Remember Thirsty Thursdays?

As I was sitting here, buried under piles of work and things to do, it occurs to me that just a few years ago Thursdays were very, very different.

Thursday was the beginning of the weekend.  The start of the reason for the week...the weekend.  Preceded by light classes on Friday and sitting out in the Quad in the middle of the day, which may be just the best feeling.

But first - there was Thursday night.  Cactus, Piano Bar and thirsty Thursdays!  When you and four of your closest friends could go out, get into the bar, have a great time, drink throughout the night and spend a grand total of $6.00.  Remember $0.10 beers anyone?  *sigh*

My world is definitely still full of small pleasures, but there's something about the Thursday afternoons that make me miss college.  So "raise your glass" and have a great weekend - I say start this one early!

Wordless Wednesday

Caption ideas welcome...

2010 In Review

Quite the year.  My first blog...my first adult period of not working...my first very ambitious list of New Year's resolutions and, of course, our first pregnancy. 

To review in reverse...
Pregnancy
So exciting.  Things are moving right along and we're only a few months away from meeting our little bundle.  Our families have been wonderful and supportive and we're looking forward to all the fun gatherings that lie ahead.  The best Christmas present ever, our little one started kicking me on Christmas Eve morning.

New Year's Resolutions 2010
1) Post to this fabulous blog at least 3 times per month - obvious fail.  My apologies.  This year, no goal of # of posts, but I will be making an effort to continue to post and I'm sure it will grow as I have new anxieties and all that comes with being a new mom. 
2) Find great new job - perhaps not lifelong career, but a great job that will allow for work/life balance. Also, continue to focus on Stampin' Up! business to meet quarterly goals. - Woohoo! Great new job, things are busy but going well and it's a much better fit of work/life balance.  My mini SU business is going fine, but I'm always looking for more business...
3) Exercise (in some shape or form, Wii counts if I sweat and burn calories!!) 3 times per week. Epic fail - definitely moving more, but did not make the 3 times per week goal. 
4) Put a new focus on mental/spiritual health. Finding the right church? Theraputic journaling, whatever. Make me a better me! - Not bad.  Still tons of room for growth, but coming along.
5) Organize photos/scrapbook/memory stuff. Work on scrapbooks and photos in SmugMug. - Also ongoing, but doing much better!
6) Remember family and friends birthdays and anniversaries and send cards. - accomplished.
7) Read all 12 book club books on time! - accomplished!! (Okay, not one of them, but it was awful so that doesn't count.)
8) Travel to at least two new places that I've never been to (or don't remember because I was there before memories) - One for sure - the Ultrasound room of the hospital to meet our little bundle!
9) Try one new thing per month - a new food, new experience, new restaurant, etc. Suggestions welcome! - about 1/2 and 1/2.  Definitely something I want to keep up with this year.  New experiences are always fun!
10) Share reminders of love with those most important to me - Hubby, parents, sister, friends. Remind those that I love how very special they are! - I think so, but I'm certain I could do more too.


Time Off
Exciting and lots of cuddle time with Olive.  So grateful for a fantastic husband that was supportive of me and there for me...and the result, a good new job and a happier me!  Hooray!

The Blog
Here we are... continuing to post and hopefully you're continuing to read. 

Here's to happy reading and a very exciting year ahead!

Amazement

We met our little girl on Monday - she's doing well and has very long legs.  Can't wait to meet her in person.

Woe to the Missing Poster

I have a good excuse.  Really I do.

I was afraid to post...afraid that I might slip and say the big news before I was ready to make it public...but now it's okay.

I'm pregnant! At the time of my last post, my little bean was just beginning to brew!  We are so excited!!

Okay, enough exclamation points.  So with all that said, I am hoping to be much better about posting, because I have so many more observations to make before the little bean makes it's live debut.  To start - instituting wordless Wednesdays - I saw this on another blog and thought it was brilliant.  So here goes - to a wordless Wednesday post, okay, well going forward they'll be wordless.  A little bit of sleepy Olive for you!

Wordless Wednesday 

Suitcases

Suitcases have multiple personalities, in my opinion.  When the Hubs travels his suitcases get yanked from under the spare bed and thrown on said bed ready to be stuffed with his needs for the week.  Occasionally, he'll ask for my help in packing since I am the queen of "Jenga-ing" But overall, I hate to see the suitcase out because that means he's going somewhere.  But his suitcase represents what is to come for him on the trip.  Did he pack a suit?  Or was this strictly a khaki/polo trip?

Don't get me wrong...I love to travel, and at those times, suitcases have lovely personalities.  Blooming like the trip itself...full of possibilities.  Do we pack more shoes or do I need the sundress for the nice dinner we'll have one night?  Do I need the sneakers for hikes or a workout?  To bring the swimsuit or not bring the swimsuit?  Is this trip's suitcase a glitzy, girl's weekend?  Or is it a simple weekend at the parents house? 

I'm always amazed by the various personalities that match your suitcase.  In an effort to find your own case off the luggage carousel at the airport, many folks now tie string, ribbon or various noticeable items to be able to snag your bag. Did you ever stop to look at the color ribbon or item that your fellow baggage hunter has used?  The hot pink, polka dot ribbon for the businessman next to you?  Or the frog prince luggage tag the size of a small dinner plate - that goes to the 90-year old woman with the bad Christmas sweater next to you.  And so on...so what identifies your bag?

Because it may or may not be a good representation of you and where you've been, not to mention where you're going! Bon voyage!

Outgrowing the Teenage You

Does that ever really happen?  Do you ever truly outgrow the teenage version of yourself?  I think yes and no.  Yes, you learn and you grow and you develop thoughts and opinions and everything.  However, no, you still hold on to some pieces of childish innocence and fun in your life, if you're lucky.  Take, for example, me.  My enjoyment of the teenage literature and movie culture craze - the Twilight phenomenon.  I'm one of those for sure...however, I'm not the extreme, but I haven't ignored it either.  Last fall, I went to the midnight showing of New Moon.  It was quite the experience.  And I'm not embarrassed to admit that I was there...I found it hysterical that my fellow movie goers were women both teenage and middle-aged and a smattering of young men too.  The crowd definitely hooted and squealed when certain male cast members graced the stage.  The teenage me had a great time and you know what, the adult me had fun too...it helped that I didn't have to be at work the next day. 

And now, fantastic fate has added to my teenage glee. I discovered a fantastic new cupcake shop in downtown Elmhurst.  Fabulous and delicious!  I wish I'd found them sooner.  Apparently they even make a margarita cupcake that sounds yummy!  However, I digress...check out the perfect combo of teenage angst and cupcake wonder...

Devil's food cake (ironic) topped with deliciously light buttercream frosting coated in vanilla jimmies on the outside to give it the right crunch.  And the edible image of the wolf pack on top.  Hooray!

Now the teenage self knows that eating this will be yummy and a good reward for a hard workout.  The adult self doesn't feel much different but knows exactly the points value and how long that workout will have to be.  But it was worth it.  Actually - this was almost as yummy as our wedding cake.  And trust me, our wedding cake was irreplaceable!

The morale of this "saga" (ha, ha - fellow Twi-hards will understand) is that new bakeries are always great to try and you never know what you'll find.  And never let go of the teenage you...I'm certain that without her, I'd miss out on great books, movies and definitely good times over popcorn with friends and silly movies or late night talks with my sister and of course that crushy feeling about the love of your life.  I'm just lucky to still have all these pieces in my world.  Go teenage me!