Looking Ahead

Watch out world, 2014 is going to be my year!

The Grinch

The Christmas tree is up. The stockings are hung. Nat King Cole is in my car.

And yet I can't get myself in the holiday spirit.

I hate it!

I love Christmas!!

If anyone has advice on how to change this Grinch's heart, I'm all ears.

Do You Ever Wonder

Do you ever wonder what life would be like without a headache?

What about life without a the same headache every day for about five years and ten months?

I do.

I honestly wonder if I'll ever know what even one day without a headache feels like again.

As sad as it is to admit, I'm losing hope.

Wordless Wednesday - Bad Idea

Chicago

Pictures from a recent work conference in Chicago.



Clear skies

Art in the convention center

View from the convention center

Chicago style

Yummy!

 

Museum of Contemporary Art

 

A delicious Chicago tradition

 

Rain delays

 

30 days

30 days to 30!

Five for Friday - Honey Do

I am so happy today is Friday.  I have lots planned for this weekend.  Here are five things I hope to do.

1. Finish painting the kitchen.
2. Paint the laundry room.
3. Paint the front door.
4. Fix our front storm door.
5. Pull the weeds in the front flower bed.

We'll see if I get it all done but I'm excited to have so many home improvement projects to do!

Wordless Wednesday - Healthy

Well Rounded

Today was such a well rounded day!  I feel so accomplished!  And it feels great!

I have worked a good nine hour day at the office, full of productivity, a visit to Starbucks and some weekend small talk with co-workers.  Talked to my mom and one of my best friends.  Came home and prepared a home cooked meal of arroz con pollo -- my first time ever trying to make it by myself (It came out ok.  A little bland.)  I relaxed a bit on the tv and computer.  Cuddled with my pup.  Danced with her around the house -- I wish I knew what she was thinking as we were dancing.  And did a super thorough cleaning of the kitchen in preparation for my mom and niece's visit in a couple of days while listening to John Mayer croon on the guitar.

Now I'm off to shower and get feedback from hubby on his home cooked meal I had ready for him when he came home from work.

Domestic bliss.

Week in Photos 6/24-6/30

Hi!

Test kitchen

Thank you!

Picking co-workers

Quality time with my married-into fam

Backup



Project organization

 

Cute, but not helpful

Not So Splendid

Just saw on a box of Splenda that one packet tastes like two teaspoons of sugar.

I use three packets per cup of coffee.

Yikes!

Another reason I cannot switch even if I wanted to.

Wordless Wednesday - Expanding

Spring Cleaning

I'm cleaning and it's spring so I guess I'm spring cleaning.  I know I'm not doing the depth of cleaning that phrase typically implies but I'm cleaning my house in preparation for a Mother's Day get together we're housing.  Let me tell you...I am so excited!!!  I've had my mom and MIL over once before for Mother's Day and it was just a great experience.  I love them both so much and I get to cook and entertain and I'm just excited!  Anyway, off to clean. 

Have a good week!

A Real Life Love Story

As you may have been able to tell by some of my posts, I have not been a fan of 2013.  In the past two months my eagerness for this year to be over got only more strong.  In the past two months, I have lost the only grandparents I have ever known.  On March 29th, my grandfather, who I call Papa, passed away.  Papa has always been one of my favorite family members though I can't pin it down to just one reason why.  He was tall and sturdy which was always made me feel safe.  He loved to make jokes ("look at that three legged cow") which was endearing.  And he picked on Mama like a school boy with a crush which was cute.  He was like a teddy bear to me and could rarely do wrong in my eyes.

On that Friday at the end of March as I sat by his hospital bed holding his hand as he took his last breath he gave me a new reason to love him.  It was only forty five days earlier when Mama passed.  And life for Papa just wasn't worth living without her.  He has had heart failure for some time but it was pretty much under control so he could look after mama and make sure she was never put in a nursing home, always taken care of, and always there for.  After she passed in February, he became so sad and spoke about wanting to be with her again.  After he no longer had to physically be there to protect her, his job was done. 

