Can I just say I am so excited for Thansgiving!!!!!!!!!!!

Photo shoot with money tree!!!

This post is exactly what the title states... photo shoot with money tree. That's all, this is my money tree, minus $5 b/c I had to buy the right to wear jeans to work last Friday.

Really I just have 5 things to say:

#1 I am the officially owner of a money tree. Literally, my crazy sister Julie gave me a "money" tree for a late birthday present. I will have to post a picture of it.

#2 My brother, Rob, came to visit last weekend and it was tons of fun. Lots of good food and guys movies/football. I love him, he is a great guy.

#3 I am ready the Twilight series, and I am afraid I can't stop or sleep. I am halfway through the third book, I started them on Friday. YIKES! Brian is also starting to read them and he likes them, take that!

#4 Brian had off today b/c it is Veteran's Day, the lucky...jerk.

#5 It is cold.

I miss all of you!

Pillows and nonsense...

I am sorry I have been absent from the blog. So sorry. Life has been kind of rough lately. I got really sick and then Brian got really sick. I have been in a "slump" lately and feel kind of stuck. I don't really like my job etc. I also have not been doing anything creative so I think that is a large part of it.

I sewed pillows yesterday, here is a picture of them. They are super comfy and I painted this letter L blue.

Here is a close up of the fabric, I think that the colors look good.
Brian and I went to the grocery store tonight and had only 1 hour before Heroes started, We drove there, shopped like lunatics and got the groceries home and unpacked with 5 mins to spare and then realized it isn't on tonight. I am disappointed.

Speaking of groceries, I have been loving on the orange juice called Simply Orange, it is simply delicious. Also, I am a big fan diet rootbeer. I just thought I would share that with you. I made this Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie last weekend for Jim's birthday. I was good and different. I think if I made it again I would change it up a little. Because the weather is turning chilly, I am making this Pot Roast recipe tomorrow, I will let you know how it turns out. I am going to add some veggies to it. I love coming home from work and smelling a yummy fully cooked meal.

Alright, I promise to be a better blogger, goodnight!

Election 2008...

Take a look at this:
http://news.yahoo.com/election/2008/dashboard

I am really getting into this election.
I am worried about disappointment and if McCain wins and dies and Palin becomes president, we are going to move out of the country.

I am so excited for the debate tonight.
I am also very nervous about the economy.
I hear about it all day at work.

I really hope that the next president will do something to help.

SUCCESS!!

This is me after my 1st attempt at banana pudding...

And here is the second attempt at banana pudding...

The meringue is slightly over done and the "S" is not for success.

It is for Scott (Brian's coworker).

I just hope it tastes good, I will never know.

But it is done!

Bake-a-thon with myself...

Today is my bake-a-thon with myself.
Why? Because I feel like it.
Well, I had high hopes for my day of baking.
So far it has been a half failure, half deliciousity.

I made 2 batches of pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Chip-Muffins/Detail.aspx
(I added 1 cup apple sauce, 1/2 oil)
and they are moist and delicious.
Perfect to take to work tomorrow!

I also attemped to make banana pudding for Brian's coworker/friend
he is always asking for banana pudding with merigue.
And since he was so helpful with the grand am broke down,
I decided to make it for him.
For some reason my pudding wouldn't thicken.
So I added more flour and it still wouldn't
So I decided to add another egg yolk, bad idea, what was I thinking?
It turned all chunky and gross
and I have to decide if I am going to try again or just give up.

On other news, I was a budgetting machine last night.
We are trying to new method, in the hopes to save more and be more responsible.

In more news, we just finished watching the John Adams HBO series.
It was super good and I highly recommend it.

Last piece of news, while I was making the muffins
I looked over and Potter was cuddled on the couch
With her head on my Joy of Cooking.
By the time I got the camera, she had moved but it was so cute!

Time to go make some snickerdoodles, lasagna and maybe some more banana pudding.

Everybody is Workin' for the Weekend Again!

I am eating animal crackers dipped in peanut butter,
missing Illinois and family,
with a dog cuddling on me,
watch the vice presidential debate,
thanking everything that is good on earth that it is FRIDAY TOMORROW!!!!

I think Biden has such a winning smile.

My job...
I can honestly say, that I don't like my job right now.
I feel like I work so hard everyday but I get no where.
By nature, I am a hard worker
In a job like this, I work my heart out
and it makes my heart hurt.
I am frustrated and stuck and I don't know where to go from here.
I know that I could get promoted in a couple months but I am just not sure where I would want to go. I don't think I would make a good counselor, I can listen but I am not a good advice giver.

Let's take a vote, what should I do with my life?
(besides be a stay at home mom with Potter)
AHHH!!???!!

And so it begins...

Hello party people!
I am in a delectable good mood!

IT IS SATURDAY!
and we are watching the office and I am organizing our cleaning day.

I love to make lists.

I am also going to make pumpkin chocolate chip muffins to welcome fall.

