) and T really wanted something w/ color. She tried on 2 dresses I LOVED at White House/Black Market but she wasn't feeling it. Also found a couple of cute things at Jessica McClintock. In the end, she ended up with a LBD from Macy's. The dress is very simple and classic so she'll probably go w/ a sexy, embellished shoe.

Today's weather was absolutely gorgeous. I hope tomorrow is just as nice.

Twitter

I've been on Twitter a couple of months now and still not sure if I like it. I don't get updates on my phone but I do check my account on-line every couple of days. Some people tweet all day long (I"m in the shower. I'm in the grocery check-out line. I'm at the dentist.) and honestly, who really cares? I've been doing some research on twitter, however, and it differs from Facebook. Facebook is designed to be personal. You have to approve of your "friends" and you can catch up w/ old classmates, send each other silly quizzes, applications, photos, flair, bumper stickers, etc. Twitter is designed to get brand recognition and promote a product/yourself (which is why so many celebrities "tweet"). So, maybe I'm just not getting the whole Twitter phenomenon because I'm not selling/marketing anything. In any event, you can follow me at: http://twitter.com/AlabamaValerie

Emmy's Fashion

I don't think this is a a "Medium." Maybe she needs a "Large." Her boobs look smooshed.

Sandra Oh hit it out the ballpark last night. Definitely a home-run (IDK what's up with the baseball analogies). Leighton Meester is so young and so fabulous and has beautiful legs. Unfortunately they're hidden underneath this dress. Not a fan.
Kristen Chenoworth can do absolutely no wrong as far as I'm concerned. She's perfect!

This dress makes Jennifer Love Hewitt look very hippy; I don't think it's flattering to her figure.

Haden-the girl from Hero's whose last name I can never get right-is a beautiful young lady. Last night she looked like the mother of the bride. Her hair looks old lady and the color of the dress clashes with the red carpet.

Mariska Hargity looks amazing! She's got a slammin' body!

Anna Torv. My favorite of the night! She looks incredible! T really loves the show Fringe so I'm somewhat familiar with her character. On the show, she wears just black. Black jeans/pants, black jacket, black everything. So, to see her all glammed up on the red carpet was a nice surprise! I love the color of this dress, her hair looks relaxed and natural and her jewelry and makeup were simple and uber flattering.

Like Blake Lively's dress, hated her hair. She had a really weird pony tail last night and it made the back of her head look like a big egg. It was very alien-looking.

Lazy, Rainy Saturday

KJ had volleyball game(s) earlier this morning. Although they only won 1 of their 4 games, the girls played much, much better than last week. Serving has improved and KJ even got in a couple of "digs" (just trying to learn the lingo).

After the game we ran some errands had a family lunch at Moe's. We went to Best Buy to look for a new camera and then went to Michael's to buy clay and paint for KJ's starfish project. Don't ask me how but we dropped over $100 in Michael's on Halloween decorations and other miscellaneous crapola. Just doing our part to help out the economy.

Took T out this afternoon to practice driving. She's doing great and I think I'm a good teacher. I'm very relaxed with her (I'm sure she'll tell you otherwise). We found a bunch of cones at the Met so she practiced parallel parking a couple of times. At the freshman center she practiced parking next to a SmartCar a bunch of times. I'm going to have a hard time with this whole "driving thing." I have a worry-wart for a mother so I come by it naturally. Last night was the first night we've ever let her get in the car with another teenage driver. Sarah's boyfriend Stephen picked her up and took them to the football game and I was a wreck the whole night. To make matters worse we had horrible weather last night . Stephen's got a hot little car, too. I don't know what it is but KJ calls it the "Ferrari." T's a July b-day so she's much, much younger than a lot of her classmates. All the September and October kids are starting to get their licenses and cars.

Tomorrow is the first day of Sunday school at church. We all know Kendall and I are NOT morning people so this should be interesting.

Ivanah, I wanna

This is the new Ivanah shoe from Coach. It is fierce. And I want it. Bad. I love it. Like a fat kid likes cake.

I would sell certain members of my immediate family for this shoe. I would look really fancy wearing this shoe to my local Wal-mart or Target.

Kayne is a jerk

Unless you've been living under a rock the last couple of days, you know all about Kayne Wests's despicable behavior at the MTV VMA's. I have officially removed all Kayne song's from my blog's playlist. What an ass. I'm not a big Taylor Swift fan but he totally ruined the moment for her. She'll never get that back. Although I think Kayne is extremely talented, he's such an egomaniac.

Just feeling a little homesick the last couple of days so I've updated my playlist to reflect my current mood. I've got the old standbys (i.e, Sinatra's "New York New York" and Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind -- one of KJ's favorite books BTW), but I've also got some songs about NY you may have never heard). Jay-Z's song can be a little raw but Alicia Keyes' voice is bananas. I also luv, luv, luv "New York Groove" by KISS.

It's Fashion Week in NYC. Designers are showcasing their Spring 2010 collections. I saw a couple of things from Max Azria that really caught my eye (for T; not for me! That chica can wear just about anything and get away with it! But she does loves a hot sexy shoe, just like her mother.).

I also LOVE this dress from Oscar de la Renta's 2010 Resort Wear collection. Totally fell in love with the hat! That hat had me at hello.

I also think this de la Renta gown is exquisite and wouldn't be surprised if we see this on the red carpet soon:
These are two of my favorite looks from Marchesa (especially the cocktail dress! wish I had the legs to carry it off!):

Also, I don't know what the hell this was all about but apparently Snuggies also had some type of show/collection. Yes, Snuggie - the blanket with sleeves - staged a runway show this week, complete with high-fashion models and a new ''urban jungle'' line of zebra and leopard prints. My initial reaction? Cruella deVille.

Dora & Diego

A funny blogpost from the Travel Channel's Anthony Bourdain:

All parents must, sooner or later, come to terms with DORA THE EXPLORER and her alleged “cousin,” DIEGO. I’ve always found their relationship suspicious at best. And who is this kid, Diego, anyway? Where are his parents? How does he get to run around unsupervised in the jungle? And isn’t he too young to have a driver’s license? If not—then he’s certainly too goddamn old to be hanging out with Dora!! I do like the “Rescue Pack” song, however. And my daughter’s affection for these kissin’ cousins is unwavering. So much so that I brought her to see Dora “Live” at Radio City—which is to throw oneself into a Skittle scented mosh pit filled with thousands and thousands of screaming kids and their mothers. At every appearance of the rascally fox, “Swiper”, the walls shake like a high-pitched Nuremberg rally of sticky children, screaming “SWIPER NO SWIPING” in unison—as avidly as any cries of “Duce!” or worse. But…there’s no arguing with true love. All kids love Dora and Diego—and the sooner we resign ourselves to that, the easier it’ll go for us.

KJ had her first volleyball game today. It was so much fun! I don't know anything about volleyball but the girls were really into it and the games went pretty fast. Unfortunately they lost all their games but I think they did well considering it was their first game.

Last night was the big Hoover vs. Camden County game in GA. It was televised on ESPNU and the first half was a bit of a disappointment but Hoover came back in the second half and tied up. The last couple seconds of the game were absolutely awesome! A sophomore kicked a 3-pointer and Hoover ended up winning 30-27. Last year Camden County spanked Hoover something like 44-16 (I think that was the final score).

The other day on the Today Show they had a photographer who specializes in little itty bitty babies. I love her work and these babies are so flippin' cute! I especially like the babies in the silly little hats. You can see more of her work at http://www.tracyraver.com/