Shortly after I arrived in that hospital room after my long drive after a long day to be there I told him I love him.  He replied to me, "I love you too."  A few hours later, it appeared those would be the last words he would ever speak.  I am honored his words were to me and comforted to know they were true.  I am even more in awe that he was a part of the greatest love story I may ever see.

Tasty Tuesday - 5 days!

Five days until I enjoy a Starbucks espresso beverage again.

I cannot wait - more than is probably normal.

Wordless Wednesday - Water Supply

Lent

I gave up Starbucks for Lent.  It may not seem like a big sacrifice but considering I had been on a two-a-day kick it really is to me.

I find myself wishing I could have one.  A Skinny Peppermint Mocha -- or a Skinny Caramel Macchiato if we're now out of the season of my true favorite coffee drink.

Regular coffee tastes like...coffee. 

I don't like it.

While my wallet and waistline I'm sure appreciate the sacrifice I've made, my taste buds are grumpy.

Wordless Wednesday - March

Tasty Tuesday - Almonds

Emerald - Cinnamon Roast Almonds

I picked this up on Sunday when I did groceries with John.  We both enjoy almonds, my personal preference being the ones covered in chocolate, so we added them to the cart.  They weren't the cheapest but I am delightfully surprised by how yummy they are!  So much, in fact, I think they will be a new staple in the house of Woo.

Random Writings - Proud

I know I've been bad about blogging lately.  I will try to be better.

Today, I'm feeling super proud of myself and optimistic about my goals before I turn 30.  It is not very often that I would say I truly feel proud of myself - I think the last time was when I passed my SPHR exam.  I may feel other positive emotions about myself but proud is not a feeling I can say I is among the top five.  Fact is, it's not a feeling I use lightly.

So for me to say I feel proud today, that deserves a blog post.  Even if it is short. 

To me it is oh so sweet.

That is all. 

Five for Friday - She Get it From Her Mama

Some people call their grandmothers: grandma, granny, nana, gigi, abuela.  I call mine Mama.

Mama, me, John, and Papa

Here are a list of five things I get from Mama:

1. My life.  Without my grandma, my mom would not exist and, therefore, neither would I.  Fact.
2. My clumsiness.  I am so clumsy I once tripped over (and as a result removed, ouch!) my younger cousin's catheter while I was visiting him in the hospital.  (We still talk and are on very good terms but some how the story usually gets brought up during every visit.)  Mama was just as bad though I don't think she had a story that could top mine.
3. My sweet tooth.  Everyone in my family, except for Mama and I, crave salt.  We on the the other hand always have sweets (be it candy, cookies, cake, pie, etc.) around.
4. My love of the kitchen.  I have so many memories of Mama being in the kitchen and me helping or just watching.  She was a fantastic cook.
5. My rice and bean recipe.  A staple for any Puerto Rican cook.  Mine comes from Mama.  I can remember many years ago writing down the directions as I watched her make it for me to learn.

I get these things and so many more from Mama so much so that I have previously been told I could never deny she was my grandma.  That's ok with me though because I would never want to.

I love you, Mama.

Mama

The nice card I came back to from my old co-workers.

Sorry for the radio silence.  Mama passed away a week ago today.  I got back into town two days ago but have also been feeling sick and not completely in the blogging mood.  Please bear with me if it takes me a few days to get back into the swing of things.

Dear 2013 - Mix-Up

Dear 2013,

I do not appreciate the mix-up this morning.  Instead of sleeping an extra hour (hour and half if you consider how many times I would have hit snooze) this morning I was up and at work for what I thought was an early morning webinar.  Why am I complaining to you/about you you wonder?  Simple.  I have been in the workforce participating in webinars since 2004 and have never confused a 1pm webinar for a 7am one.  That is, until you came along.

Resentfully,

Your caffeine dependent almost foe

Tasty Tuesday - Mayday

This poor cell phone picture captures my favorite food in the entire world.  Mayday pie from Missy's Pies.  No ice cream, no whipped cream, just a warm, gooey slice of Mayday pie. 

I am currently trying to determine how to recreate this in the form of a cookie. 

In the meantime, do yourself a favor and try it if you haven't.

I accept thanks in the form of flowers, presents, and pie - Mayday only of course.

