Come on 2010!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! Wishing that 2010 is better than 2009! As Shorty says...

"It can't get much worse."

Economics....I enjoyed the class in college. What bits and pieces I understood. Pretty sure this graph is simple enough to paint the picture of a recession.

They say we are out of it...and should see a slow recovery.

So...here is to 2010! Bring it on!

Happy New Year everyone!

"Morgan Stanley: economic growth =2.8% in 2010 and 2011; core inflation = 1.4% in 2010 and 1.9% in 2011; Fed increases interest rate in third quarter 2010, reaching 1.5% by end of 2010 and 2% by end of 2011

Wells Fargo Securities Economic Forecast (annual economic outlook - Dec 2009): economic growth 2.6% in fourth quarter of 2009, 2.2% in 2010 and 2.3% in 2011; core PCE inflation = 1.5% in 2009, 1.3% in 2010 and 1.6% in 2011 (note: CPI inflation = -0.4% in 2009); unemployment rate rising to 10.6% in the third quarter of 2010 and remaining there until first quarter of 2011 declining to 9.9% in the fourth quarter of 2011 (slow job creation beginning Spring 2010)"

Princess wonderland

Ahh....nothing like a crunchy polyester dress on a 2 year old.

Our child is obsessed with all things Disney princess. She has the jewels, crowns, shoes, dresses, and a total of 6 costumes. This picture is of the little princess opening her gifts from Minnie and Jelly. (My parents....yes, I know our family has odd names.) ;)

Good thing I don't have to buy a Halloween costume in 2010.

I do however draw the line at princess clothes for outside of the home. Not that there is anything wrong with them....but, if a certain 2 year old had her way....everything she touched would be Cinderella.

A girly girl. That is one thing for sure.

My house is covered in glitter. It is everywhere.

Better go lint roller the couch...Shorty is not fond of glitter on his golf shirts. Just not quite manly enough.

Bippity Boppity Boo!

Do I really have to make one?

Here it comes....time to make those empty promises to yourself for your New Year's resolution!

Remember reading somewhere about how gym memberships take a total nose dive in late February or March.

The plan for me...is to make reasonable resolutions for myself.

Like for example...

In 2010 I will

1. Try really hard to close cabinets and drawers when I am finished with them. (Shorty hates that I leave things open)

2. Try extra special hard not to use phrases like "Come on people" while driving. My 2 year old is a parrot.

3. Try really really hard to not eat a whole box of crackers in 30 minutes.

4. Hope to break my addiction to black turtlenecks somewhere in the near future. *this is when I begin to realize I am becoming unrealistic. So, I should stop there.

What are your promises to yourself in 2010? I hope my lofty expectations of myself bring you much needed inspiration to do something above and beyond.

Way to go! ;)

I got skipped....

If you read my inspiring status updates and look at my fabulous photos on Facebook.... ;)

Then, you may remember this bottle of wine. It is called "Ali."

I found it on a trip to the wine store and I couldn't pass it up. If it had been called "Assy" I would have bought a case. (For those of you that don't know....Mrs. Short is also AKA...Assy to many people. Lovely name.... ;)

Back on track...so, my aunt is a talented lady. I was showing it off on Thanksgiving Day and she said "want me to take it home and put a cross on it?"

Well hello?! What do YOU think?

So she took it. I didn't expect to see it again at Christmas...especially with a cross on it!

These cross bottles are amazing. She normally puts them on smaller bottles....they are simply beautiful. She sells them in North Texas and a few other spots. Total unique treasures....
I know the picture is blurry....but, it was the best I could do. The pictures don't really do it justice.

Looking for just the right place....a perfect home for it in the Shorty home. I am sure it will make a few stops before finding it's final resting place.

My title "I got skipped" is referring to the talent gene. My family has a silversmith, people that sew, those who can paint, a professional guitar player, a doctor, master gardeners, a computer whiz....I could go on.

The talent gene skipped me. But hey...that is OK. I can clean a toilet like no one else on the planet. And I can fold a perfect bath towel. ;)

Thanks again Tammy....I LOVE my bottle.

