10 Goals for 2009

I know, I know. People always make lame attempts to do completely unaccomplishable (is tyhat a word?) lists of New Years Resolutions. A family example:  I will stop smoking (ummm you said that every New Years for the last 10 years).


Normally I don't even partake since I know I "might" stick to them a month. Here are some of my good old stand bys:

• go to the gym (ummmm nope)
• loose weight (we all know how good I was at that)
• travel (does driving to Tenn. really constitute traveling?)

Do you see how vague my old resolutions were? I think that's why I never kept them. Cause technically I could go to the gym 1 time and I did my duty. I could loose 1 pound and I was done with that one. I could just go across state lines and that would mean I traveled.

So this year I have some detailed goals that I KNOW I can reach. And to show my commitment. It will be printed out on pretty paper and framed for all to see (picture to come).

In 2009 expect Madeline to:

1. Loose the last 20 pounds by March 1st (and for those who asked/were still wondering. I am down 50 pounds from my highest weight. I am 148. And only 2 more percentage points until I am at "normal" body fat percentage and 2 more point until my BMI is normal. WOOHOO!! I'm still shocked I am throwing my weight out there...but it REALLY holds me accountable. And did I mention how I had to donate 3/4 my wardrobe to Goodwill already?? Glad I bought clothes that I "wanted to fit into" but never could.)
2. IF you loose 20 by March 1st, you may pass go and directly book anniversary cruise the Mediterranean for April (yes, I am not above bribing myself haha)
3. Take 1 bubble bath a week (cheesy, but sometimes I need some relax time)
4. Take 1 yoga or Pilate's class a week (healthy mind and body is the concept I am going for in 2009)
5. I will finally go visit my friends WITH GEOFF in Texas in Spring (been trying to do that one since 2003)
6. Go back to California in spring for Colette's graduation (6.1) Will not be sad when I go back. Will be happy. Mom would have wanted it that way.
7. Get my teaching credential (did I shock you? A lot of change over here. Will do an entire post about that after Jan.10th)
8. Once a month, get in the garden and plant something new. Post what I plant (need the accountability)
9. Volunteer once a month with any organization (Humane Society, homeless shelter, church etc)

BIG FINISH NOW........

10. Eat at least 5 meals at home a week. (this is going to be the HARDEST one by far)

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy 2009!!

Truly blessed...

I'm back to my old non-blogging ways...between getting ready for our Christmas party on the 20th and doing all the last minute holiday errands/baking...I was a bad blogger :((had an AWESOME party by the way...and I am a huge loser that forgot to take pictures at her own party....sigh. I wish I had taken pictures of my friend Heather's car, full and bursting with presents for the foster girls she took care of. Our guests at our party and at our friends party the weekend before collected gifts for the little girls and what a WONDERFUL turnout!!)

Our Christmas was WONDERFUL. For the first time in 6 Christmas's together WE STAYED HOME!!!! No traveling, no chaos, strange beds....and the cherry on top...no boarding our pups. (ummm why didn't anyone tell us how relaxing Christmas at home could be???  Soo doing this again next year! But I have to admit...Christmas in Rome last year was a different kind of wonderful.  And listening to midnight mass at the Vatican...priceless.)

Vatican Christmas 2007

Christmas Eve we walked to church for the candle light service at 7 and then went to eat at The Olde Pink House for dinner. YUMMO. We also got both our meals comped since they were so slammed we had to wait a bit for our food. (Anyone who knows the quality of food at that place and the price knows we made out like bandits!! First time we ever got out of there paying less than $25 bucks for 2 drinks, 2 entrees, dessert)

We jumped the gun when we got back home and opened all of our gifts (except the stockings). 
Geoff deserves "husband of the year" for my gifts.  They were the most thoughtful, unexpected gifts.  How he managed to suprise me...still a mystery (yup, I was the kid that peaked at her gifts before Christmas...so sue me).

Louis Vuitton Palermo PM Tote

I am a purse whore.  I got that from my mom.  She always told me that a good, classic purse can be used for years.  I lusted for a Louis Vuitton for years...even bought some great knock off's in NewYork..haha. 

When my mother passed away, I was going through her things and I saw she had a vintage LV purse she was saving for me.  It was beautiful.  And I stupidly, put it in a moving box (with the rest of my nice purses and coats/leather jackets).  Of course, that was the one box the movers lost.  And even with the insurance...it didn't come close to covering the sentimental value, let alone the real value.

