Saturday, December 19, 2009
Party
Today we are cleaning heavy duty. I like to do the deep clean before we go away so when we come back, it's nice! We are having our little christmas tonight and a lovely crab dinner. Can't wait.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Last Day
Tomorrow, we are doing our own little Christmas exchange & Sunday going to see Nutcracker!!
Hope you have a good weekend!!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
2 days to go
We will be in CT Tues - Mon. I can't wait. Kimmy & I are having Super Sister Day in NYC on the 23rd which will include the Empire State Bldg and seeing HAIR and stuffing ourselves silly in Little Italy.
Tomorrow night is Erik's holiday party. Should be fun. Hope we win a prize like we did last year!
Groceries

I was reading Real Simple and learned about a site called RelishRelish.com which is a menu planning & and grocery list making site. It is $7/month for them to create a menu plan & shopping list for you each week. Sounds great. I have been looking into companies that can do this OR a meal prep company like Super Suppers or Delicious Dish.
A friend told me about e-mealz. It is cheaper than RelishRelish - $5/mo. This seems like a good solution for me for groceries. I end up eating the same things every week. I might give it a trial run.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Cupcakes

My friend Kira and I went down to the truck to get a cupcake.

I got vanilla. They only had 4 flavors today and 3 were chocolate. The vanilla is SO good and so big, I cannot eat in one sitting. It is vanilla cake with about 1" of vanilla frosting and vanilla sprinkles. SO GOOD. For $3 and those $3 went to the Humane Society today. 100% of those $3!
PriceYeti.com
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday

Christmas cookies. Some look burned but its really cinnamon & sugar on them!

Before they went into the oven. Cinnamon pinwheels.
I also taught Evie how to jump thru a hoop (an old bike tire). Here she is!
Saturday
Anywayyyy...after the gym, Erik had made this great breakfast including homefries! It was great. We went to Sports Basement to look for some bike tires. I also made cookies - butterscotch oatmeal. After a lovely afternoon nap, Erik also made us tomato soup and home made bread. Delish.
It has been rainy here so yesterday was a perfect relaxing day.
Movies
On Sat night, we watched The Soloist. It is a true story based on a book. An LA Times reporter, Steve Lopez, discovers a talented musician who happens to be homeless and have some mental issues. The story reminded me a lot of Rainman and Pursuit of Happyness. Pretty good though.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Friday
Cops show up, pull the guy out of the car. He is clearly drunk. He falls down. They pick him up, his pants are falling down!! Evie and I were hanging out the window watching the entire thing. Apparently, he hit two cars driving down the street AND is drunk.
Erik asked what will I do when we don't live on such an active street anymore. I think I might have to get a police scanner and go driving around. hahaha.
Anyway, it is so rainy & cold here. GOod night for a movie - I'm going to see the BLind Side with Betsy!! Can't wait. The book was so good. I also want to see NINE when it comes out!.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Thursday
This morning on the bus, this guy was rambling on and on. He had a bag full of clothes and was very proudly telling everyone he was homeless and has never worked a day in his life plus, he never intends to work. He was asking everyone what they were reading. He asked this little girl and she didn't answer and he goes 'You don't want to tell me because I'm black'. Always something here!!
I can't believe it is already Dec 10th. I should get over my disbelief because each month, I am shocked how fast it goes.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Biggest Loser Winner
Smore Cookies