Five for Friday - Snow!

1. I loved getting a surprise call at five o'clock this morning saying we were on a two hour delay because of the weather.
2. I also equally loved all of the unexpected beautiful snow.
3. I was not so thrilled to learn there was a layer of ice under the snow.
4. However, I am super excited that because of the delay I now work about a five and half hour day today.
5. My excitement with the snow does not come close to that of Roxy the Snowman.

Happy Friday!  Be safe!

Seven

Today my little pup is seven years old!  I can't believe it!  To think she's been sidekick and shadow for just about seven years (I got her when she was five weeks old) is unbelievable.  I know she's a puppy dog but I promise I love her like she's my child.  She is so sweet and polite and silly and gross and so much more all wrapped up in a 23 pound ball of fur. 

Can you spot the birthday girl?

Wordless Wednesday - Caffeinated

Dear 2013 - Yikes!

Dear 2013,

I appreciate that you're here and bring with you a clean slate but could you possibly stop having my face look like a twelve year old boys' basketball team? 

And in case you're wondering I prefer snow days, puppies, money (and the list goes on) to pimples.

Sincerely,

Your pizza faced non-friend

Monday 1-day Goal: Monthly Expenses

Clearly I'm still not back into my blogging stride after WEverb12.  Sorry about that.  But I did think of a Monday 1-day goal for today. 

I'm not sure what got me on this finances kick but I realized I don't know how much I spend each month on bills.  I venture to say I'm pretty good with money and am surprised I don't know even though I pay these bills every single month.  Well I refuse to not know any longer.  Today's goal is for me to get a better understanding of all of my monthly bills.  I'm not talking budget, at least not yet, so I'm not including things without a due date such as groceries, gas, etc.  I think I have an idea and will be really interest to see how far off, or close, I am.  I think this activity will also give me a better idea of how much money I have to "play" with each month on those other things, like the groceries and gas I mentioned but other things too. 

For some reason this activity makes me think:

Have a happy Monday!

Five for Friday - Thankful

I think this will be another recurring blog "segment".  In it I will list five things of the topic of my choosing.

Here are five things I'm thankful for this beautiful Friday afternoon.

1. I am thankful I get a weekend with my husband.  Weekends that we are both off are few and far between and add in the weekends we're not traveling and it's even less.
2. I am thankful for a boss who is great to work for a so supportive of me in all things.
3. I am thankful for redos and new starts.  I slept through the new year celebration this year so this weekend John and I will be redoing the countdown celebration so I can have a symbolic new start after a new year that hasn't been so hot eleven days in.
4. I am thankful for my little pup and the fact she is feeling better.  She had a seizure and was pretty several days ago throwing up about eight times and completely pitiful - part of the reason this year has not been great thus far.  It was awful to see.  I am so glad she's [mostly] back to her normal, silly, loveable yet gross self.
5. I am thankful I have a world of possibilities.  Knowing that I can be considered for other jobs because of my qualifications or choose to completely change my career path or field someday down the road just because I want to or really anything else that I can imagine from the big to the small being possible.  It may not always be easy but knowing that it's still a possibility is awesome.

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas

Monday 1-day Goals: Goodbye Christmas

I think I want to start reoccurring blog "segments" (for lack of a better word).  These reoccurring "segments" will help guide my writing, though it still will not likely be an everyday thing.  I'll still throw in random blogs about whatever's going on, if something is going on, but otherwise I'll have something to fall back on.

I haven't really thought about what "segments" I want and kind of only thought of the idea on my way back from Starbucks a few minutes ago.  Mondays "segments" are going to be Monday 1-day goals.  These posts will be an opportunity for me to come up with a goal I can achieve on that specific Monday and hopefully get me feeling productive and ready for a great week.

Today's 1-day goal is to FINALLY take down our Christmas decorations and put them back in the attic.  I think this is the longest I have ever had my tree and decorations still up.  I always think houses look empty after the Christmas trees are put away but I'm also ready to have my house back in it's normal order.  I may take pictures, stay tuned to find out.

A New Start

Happy New Years reader!  I hope it's a wonderful year for you!