Geoff knew I was so sad that I lost that purse...for him to even consider replacing it (since he knew I would never go on my own and get one) made me cry.  Then the tears turned to laughter when I imagined him in that store...way out of his comfort zone...haha!  But he was so proud when he told me why he picked that one.  He knew I liked classic look, he wanted a zipper so stuff wouldn't fall out  and a big strap in case I wanted to have my hands free. Good job Geoff!!

This this was in my stocking....with a honey house t-shirt!!

and from the pups...

Then for Christmas dinner we drove to Hilton Head (did I mention it was in the 80's???) and ate here

The food was AMAZING...

And our veiw for the meal...

Hope everyone had a Happy Holiday and here's to wonderful 2009!!

These are a few of my favorite things....

And in no particular order....

Savannah Bee Company Honey 

This stuff if AWESOME (can you tell by the 1/2 empty bottle)! And those that don't like honey...give it a try.  Geoff never liked honey, but when the owner of the company asked him to sample some... he became a honey lover too! I have the worst sweet tooth :(  I take 1 tablespoon of this stuff (at 45 calories) and I am all set :)  It's great on anything (especially in tea).  And their beauty products are too die for :)

Banana Republic Jacket

This has to be the softest jacket I have ever owned!!!  And the best part...THE PRICE!  This jacket was originally $198 (ouch) and it was 50% off (the cashier told me she thinks there was an error on why those jackets were put on sale since they just got them in, but corporate sent them a fax telling them all jackets were on sale).  Then I had an extra 15% off and some rewards dollars.  Total out the door $40 bucks (including tax).  LOVE IT!

Christmas Cookies

I made these for book club yesterday.  I LOVE Christmas cookies and these are South American cookies called Alfajores.  They are almond flavored shortbread cookies with caramel in-between (and boy did I learn making homemade caramel is a LONG process...sheesh).

Iron and Wine 

Follow the link to hear an acoustic version of Flightless Bird American Mouth

LOVE THIS SONG.  Or just go to their website  .And yes, it was on the Twilight soundtrack (bonus points if you can tell me where it was played...haha).  But seriously, glad I saw the movie if it made me find out about this group!! They were also on the soundtracks for Garden State and In Good Company)

One of the many reasons I love the Holidays...

See...I'm already getting better at posting in a timely manner!  And I promise I will go through my blog reader and see everyone's updates and comment on them!!!

In the mean time....enjoy!

Our front entry....I tried something new and didn't go for the traditional wreath on the front door (since wreaths were going to be everywhere else).  It's "Joy to the World" in the shape for a Christmas Tree with a star on top.  And notice the bows...totally forgot those in my count!  I think I missed some more in the house and I really did 15 total.

Told ya there were wreaths everywhere :)

The reason I moved all the furniture....

The real reason I should have posted last week

I will start off this post with a "Don't Judge Me". Yes, I could have started posting last week. But that was before I started reading what I vowed I would never read.

Twilight

I was so against reading that book. I am not a sci-fi /fantasy reader...AT ALL. Make believe stuff in books puts me TO SLEEP. But...I was curious to why even the "book snobbiest" of all my friends read it and loved it. (Mind you, she was in the "closest" about it and gave me the whole "Don't judge me" speech too...hahahahaha)

I said at my last bookclub, I was going to give it a try. Some scoffed, as I did, at the thought of reading a teeny bopper book. While others told me to tell them how it went. I had bought the book and vowed to start after Thanksgiving.

Then, I saw my best friend immersed in it at Thanksgiving. Laura knows I love her to death, but books are one thing we do not have in common. She was CRAZY about Harry Potter books and I could care less. Needless to say, this made me VERY apprehensive about trying to read the book.

I waited for a few weeks....and then 2 weeks ago on a Sunday, around 12:15 am I could not go to bed. I put my book light on and cracked open Twilight (which being fantasy should put me to sleep in a chapter or two right?).

SO WRONG

This damn book had me sooooo caught up...I stayed up until 6:15am to read all 545 pages in one sitting. I had to get up at 7:30am that morning (and lasted all day on 1 hour and 15 minutes of sleep).