Today is Day 10 of 12 Days of Cookies on Food Network. Don't these look delish?
Sunny's Crunchy Peanut Butter S'more Bites
Ingredients
- 2 cups crunchy peanut butter
- 1 1/2 sticks butter
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 24 ounces (4 cups) milk chocolate
chips, melted
- 2 cups graham cracker
crumbs
- 1 cup marshmallow fluff
- 1 cup coconut flakes, optional
- 2 1/2 cups puffed rice
cereal
, optional
Directions
In a large bowl, add the peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar and beat with a whisk or electric beater until smooth. Using a teaspoon measure, scoop the mixture and form into balls, then press into a coin shape the diameter of a quarter. Refrigerate to set up dough cookies, about 30 minutes.
To make bites, dip peanut butter coins in melted chocolate then toss in graham cracker crumbs until coated, double dip and double coat if you feel dangerous. Arrange the coated coins on a wire rack and refrigerate for about 30 more minutes to set. Add the marshmallow fluff to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Remove the coins from the refrigerator and squeeze about 1 teaspoon of marshmallow fluff into the center of half of the coins. If you don't have a pastry bag, use a plastic bag, fill it with fluff and cut 1 corner off and dollop that way. Then top each half with another coin to make a sandwich and place return to the refrigerator to set, about 1 hour.
Options: chop coconut flakes and add them to the graham cracker crumbs to use for coating.
Add puffed rice cereal into the peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar for a bit more texture and crunch.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Christmas Cards
I still recommend using that site Shop At Home. I used it for our cards and got 50% off the cards PLUS 5% back! Use the link on the right hand side to make an account!
Can you even believe Christmas is in about 2 weeks! I cannot. I'm almost done with my gifts so that is exciting!!
COLD and a Mouse
So, last night around midnight, Erik woke me up to tell me he saw a mouse in our house. A MOUSE. Can you believe it? I don't know how it got in but it needs to go back out. Erik thinks he is going to catch it but I don't know. He is making some contraption with a hockey stick and t-shirt.
Tonight I have school. Only 3 classes to go! I cannot wait to be done. Lets hope I pass. At this point, I dont know if I am going to class in the spring. I am waitlisted. Part of me doesn't care. I could use the semester to volunteer at the hospital during the week once or twice.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Pet Insurance
Is it worth it?
Yes
From a Vet: http://www.drlarrypetvet.com/health_petinsurance.htm
No
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/content/accent/epaper/2008/07/28/072808_pet_insure_web.html
Consumer REports: http://www.consumerreports.org/pets/0307vet2.html
From a Vet: http://www.countryliving.com/ask-the-expert/pet-insurance-0509
Pet Insurance Debate
Pros -
-Pays 90% of claims so you get your $ back
-Evie is young & doesnt have any diseases so she is covered if she gets any
Cons
-You have to pay the claim up front & then get reimbursed
-Office visit fees are not covered
So, here is a scenario. Evie has giardia
Costs $114
$90 office visit
$20 pills
Insurance will not pay me for the visit and will pay 90% of the pills. I will get a check for like $18.
So I pay $45/mo to get paid $18 back!
If she ever had to have surgery that cost like $3,000 - what would I do? I would have to come up with $3,000 to pay for her surgery up front and then get reimbursed.
I could just put that $45 into her account each month and have that money just sit there earning interest. If she gets hurt, it is paid for.
I dont know what to do....Either way, I have to have any $$ to cover her bill up front. Its a matter of wanting to get my $ back once we get reimbursed.
Monday
I realized today that there are THREE holiday parties this week. Wed, Thurs, Fri. I am definitely not going to the Thurs one b/c I have school. I am going to the Wed one and trying to get out of the Fri one. I have other things I'd like to do with my time besides spend time with work people!
It is COLD here. Like 40 last night and this AM. We are in dire need of a space heater & will be getting one this weekend, I think!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Weekend
Today, I worked at the gymnastics gym from 2-7. It was a pretty easy day. No one was really bad. I like kids aged 5-7. They are funny & sassy. Sometim
es the things that come out of their mouths is hysterical. I did have a 4 year old today that couldn't do a forward roll and didn't want to try but after teaching him, he was running back to the mat to do more. So that was pretty cute.
Anyway, tomorrow is my first day back to the office in like 2 weeks. I was last there on Tues before Thanksgiving. Then, I wasn't there at all last week. To get up to an alarm and get on the bus tomorrow MIGHT kill me. They changed a lot of the bus routes, eliminated bus stops, routes, etc. I have a feeling my route is going to be packed tomorrow.
Watched this movie tonight '12 Men of Christmas' on Lifetime tonight. Cute movie.
Have a good week!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Two Items

Glass bowls. I seem to make things that require melting something in a glass bowl over a pot of water yet, do not have one & have to borrow.

A new black toaster. All of our other appliances are black. Our white one is from when I first moved out of my parents house. It is so messy looking. It doesnt match. It has stains on it. Ick. Maybe we can hit up some after holiday sales or something!
Saturday so far

This is her this AM passed out on the couch with her nose jammed into my leg.
This AM, I woke up to the smell of poop. I knew she had pooped in the kitchen. Yep, I was right. Of course today, the vet did not have any appts so we had to do walk-in which is $$$. Of course, they gave us flagyll for her giardia. :-( Thank goodness we have the pet insurance!

