Five for Friday - vol 14.1.10

Here are five pictures from our wonderful trip to southern California!


1. Our first night in SoCal

2. Downtown Pasadena



3. Outside Rose Bowl Stadium waiting to cheer on the Noles!

4. Inside Rose Bowl Stadium

5. National Champions!  Go Noles!

Five for Friday - vol 14.1.3

The excitement of the new year has not faded on me a bit yet. In its honor, here's a Five for Friday about things I am looking forward to or hoping for in the new year, in no particular order.

1. A trip to Cali with my love to see FSU win the BCS championship. I am looking forward to the trip. I love to travel period and love to travel with John. He's such a good travel partner. I am hoping FSU wins the game. Even if they don't, however, I still believe this will be a once in a lifetime experience that I will cherish forever -- the last BCS game, my team playing for the title, at Rose Bowl stadium. But let's be real..they're [hopefully] going to win.

2. One of my BFFs, Patty, having her baby boy. I am looking forward to my friend becoming a mommy and hoping to meet him sometime in 2014.

3. John getting a promotion. This is more so a looking forward to; it's just a matter of when. My hope for him is that it's sooner in the year.

4. My mom moving near me or my brother. This is a total hoping for. It's all going to depend on if she can get a civil service job in either of our areas to continue working toward her retirement. *fingers crossed* Even if she doesn't move where I live it would be so nice to go visit her and have my brother and his family (my niece!!!) close enough to visit when I'm in town.

5. Speaking of my brother and his family, I hope they have another baby in 2014! Obviously I am so in love with my niece I want them to have another one for me to love and play with. Good thing they hope for this too, it makes it a reasonable hope for the new year.

2014, I think you are going to be golden. I look forward to everything you have in store for me, my family, and my friends!

Hello, 2014!

Happy New Year from the Woos!

Most of one day into the new year and I say again, the year is mine.

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.

Random Writings - Thankful Thursday

• Mama's still sick but she's doing ok.  Leedie has been visiting with her for a few days so I know that's giving her some happiness.  I firmly believe a happy patient is a healthier patient.
• Roxy's also doing good too.  In fact, I went home Monday afternoon and it was like nothing had ever been wrong with her.
• UK has a new head coach, FSU's defensive coordinator.  I was excited to link two schools I love but then rumors started that Stoops is trying to take a lot of the other staff.  I like Seminoles football way better than Wildcat football so I don't appreciate this.  I won't be much of a Stoops Troops if he keeps this up.
• Today is my Friday and for that I am SO thankful.

Tasty Tuesday

Sunday I made enchilada from scratch right down to the enchilada sauce and chili con carne.  They turned out pretty good but we had a bit extra of both the sauce and the chili.  Tonight I'm modifying my usual stuffed bell pepper recipe which I think is delicious to make the stuffing mixture with the chili con carne.  I hope it comes out!  I'm very intrigued to see if it will.  I may take a picture if looks ok and I remember.

On a slight side note this weekend my two Cake in a JIF cakes were devoured!  Keep in mind these are layer cakes and one of them was gone in like an hour and half!  I'm so glad everyone enjoyed it, especially since it was a recipe I just made up.  I'm thinking one day I may try making a chocolate cake with my peanut butter frosting I use, or use the peanut butter cake recipe and use chocolate frosting just to mix it up.  The only thing is Mr. Woo won't be able to eat much of it since he's allergic to caffeine.  (Sad, huh?  No chocolate, no coffee would equal a sad, cranky me.)

Oh and I was with my MIL in the kitchen on Saturday morning and learned how to make biscuits from scratch.  I was thrilled with learning and spending that time with her.  I am so blessed I love all of my in-laws and that I have such a great relationship with MIL.  I can't wait to spend Thanksgiving day with her in the kitchen.

Hope you're doing well!