I took the Twilight drug and was hooked. To the point that I wanted to run out to the bookstore and get the rest of the series. But I knew I had A TON of gifts to wrap and send out...so I ordered online...hoping it would buy me some time. I lent the book to one of my friends that week and she was just as hooked as I was (sorry Kristy)!

Kristy and I went and saw the movie that next Sunday night (ummm...did I mention that day I finished the book...I saw the movie online....hanging my head in shame...). People had knocked the movie, but I went into it knowing that the book was going to be a thousand times better. And that my dear, wonderful, Edward Cullen would never be as wonderful as he was in my head. I was shocked by how each time I see Robert Pattison play Edward...he grows on me :)

Last Monday...the next 3 books came in. I waited until Tuesday to read New Moon...again in one sitting. This time I finished all 563 pages by 4:30 am. I was getting better! (The book light was replaced with the lamp...last time I struggled to see the print...now I could read much faster...just like my high school days).

I went to lunch the next day with Kristy and did the passing of the books. I had also downloaded the soundtrack from Itunes. (again, don't judge me) I know it was not my usual style...but for some odd reason...I liked it. (Geoff made me take the test "Even if it wasn't from the Twilight movie, would you would have liked the songs!" and I said "Yes" I LOVE Iron & Wine now)

Thursday afternoon I finished Eclipse at 629 pages...and that evening I HAD TO FINISH Breaking Dawn. Poor Geoff...he made me eat dinner...and then I was into my own world until 3:30 am...all 756 pages (I started at 8:00pm and rested for an hour to eat and watch The Office). And then it ended.

I was in a funk all Friday...it was BAD. What the heck was I going to do without these books? Thank goodness my husband is a trooper, and wanted to see what the big "deal" was with these books I was so enthralled with. (I mean, I read 2,492 pages in 22.5 hours). He went and saw Twilight with me (I have seen it 4 times in 1 week now...it's a sickness I know).

Here's the big question....Why so obsessed Madeline? It's make believe. It's vampires and teenagers in love. Seriously? Why? These, are questions I ask myself CONSTANTLY. My favorite books are classics. The Count of Monte Cristo, Withering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird....and now Twilight. (quit shouting blasphemy)

Yes, I know this isn't a literary masterpiece. But for me...I can't remember how long it has been that a character has been stuck in my mind and SO REAL that I kept turning page after page to find out what was happening. This book was not about vampires for me...but about love and relationships. When these characters were happy, I was. When they were angry...I was...when they hurt...I did. I honestly, have never felt these emotions so raw in a book (let alone one aimed at teens).

I know Edward Cullen is not real...but in my mind...he was real. I was able to be caught up in a make believe world that was described so perfectly, I literally "was there" for those 22.5 hours. The downside....now that the series has ended...all I have is 244 pages of an online draft of another book that might or might not be published and waiting for the next movies to come out possibly in 2009 or 2010. Ughh

My name is Madeline. I am 28 years old. And I am in "literary love" with a vampire named Edward Cullen.

Top 5 Reasons I couldn't Blog this Past Month

Wow...I felt so loved to have people email and ask if I was OK after not posting in so long :)

Life has been so busy....

Instead of trying to remember all the details of the last month (wow, has it been that long) and make a new post for each event, you will get a Top 5 list... (warning... this will be one picture heavy post)

5.) Hosted my First Thanksgiving
Highlights: Yes folks, Madeline the "non cooker" finally has left the building! Geoff and I were lucky to host our friends Laura and Jared. Jared's 3 sisters also came from Washington, add a couple of neighbors and 1 mother and you have dinner for 10 people! It was a smashing success and the turkey was so tender.

Lowlights: Realizing our table could not seat 10 people and having to buy a table for 10 the day before Thanksgiving. (And when I have time, I need to devout a post to my beautiful table. I LOVE IT) Having to buy 2 more china settings...and they ended up sending the WRONG ONES. Having to rush deliver the new ones that arrived...all together now....the day before Thanksgiving.

Stress factor: I thought I was going to be a wreck. I actually was stress free!!!(helped that I made bought a turkey the week before and practiced my "technique" on it...hahaha) It was fun to cook while others toured Savannah (and I had an awesome helper, Laura). And when the worst was over (the turkey of course), I was able to take a shower while everyone else helped with the side dishes. I would totally host again!