Here she is at the vet. You cant see it but she was shaking like a leaf. She also barked at the vet. Now I will have to get her a muzzle to go to the vet. She used to be SO good. The turning point was when she had that surgery back in the spring. Now, she starts shaking in the car and is going to be selective on which vet she gets.
I was studying the dog anatomy on a poster in the room today while we waited. I learned that dogs do have 'knees' but they are right above where their foot starts. You know how their foot bends backwards, its b/c their knee joint allows it. strange.
Anyway, we are home. Cleaning & laundry. I think I gave Erik my sickness because he is alseep on the couch & doesnt feel well. Evie is passed out with him.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Weekend
Erik and I did the cleaning today while I was home including a re-org of his closet. What a mess. He says he cant ever find anything/has nothing to wear but I found a lot of stuff today! Tomorrow, we are just going to do the laundry & relax. At night, we have a Christmas party to go to!
Hope you have a great weekend. Can you believe it will be Christmas in 3 weeks! Only 2 more weeks of work - then adios 2009!
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Thursday, December 3, 2009
Bocelli & Blige
Anyway, the video starts out with Bocelli with Natalie Cole singing a few yrs ago so just fast forward a little bit.
Thursday
We picked Evie up from camp today rather than tomorrow to save $50! It was nice and quiet not having her here but of course, I missed her.
I am so tired still. I could sleep for another few hours this afternoon.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
SICK
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
New Lauren Graham
Sunday
Erik finished #54 out of the 423 males that ran today.
7:13 mile pace
Came in 15th out of 70 runners in his age group
Came in 64th out of 1016 runners
I finished #261 out of 593 females
11:31 mile pace
I came in 536 out of 1016 runners
48th out of 90 runners in my age group
Then, we went to the 49ers/Jacksonville game. 49ers won!
Saturday
I love this hike & love taking people on it. Beautiful views!! It was so windy - like 40mph!
After the hike, we decorated for Christmas. We put up the tree and made dinner. I think we were all asleep by 1030pm. haha. Good thing b/c on Sunday, we ran the Run Wild 5K at 830am!!
Friday
AN Electric car! Will cost about $40K
Now, Erik wants a truck.
After the show, we went to see a Christmas Carol in 3D. It was cute & cool to watch in 3D.

Then, we went over to Union Square. The tree & ice skating rink were up. The lighting was later that day.
Me & Erik
Me & Dad
Macy's decorated for the holiday
We also stopped into the Westin St. Francis to see this castle made of sugar!
Thanksgiving
On Thanksgiving, we watched the Macy's parade, had appetizers at home, and went out for dinner. We went to the Waterfront. Erik was the only one who had turkey! I had fish & Dad had steak. Afterwards, we played Trivial Pursuit and of course, watched Home Alone!!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Shop at Home Site
If you want to make an account, use this link -
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Great Soap

This scent of soap is sooooo wonderful. It smells like Christmas in your hands. It is Frosted Cranberry.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
HI
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday
Of course when the holidays come around, you do think about all that you have & are thankful for. I saw a homeless guy the other day without shoes. SHOES. Can you imagine? It's heartbreaking.
I am thankful for my job, money to buy shoes, the ability to pay rent and have a place to live & enjoy my life. I am thankful for Erik who is the yin to my yang, that I was able to rescue Evie and give her a great life, and that we live in such a beautiful place(although I dont feel that way ALL the time!).
Also thankful for all of my family & friends who are very caring and generous to us. Who support us & are there for us all of the time even though we can't be close to everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving! xoxoxo
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
UGH
Tuesday
Excitement Level for the holiday week 100%
I am sitting here reading my blogs and barely doing any work. It's so quiet here & the Clients are quiet too. Everyone is just ready for a 1/2 day tomorrow and Thanksgiving. I bet the afternoon will be busy, I can feel it.
Class tonight and then no class until next Tuesday! My Dad gets here tomorrow at 7pm. Woohoo!!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday
Today at lunch I went up to Nike Town to get a new headband to wear when I run to cover my ears. That store is like 4 stories - crazy. They are preparing Union Sq for the tree lighting. The ice skating rink is up already!
One more day of coming to the office and then work from home on Wednesday!
Sisters Keeper
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Book
Sunday
Then, we had our photoshoot! Kira shot Evie to be a collar model for a local pet store. This local store, Cheengoo in SF and they have a line of collars. They asked Kira to find different dogs to model the collars. I'm not sure exactly how Evie's pic will be used but I think she might be on the website. How Exciting!! Evie got to model this collar & got to keep it!! She was sooooo good. Kira brought her Boston, Harley, and they played and played. So she was super happy.

Evie in her new collar
Then, Amy & I did some errands. We went down to Target, the mall, Petco..Then, we made these, a holiday favorite...pilgrim hat cookies!

I still can't believe Thanksgiving is this week!!