I only have three complaints:
1. I want a kitten
2. My stomach hurts
3. We are on a no nonsense budget (to recover from the car $$)

Good thing I am not a complainer (ha!)

Bad Bad News...

The Grand Am died today.
And forever will be dead.

I am so stressed out.

And I want to go home.


***EDIT EDIT EDIT***

Do you believe in resurrection?
I do.
The Grand Am is alive and kicking.
After quite a few tears and fears,
and even more phone calls.
It can be fixed!
For a medium amount of $$$.

Now if only my insides would be fixed.

In addition...

I loathe Mondays.

Goodnight for real, enough avoiding the work week.

One more thing...

IS BACK TOMORROW!

I am turning into a tv junky (yuck?)

I just ate 4 pickles and a large glass of simply orange, orange juice (which I totally recommend).

Goodnight!

I am watching football?

(I strongly dislike football)

Well, today was an awesome day.
All I did was lay on the deck on our comfy chairs and read a book
I always get sad when books are done.

I have a large cold sore.
(I think it is from stress, from work)
I had a slight meltdown at work on friday.
I had to go to the bathroom and compose myself.
Good news, I had a review on Fri and I did really well.
My new game plan and to work my hardest so I can promoted out asap.

Saturday, Brian and I went to Spring Arbor.
We visited with my sister Julie and her family and then took Brian's cousin's out to eat.
It was so weird to be on campus.
I kept looking for people I knew but it brought back a lot of good memories.
Mainly, it made me miss my friends from college (and k-8).
Another weird thing, my sister's old house is now a k house.
How things change.

I don't want the weekend to end.

Oh Grocery Shopping...

Brian and I haven't gone grocery shopping for a month.
YIKES!!!!
(well I went once to get bread, juice, diet coke and some fruit and veggies)
We have been living off tuna, soup, subway and things from our freezer.
Why?
Because I hate grocery shopping.
I hate the expense of it, the time it takes, bringing it into the house...
The only thing I like is putting it away and organizing the cupboard/fridge.

Well, I am off to the grocery store for a minitrip, I am tired of taking oatmeal and saltines for lunch (two days in a row now).

On other news, work has been out of control busy.
It is so busy that if I look at all the calls waiting, my can feel my neck tensing and I feel like I can't cath my breath.
Oh, it is not fun.
We have SIX new people done with training on monday.
That is pretty good considering there are only 12 people in the department now.
I have to keep telling myself that I can make it.
I can make it?

Okay, enough wasting time, grocery time.

Vacation to Niagara Falls...

I appoligize to the blog for not posting in a while. Brian and I just got back from our two year anniversary to Niagara Falls. It was really fun even though we didn't have the best weather. It rained a lot! Here is a picture of us right when we got there.

Yay!
Picture of me at the falls.
Isn't Niagara Falls beautiful?
Brian is being dangerous.

We went on Maid of the Mist when it was raining and it was so much fun!

The End!

This is what I need...

I need a vacation!!!

One week from today.

I feel like life is moving in slow motion right now.

And I don't feel that content with where I am at.

Can you guess the presidential candidate we are supporting?

WHO?
AHH...

YES!

This sparkly, glittery, ultra-glam shirt was a gift from Brian's uncle.

YES! SCORE!

I can't think of a good subject...

When I get home from work I sink onto the couch until it is time for bed, and then I drag myself upstairs. My new job is mentally draining. I like it, don't get me wrong but I had a client tell me that I am a saint to put up with everything from it. I know that my family is probably laughing, thinking of me as a saint but I really feel like I am gaining a whole lot of sympathy and patience. At times I want to pull my hair out and run laughing around the office like the lunatic I truly am. AHHH! I know that it will get better when I actually know what I am doing.

On other news, Brian and I have just celebrated our anniversary! It was a cuddly, relaxing night full of plans for our trip to Niagara Falls in Sept.

Too mentally drained to type anymore...

Learning and headaches...

I am a money machine, well not really but I am excited b/c of my pay increase!

And...
My brain is full to the brim with credit reports, registers and other nonsense.
I also decorated my cubicle today.
I think that I like my new job, it is crazy busy/stressful but not boring.
I still don't really know what I am doing though

It was my birthday last weekend and the LaBennes and I went to Greenfield village.
It was a lot of fun but tiring.
We also had some amazing food and I got my first pair of birkenstocks.
They are the most comfortable things in the world.
I am in love... with them.

I am super jealous of Brian right now. He is a few min away from seeing Radiohead.
Is it bad I am already ready for the weekend.

What a great weekend...

Hello, last weekend a bunch of my SAU friends and I went up to Alisha's grandparent's house up north. Here are some pictures from the trip.

This picture is from the island where we had a bonfire.




On the boat, I got pretty sunburnt
We joked all weekend about being in our mid-20's and really mature. We decided to make shirts that say, "mid 20's and lovin' it!" Aren't they funny? It was so good to see everyone and it made me miss school and hanging out with everyone.

Promotion...