Married almost 3 years and it's the 1st time we used all of our China

Right before the big meal

Our group at dessert

My first Bell and Evans Turkey...if it's good enough for the White House for the past 50 + years...it's good enough for us.  (For a girl who HATES touching raw meat, I had to call Fresh Market and ask for the most organic "happy" turkey, who played on a farm and was fed a wonderful diet and had a good life. When I had to put all the herbs inside of it...I had to give my myslef a pep talk, thanking the turkey for it's sacrifice. And I wore gloves.  ) 

4.)  Madonna in Atlanta

When, my friend Brianne told me that Madonna was coming to Atlanta and if we wanted to get tickets...well I was in HEAVEN. We bought them way back in the summer. And finally the Monday before Thanksgiving, Brianne and I drove to Hotlanta (which was actually cold and rainy) in a record 3 hours (thank you very much) and stayed at a quirky/cute hotel in downtown. We took the Marta to Philips Area and were pretty happy with our seats. (Floor seats were a HECK of a alot more). We saw everything and didn't have tall people in our way! These pictures from my cellphone do not even show justice to how much we could see. And I can't upload the video for the life of me :(

Highlights: MADONNA MADONNA MADONNA. It was an AWESOME concert!! And the DJ that plays before the show starts was fabulous!

Lowlights: Madonna being an hour and a half late to start. Taking FOREVER to get out of the arena and missing the first Marta back to the hotel.

Seats were not too shabby

Our funky hotel (Indigo, near Fox Theater)

Trust me....somewhere on that stage is Madonna...darn cell phone!

3.) More Home Improments from Hell: 

There is not enough hatred I hold for this object...

That my friends, is the water heater from hell in my 1/2 basement (it's TINY and the ac/furnace takes up most of it). And yes, I am one of the few older homes in Savannah to have a basement because we are almost at sea level and flooding is a problem. Thank goodness we don't have that problem!!

Well this MONSTER of a water heater is at least....wait for it....50 years old and STILL FUNCTIONING!! The last year we could find it was made was 1962. Can you imagine all the sediment that was been accumulating in that thing???!!! GROSS!

Highlight: Getting a tank less water water system. Using gas now instead electricity!! (Yup, that huge thing was electric and was constantly on to keep it hot)

Lowlight: Finding out the steps in the basement were put in AFTER the water heater was put in. 4 men not being able to move it AT ALL, even after taking out water for 3 hours. Having to saw that sucker in 1/2 and see all the sediment that had been causing our hard water...EWWWW!

And it's gone folks!!!  (That's were it used to sit...I can now store stuff under the stairs.  And after it was moved...everything was painted, cleaned and organized...that post is for another time)

2.) Parties Parties Parties: 

 I swear people in Savannah love parties! Every weekend since before Thanksgiving we have had at least 1 if not 2 events to go too. This past month I had my first "real" super fancy pants party!  (I have been to a lot of really nice, fancy parties. But this one was over the top) It was at one of the beautiful mansions (it's now a museum) on the squares downtown.  I felt like we were in a chapter out of  Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.  You read about these parties all the time...never thought I'd go to one.  I loved getting all dressed up:) 

Found this fun top and great shoes at Black Market White House.

Highlight: Open bar...haha.  Just being invited!  Oooo...and we later found out that a certain politicial running for GA govner was there too (and a bunch of big wigs in the Savannah political scence). 

Lowlight:  We were the youngest people there HANDSDOWN (So happy our neighboors were there too).  Not too much to talk about with the old Savannah money in the room :)

Champion-McAlpin-Fowlkes House

1.) Decorating the House for Christmas (add sending out Christmas cards/wrapping gifts and shipping them as part of the work...no pictures of that...haha)

Wayyyy to much to do. Last year out landscaping was completely different than this years. All the lights we bought last year were the nets for the huge bushes we had. Couldn't use them for tiny new ones! It was alot of work but I think the outside looks great! Why would it take up so much time? You'll see when I post the outside pictures tonight.

Highlights: Well....here they are (and I am sorry for the crummy pictures...I got a new point and shoot camera to take out when I don't want to take the SLR out...the trade off is picture quality).

 

The foyer...gold was the theme at our house.

My first bow! I was so proud...and then I was really over it after making 10 of them.