A new view

Some people hate cats. Some people treat them better than they treat humans.

This is Lucky. One of the kitties that was relocated to my kind parents home when my evil neighbor took them to the pound before notifying me of their annoying nature.

This is an upside down shot of Cabby. He does not have a tail. Looks like a cross between a cat and a rabbit...Cabbit = Cabby. He is also one of the victims of cat kidnapping. He is resting very comfortably in cat haven.

This is a picture of the only living thing in my parent's yard. Well, the only blooming thing that is. A hard freeze turned a gardener's paradise into a wilted land of rubber leaves and flowers. Don't you love winter?

This lucky and dorky blogger got a new flash and a new portrait lens for Christmas. Here I sit with a camera and 4 lenses. Today I am happy to say I learned how to change the aperture and f stop on my camera. Whatever that means.....not that I know what numbers they should be....but I at least learned what buttons and wheels to turn.

Pretty impressive since I have only owned the camera for exactly 1 year. What a overachiever I am!

So these were the first pictures I got with my new lens. Not good...but it is kinda making sense a little more to this incredibly un-technological 30 something.

Maybe one day...I will get it.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Always enjoy visiting or cats at my parent's home. They are so happy there. And, must think the evil neighbor did it for a reason. If he wouldn't have been so hateful and mean, Cabby and Lucky wouldn't have such a wonderful home and the Shorty family wouldn't have Doodle the Poodle.

So, there IS a reason for mean people in this world! ;)

Mistaken identity

On the last day of "school" my little one was weighed down with arts and crafts. Homemade wreaths, stockings, ornaments, glitter art. You name it.

Every day I rummage through her back pack looking for notes from the teacher, extra homemade prizes and I have to make sure we have her lovey...aka "bata"

I came across this piece of fabric about 4 inches square and it was decorated in marker...inside it was a rice filled sock with a neck segment made from a pipe cleaner. The figure had eyes and a mouth.

"Oh my! Look how cute this is! Is this a snowman?" I asked her before we drove off.

"No Mommy! It's Baby Jesus!"

I laughed until my stomach hurt.

Those words coming out of a 2 year old's mouth.....just makes you laugh.

Glad to hear they were talking about Baby Jesus at school....it is easy to forget the "reason for the season" with all the hustle and bustle we create for ourselves.

So, on this Christmas....cherish the time with your family and remember WHY we celebrate.

"No Mommy! It's Baby Jesus!"

Merry Christmas everyone!

Music to my ears

Music...it rocks. But, to me...only certain kind of music rocks. Some people like it all...some people only like the whine of a steal guitar, and others only like hip hop.

I love Elvis, The Beatles, Pearl Jam, U2, Coldplay, The Cure...I could list 100 more.

One thing I have never done is play kid music in my car. Ever since E was born....we have listened to the "normal" radio.

Pretty sure I listened to Eddie Vedder pretty loud when I had the bun in the oven.....

One kind of music I do not enjoy is "teenager pop."

Didn't even like it when I was a teenager. In my teen years....it was the New Kids on the Block.

Truthfully...I can think of nothing worse. Oh, maybe Hootie and the Blowfish....that being the band that if it comes on....A. Leave the room or B. Change the station.

When I was a kid, I listened to the music my parents liked. Pretty sure that is why I like Elvis and The Beatles.

We were in the car today....and an Elvis Christmas carol came on. My kid started dancing....and singing....she said "I really like him!" That made me smile....

We have had that same experience with Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, U2, and a few others.

So, I will continue to keep my fingers crossed that my daughter will follow in my footsteps.

Because I am pretty sure I couldn't handle listening to Miley Cyrus in the car.....or anywhere for that matter.

Needless to say....when my kid perks up to classics, and to songs that ARE really good....it makes me think the odds may be in my favor.

Think my Mom of the Year award is in the mail? Voted best Mom for letting her 2 year old listen to Led Zeppelin and Pearl Jam?

Hey....it could be worse....like Miley Cyrus worse. ;)

For those who adore her....sorry....different strokes....right?