YES! I am promoted and I start my new job on Monday. The fun thing is that one of my friends has also been promoted and we will be trained together. (I hope I don't hate it)

I feel like a real career woman now. Although I still think I would make an amazing stay at home mom for Potter.

And... Project Runway starts today!

I am an old woman...

It is 9:30 on a Friday night and I am so exhausted and thinking about going to bed.
I think I am still recovering from all the not sleeping well last weekend.
Another reason I am exhausted is that I had an interview today.
Why you might ask....
Well, my boss told me when I got into work on Wed that I should apply to an opening in our account maintenance department. (This is super exciting b/c I would get paid quite a bit more and he thinks I am ready after 3 months when usually it takes people at least 6 months.)
I did some shadowing there and had an interview today.
I think it went well and we will see.
I would be so excited to get it but I would really miss the people I am working with now and I also won't like that it will be more stressful BUT it will be more money and experience.
We will see, I won't get ahead of myself. I don't find out if I got it until next week.

As a present to myself I just bought some new beads and they are beautiful.
I also got some gorgeous, deep blue yarn to start knitting myself a purse.
There is nothing like the joy of getting new yarn/fabric/beads...

Long weekend in Illinois...

Well, I am heading back to work tomorrow after a 5 day weekend. I had my first paid vacation and it was very fun, busy and family filled. We left for IL after work on Thursday and spent the 4th of July going to parades and fireworks. Saturday we went to my cousin's wedding.

Here is a picture of my mom and I at the wedding. Both of my sisters and their families were in town. It was nice to see them and all of my family.
On Monday we went to Chicago and it was humid and fun. Here are pictures of Brian and I at the water front by the Planetarium. We went there but were a little disappointed by it.
Here is a picture of my nieces and nephew. (look at Annika's face, what a twirp)

This a picture of the Elsa and Mary, I hadn't seen them for over a year and they are SO old.

At the bean, in Millenium park. Brian's back was hurting.

Playing in the water at Millenium park, they are so cute.
We were all in a line soaking our feet in the foot bath. It was a fun day in Chicago, it made me miss the city and my family.

The last picture is from the ride home. We are all so tired. It was a good weekend but we are happy to sleep in our own bed tonight. It was sad to leave my family though, I miss them. We don't want to go to work tomorrow... back to the adult world. Goodnight.

Work and Fun...

The week of fun has ended. Here is a picture of my "Greenie" award. I was one of 6 that received an award. I have the most positive attitude. (How little they know me!!!!)

On the topic of my work, I thought I would post a pic of where I spend around 8-9 hrs a day.
Me at my cube!
Look it is me on the People Mover in downtown Detroit. It was my first time on it and also my first time in a Casino (I won $15!). These are my friends from work, Julie and Tara.
The riverwalk downtown Detroit had a concert going on and we sat and listened to it and had some refreshments. I will end with a picture of the chair float I made, along with 6 other people. Yes that is kermit, yes it was so much fun.

An Added Thought...

My work, as you've read, is having employee appreciation week. We are having an office chair parade tomorrow. I spent an hour creating a pirate ship out of an office chair. What am I doing???

A side note, they are playing the show The Office in the lunch room and giving out candy.

We are also having mock elections called Greenies. (like Dundies) I am up for one, I will let you know if I win!

Later.

Employee Appreciation Week...

Well, I was told by a little birdy (named Sue) that I need to start updating this blog more often. This post will be on two topics: employee appreciation week and air conditioning. If you're not interested in either, don't read this.

1. It is employee appreciation week at my job. It is very nice. I was welcomed on Monday by a continental breakfast and an indoor 12 hole mini golf course. Also, we were surprised by a sundae part and a raffle later (I didn't win anything though). Today, we had a bbq and field day games. It was so much fun and I got a little sun. Tomorrow is a pizza party and we are supposed to wear our favorite sports team apparel. I am really liking my work and I have been talking to my boss about promotions. I am going to start shadowing other areas in around 2 weeks to see what direction I should go. I am going out with a group of people from work on Friday. I think it will be alot of fun, we are going to Greektown in Detroit.

2. The weekends at our apartment are hotter than hot. The frustrating thing is that we can't change the temperature. We finally complained (well actually, Brian complained to them) and found out that it had been mistakenly set for 82 degrees instead of 72... that is why. Problem solved.

This exciting post has come to an end. If anyone has any book recommendations for me... I would be forever grateful!

A year of hair...

July '07 - Long and blonde
Aug '07 - Long and dark
Oct '07 - Bobbed and semi-dark

Jan '08 - Outgrown Bob

Feb '07 - Uneven Layered cut by Russian woman
June '08 - NEW HAIRCUT!!!! (and professional highlight)
I think I finally found a salon I like in Plymouth. It is about 4 blocks away from my house and my stylist was super nice and reasonably priced. Happy haircut to me. I was looking back at old pictures on our computer and I realized how much my hair has changed in the past year and thought I would dedicate a post to it.

And happy haircut to you too!