A really bad picture of the tree.  We still used the shell theme from last year...but added gold in the tree.  And I moved all the furniture to put the tree in the bay window.  Please excuse the scattered pillows and chairs.  The evil eyes in the background are the reason why!!

                                       I used my machine to embroider all our names on our stockings

Our mini tree that has our special ornaments that we get from travels and milestones (engagement, first house, wedding, pups etc)

Even the kitchen gets some fun decorating :)

Lowlights: Attaching string of light after light...to find out that the outlets were not going to fit.  Making huge bows for 8 wreaths and 2 trees.  Trying to coordinate 3 timers to work....let alone go on around the same time!

Fall in NC

For this post...what will be lacking in content will be heavy in pictures :)

Had a wonderful time in Raleigh for a very last minute visit. Geoff was going to meet his dad and brother to see an NC State football game (why you would spend $$ on seeing them play is beyond me....haha). I decided to tag along to see some friends.

It ended up that Geoff went to Greensboro on Friday night and stayed with his dad and brother at his grandmothers house.  I was dropped off in N. Raleigh and picked up by my friend Sarah and stayed with her and the pups overnight.

Miss Jolie (Jake's best friend)

Miss Tess  (70 pounds of love...and boy does she love the dirt)

Beautiful NC leaves (and no, I was not driving and taking the pictures)

Sarah was a wonderful host for this last minute visit!  We went and saw the new Angelina Jolie movie directed by Clint Eastwood "The Changeling".  Wow was is good....but sad.  Then she had to teach a bachlorette "class". Hahaha.....I have never seen this side of Sarah...EVER!  But she is an instructor at this pole dancing class in Cary.  It's very classy!!! The girls seemed to have a good time learning the routines on pole/matt/...and wall :)  I will not post any pictures of that part....hehe.  But look up Aradia Fitness in Cary, NC if you ever get bored of your old workout routine:)

I was then picked up by my best friend Laura. Her husband, who goes to Duke law (NC State's opponent for the football game), was also going to watch the game. We waited until the guys got back from the game (State won...holy moly), and went out to eat. We had a wonderful time visiting with them (as short as our visit was).

That Sunday morning, we had breakfast at Starbucks, said goodbye to our gracious hosts (they had lot of studying to do). And went to North Raleigh so I could have a quick visit Amy (friend from my NC book club) and Mr. Sam!!! (Geoff had the wonderful task of finding a Jared's that had time to clean and polish our rings)

This had been the first time I had been to Amy and Damon's new place! I love the area of Raleigh they live in. The house was beautiful, and I loved Kashi's "wing" of the house :) That dog was one nice setup!

And without further adieu.....

Sam and Amy

Such a sweet guy

Yup...he's one happy lil guy! 

Thanks to everyone that let us drop by!  We had a wonderful (and super quick) visit!

I'm MIA

I should have posted by now, the pictures from my fun trip to Raleigh last weekend, but I have been going CRAZY with "To-Do" lists... It's bad... I swear...I would forget were my head is if it weren't screwed on... Examples from some of my lists:

• Call plumber
• Clean out basement (by myself) so plumber can take old 1950's GIGANTIC water heater out and get tankless water heater put in (and have some space to store stuff down there!!)
• Call Handy man (our old one was a jerk and left us with 1/2 done jobs...you betcha I withheld his last payment)
• Call pool guys re: leak
• Call Gardner's: dead grass
• Call electrician re: breaker constantly being tripped
• Call Whirlpool re: our new energy efficient dryer having a drying time of 3 hours!!!!
• Call Georgia Power and get the power lines unwrapped (we needed to do that when the gutters were installed and now water is inside of them....fun!)
• Call Critter Control because the squirrels are back (and we have to pay $500 to redo the same job they did last year since the idiot contractor took all the stuff down that critter control put up! I was LIVID when I heard this, I told the guy 10 times not to do that!!)
• Get Thanksgiving menu planned
• Find 2 place settings of our China

My personal favorite....find the kitchen phone and base. It is driving Geoff and I bonkers that we can't find the phone or the charging base. This is something that is never moved and all of a sudden it's up and gone!! WTF??!

I'm doing all this while I am getting ready for a trial I may or may not be going to this Monday in California.

And the icing on my cake (hence why I am writing lists every 10 mins...) I have been dead tired for four days now. Darn squirrels in the attic are keeping me up all night. And the street sweeper decided 1:00am last night was a good time to go around the neighborhood with his back up beeping noises.

Finally, last night Geoff and I went to our church to help with their homeless family projects. Churches throughout the city work with a non profit to have rotate having families stay in each church every week.

Geoff and I watched over 4 kids, 5 and under. Now, I have coached little kids all my life. I've babysat and been a nanny through high school and in college. I have seen my share of tantrums and badly behaved kids. But this 3 year old boy would make super nanny cry!!

I have never seen a kid so badly behaved. And the mom....well there was 2 reactions from her.Either yell at her kid or she would beat the crap out of him. NOT KIDDING. In a church no less.

Highlights of the night (ok, lowlights)

3 year old screaming during dinner

3 year old throwing all his food at people walking by him

Punching 1 year old brother

Punching anyone....period

Biting people

Food in his hair, clothes, ears, wall booster seat

(All in all...he has beaten my youngest brother in law as Satan's Spawn. And let me tell ya....it was a very close race).

While it's hard to discipline a child in front of it's parent, I finally had enough and I went John McCain "maverick" on this little boy. He wanted attention. Well he got NONE from me if he acted badly. He finally figured timeout could be avoided if he didn't try to beat up anyone. I little reverse psychology on him and whamooo...better behaved kid. If he tried to punch. Geoff just held his arms and let him squirm/flail until he tired himself out. The kids acted so much better when mom was in the other room.

And I still won't forget what the mom said...

Her: "Do you guys have kids?"

Me: "Nope"

Her: "Why, not?"

Me:"We are waiting until we're ready"

Her: "How many to you want? 4 or 5"

Me:(trying not to cringe) "Umm not sure yet, I was an only child and liked it"

Her:" Well, I dunno why I keep having kids. I guess I should take a vacation. But it's easier when the older ones look after the younger ones"

Geoff: (trying to change the subject) Hey girls, what grades are you in?

Her:"They haven't been to school yet"

And that's when my heart broke. And I think Geoff's did too. Politically I know a lot of us are in different places. But I will always think having kids is a privilege and not a "right". Privileges can be earned and taken away depending on your behavior. "Rights" can be abused. Until people view it that way...I think society will never change. And kids are the ones losing out.

I promise this weekend I will get my sanity back and post pictures from my trip!

Proud to be an American.....

That is the face of one happy citizen...notice the free Krispy Creme Doughnut and AWESOME Georgia peach "I'm a Georgia Voter" sticker :) Not only did it take a whopping minute in line (it was BAD this morning...but I waited before the lunch rush and picked up Geoff from work so he could vote before he got home at 6:30 pm). And our polling place...at our church 3 blocks down the street...talk about convenience. Today reminded me for than ever how beyond proud to be an American I am today....

• Proud....that I am able to vote.
• Proud...that I don't have to stick to "Party lines" I can vote for whomever I think will do a better job with our country
• Proud...to see the long lines of people voting...for the first time in decades have lines been this long
• Proud....to see people on the street corners with thier signs held proudly in the air for both Rebulicans and Democrats!
• Proud...that for the first time in my adult life, I am able to really know all the issues each candidate stood for. Being informed was powerful!

I think we often take for granted how lucky we are as a nation! Sure the economy is doing doing so well, the housing market stink...blah blah blah...but sometimes we have to look at the bigger picture. We have it SO MUCH BETTER compared to other countries!

I say this as I am going through some of my mom's paperwork...I found her citizenship papers and the flag she got when she took her oath to be a citizen of the United States of America. I thought it kind of funny that my mom was named "America" when I was young. But now as I am older, I think what a strong and powerful name it is!

Halloween aftermath....

What a weekend! I was lucky to have pre-stuffed 115 bags full of candy (and some extra for the non-costumed teenagers/adults that we knew would come). We live in an area where well... a lot of people that don't live in our area like to trick or treat at. After last years "disaster" of making the house look scary and older kids trampling over the little ones and then push open our door trying to look inside. We decided this year we would have a table set up on the front porch, and cut them off at the pass. We also had a new set of rules. If you are little (under 13) then you got a bag of candy, pencils, erasers/ Super little kids got an extra tub of play dough or the girls got little Halloween Barbie dolls. If you were a teen /adult with no costume, then you got a couple mini candies. All in all it was a success! We had SOOO many kids, but this year they were a lot more polite (we think it's because we were watching them the whole time). We ran out of candy by 7:45pm, which was fine since this year we vowed to end by 8 pm (that's when the OLDER kids/adults come out. We think we have about 150+ people (that includes the mini candy we gave to the older people not dressed up). Our favorite costumes this year... Little Yoda (with the walking stick too!!!) Little James Bond (dressed in a suit ...to the 9's!! and a little brief case that had the 007 gun on it...too cute) Little fireman (3) who's mom asked if he could walk around the fountain where the paper bag la terns were and he would go "Fire" and put it out with his imaginary hose. He did this for all 10 of them :) And the best part would be to see the faces of these kids when you would say "Here comes Yoda"...they would light up when you "guessed" the costume correctly! Or when you gave them there treat bag and they would yell "Mom, look what I got!!!" and "See ya next year...ok?" hahaha. Cute kids! We then took everything down and got all dressed up again to go to our friends Halloween party. We had a good time! Ava did a wonderful job and had great treats! I was an idiot, and since I hadn't eaten but 1/2 a slice of pizza and a pumpkin treat ALL DAY was starved and started to drink and snack at the same time. 3.5 Halloween Cosmo's and 1 potent jello shot later...I was 3 sheets to the wind. I know I have had more to drink than that and been loopy but OK. Then again I am 45 pounds lighter and had no real food in me. We got home and I had THE WORST tummy ache ever....(this by far was worse than my death by Apply Martini incident of 2002 where I could not touch vodka until 2007). Needless to say. I was one sick old lady. Why did I say old? Cause only old Madeline, who passed out after this...somehow managed to be sick, clean the bathroom, change clothes and get into bed. Geoff didn't even know I was sick at all since there was no evidence! Saturday morning...ughhhh. I felt soooo bad. Not a headache hangover, but my stomach was still hurting. I couldn't figure out why.. It wasn't until 3 hours later I realized, I hadn't eaten...and what I did had yesterday...well ...it was long gone by that morning. I decided to have my cure all for hangovers. A cheeseburger Happy Meal from McDonald's. I know....sounds greasy and gross. But desperate times called for desperate measures!!! Go ahead....laugh at me all you want. But I kept moaning to Geoff "I will never drink again!!!" He just laughed :) We ended Saturday by going to Target and stocking up on 50% off Halloween pencils, erasers, Barbies, stickers, party bags etc for next year!

Happy Halloween!!

Today is my first day of FREEDOM since Charlotte has been sick! I take my eyes off of her for one minute yesterday and she went all over the living room rug. FUN STUFF!!! The vet called this morning to check up on her and we found out for sure Charlotte had ingested some sort of toxin/chemical. We have 3 guesses... Paint chips that were scraped off from the gutter, chemicals/cement from the pool deck being resurfaced, or fertilizer/plant food. All three of these should NOT have been in the back yard. The painters were to clean EVERYTHING, the pool guy was an idiot and dumped all his stuff on the lawn and we have told the lawn guys no more tree food in the backyard!!! Don't get me started.....this all happened when I was not at home... Anyway....Charlotte is doing better...still not great...but better. I am on my way (I get 2 hour time frames) to get some last minute Halloween stuff. This year we will be handing out candy on the porch/walkway. No more kids running across the yard!! Then off to a Halloween Party tonight! Be safe :)

Charlotte Update....

Thanks so much for the nice thoughts, emails and texts! This will be short since I am so dead tired. I stink at not being anxious. I anticipated Charlotte having an accident, so I was up most the night "hearing" her rustle in her crate. She did fine...I did not :) (I did the same thing when my grandmother got out of the hospital and I volunteered to be the night watch person once a week....I did not get a wink of sleep....we had a baby monitor in her room and I was up all night making sure she was still breathing). It's not looking good for when I have a kiddo! I drove a sample to the vet so we'll see what's up. Lil pup is doing better...but not really back to her old self. The vet wants her to rest. Ummmm....try getting a 6 month old crazy puppy to rest. This is torture for her! Ok...nap time for Madeline...30 minutes...all I want is 30 mins.

Oh how quickly the tide turns....

I am sorry that I haven't been up to snuff on my email responses and blog comments. I had such a busy, wonderful weekend...that I should have know the other shoe would drop soon. And such is life. Charlotte has had HORRIBLE diarrhea, vomiting, and blood in her stool (SOUND FAMILIAR??!!!!). She had a horrible accident in her crate this afternoon and it's getting worse. I am yet to take her to the vet since I think it has to do with her new food (I did go myself to the vet to ask them what to do and they suggested the bland prescription food since it sounded like tummy issues due to new food also) So I spent almost all day today

• Trying to get the stench of doggie grossness out of the house
• Washing a crate and filthy dog who is scared of the water sprayer
• Trying to dry a dog in this chilly weather with a blow dryer that she is also...you guessed it scared of!
• Bleaching her bed, towels and floor!!!

(I have babysat and nannied for MANY years and have had my share of gross, stinky accidents. But I will take an exploding diaper any day....this smell makes me want to throw up!!!) If it gets worse tonight...I'm taking her to the emergency vet. I have images of Ellie being sick flashing before my eyes! I know there is no Way I can have 2 dogs with this rare disease...but the similarities are uncanny! Please send good vibes Charlotte's way!!! Update: It's 12:30 am and just got back from taking her outside....still not doing so good....ughh!

Wonderful Weekend...

Sometimes I get so caught up in what's going wrong in life...I forget to be be thankful for what is going great!

Geoff and I have this little "ritual", that someday we want to pass on to our kids. Right before he passes out (I am the night owl), we do our I love yous (man, is he going to kill me or what), and then "What was the best part of your day". Sometimes it's a little thing, sometimes it's a major victory.

Yesterday, I had to pause and say..."Ya, know what...this whole weekend was perfect". Nothing super, special, life altering happened.....just a weekend were nothing went wrong and every event put a smile no my face.

My "perfect" weekend consisted of .....

• Weighing in on Friday and losing some more weight....not the 10 pounds I wanted....grr...but 7. Down to 155/54. 20 pounds (give or take) to go!!

• Taking our dogs to a Halloween Party, then Wag-O-Ween downtown. I guess what made me smile was the fact that tourists were asking to take the pups pictures 7 asked me (wasn't counting the ones snapping away without asking...weirdo's). Had fun conversations about dogs with each of them. And while I thought they just wanted pictures of the dogs...they asked me to be in them! Too funny! But made me smile!

• I also got a phone number from a guy!! Ok, Geoff wasn't so thrilled with that one...but while he was getting the car, I had 2 tired pups, leashes in my hand, a backpack, camera and smoothie...so the poor guy couldn't see my ring. (I very quickly said I was married and showed him the ring). I haven't had that happen in YEARS!

• Had a wonderful time at my friends Halloween party (cops came 3 times for noise violations!!! Haven't been to a party were the cops came since I was in college)

• Great brunch with the hubby on Sunday.

• Watched "The Secret Lives of Bees" with some of the girls and it was AWESOME...almost like the book (pretty darn close...couple parts were different for "drama"). The actors they choose were perfect for the roles!!!!

• Played tennis/had practice for almost 3 hours (our coach was CRAZY). But I finally have a backhand stroke...and am learning to serve deep!

• Monday had a great day with hubby (he has ever other Monday off...hence the long weekend). Did errands...signed up for the YMCA and watched Mad Men and How I Met Your Mother episodes that we were so behind on!

• Curled up with a good book last night....

May not seem perfect to everyone....but for me...it was divine!

Here are some party pictures...

The house...

Spooky Picture of the back yard!

The entry

The Pirates (don't you love Fabio...I mean Geoff)

!st Place goes to....

Jake!!! For his mailman costume!!! (Charlotte got a runners up prize for her bumble bee costume).

Man did he score some loot!!! Next up for today....Wag-O-Ween downtown and costume party for us tonight!! (No Rainbow Brite for me this year...I tried last night...and it's 50% there...since I had to make it from scratch with no pattern...no way was I going to wear the skanky costume that I can't return...darn it ...didn't read the whole policy. Maybe I'll have it done by Halloween, but not the party tonight.)

Here's some pictures for this morning!

Hard to take a picture of a picture

Jake and Charlotte's loot! The big box is full of doggie treats (all natural/high quality)