Random Writings - Vol. 5

• I have adjusted my work schedule and now get off at 4:30.  I love it.  My life has been changed.  I think I have cooked or baked something homemade every day since my new schedule started.  It's amazing what a difference 30 minutes makes.
• Speaking of baking, I'm making two of my [Peanut Butter] Cake in a JIF cakes this week, one for Granny Woo's visit and the other for Mr. Woo to take to work.  He has been asking for this cake since I made it for his dad's birthday back in July.  I hope they come out as good as the first time I came up with the recipe.  I'm not trying to brag but it was delicious and made the house smell A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
• I am ready for the coming holidays and wish it was November already!  I just want to be in the kitchen all day, shop and wrap presents, and listen to Christmas music.  This Thanksgiving I'm hanging out with my MIL and helping her prepare the meal.  I could not be more excited! 
• I promise I do more than just spend time in the kitchen but lately it seems like that's all I've wanted to do.  I've been feeling so domestic.  It's quite nice.
• I love having time to read.  When I'm not in the kitchen, or with my hubs and pups, I want to be reading a book.  I just finished my last one (well my last chick-lit book, I'm still in the middle of a self improvement book and a cookbook) and now I need a new one.  That's always the hardest part for me but now that I've signed up for Good Reads I am hopeful it will be a little easier.

Hope you're doing well.  Have a great week!

Weekend Recap

Mother daughter weekend was a huge success.  Shortly after my mom got into town on Friday we went to get a couple's massage.  This was my mom's first massage ever and now she wonders what took her so long.  For her it was the highlight of the trip and it made me feel so good that she kept bringing it up and the fact she really enjoyed it.  We closed out the night with a quick stop to a store and some Mexican food.

The next day we left early, got some Starbucks, and enjoyed the hour and half drive to Cincinnati with some good conversation.  After that the day was pretty much filled with non-stop shopping, talking and wonderful mommy and me time.  It really was a great day and though I bought some things I didn't spend a ton of money.  The night ended watching the last quarter of the FSU game which was a major killjoy.  (Granted it was our first loss of the season but it really shouldn't have been a loss at all.  Between refs calling plays for NC State and Jimbo not bringing in the field goal team I was not happy with what I saw.  That being said, it's our fault it was that close anyway.  Boo.)

Sunday, we headed back after one last shopping stop and cleaned out my coat closet - to get a little productive mom and daughter time in there.  I dropped off the stuff I took out of the closet to Goodwill, did some groceries for the week, made dinner, and then enjoyed catching up and cuddling with Mr. Woo and the pup. 

This weekend was a great success and just what I needed without even knowing it.  Now I'm ready for a good and productive week.

Happy Monday!

Mother Daughter Weekend

My mom's coming up this afternoon for our first annual mother daughter weekend getaway!  We're going to be spending the majority of our time in Cincinnati but the fun starts when she gets in town tonight with a couples massage - her first massage ever (!). 

I have a feeling this is going to be a wonderful weekend.

Happy Friday!

Babies vs. Pumpkins

A few of my favorites from a great day at the pumpkin patch with Leedie, Angela, and Mallory to celebrate my birthday.

The girls trying to figure out what the deal with these pumpkins

Such a happy baby

Photographic proof of how hard it is to take a picture of this girl!

Old friends chatting it up

Happy girls!

With their pumpkins

Wouldn't Hurt a Beetle

Ok so as has been well established on this blog I listen to Pandora while I work when I can.  I have a mix of all kinds of stations on my account and as a result hear all kinds of songs.  Well I think I may have just heard the most random song ever, "Forrest Gump" by Frank Ocean.  Now I'm not hating on Frank Ocean.  He has some really good songs (a la "Thinkin' Bout You" and "Bad Religion" just to name a few) but this song's lyrics have me laughing out loud at it's randomness - which I am sure was not the song's intention.  I am copying the lyrics below so you can see what I mean.

Courtesy of Pandora

Wordless Wednesday - vol. 1

Happy Birthday, Leedie!

My niece turned one year old today!  Here party was great.  She was perfect.  I love her.  That is all. 

I leave you with the best birthday picture ever.

Leedie Turns 1!

I am so happy it's Friday!  I always love the last day of the work week but today is extra exciting because it's the day before my niece's first birthday party!!!

That seems like the fastest year ever!

In preparation for this milestone here are some pictures of the soon-to-be birthday girl!

Random Writings - vol. 3

• What did one bean say to the other bean? ... How have you bean?!?!
• I got jokes.

[Source]

Tears of Relief

This is a post to recognize that miraculous moment when you spend thirty minutes on the phone with your childhood best friend who sounds like she never went through brain surgery two and half weeks ago. 

I sobbed for at least ten minutes when I got of the phone.  (And cried all over again when John came home and I told him the story.)  Tears of relief.  Tears of joy.  Tears of thanks.  I am still weak with disbelief.  My friend is doing amazingly well.  I am too overwhelmed too explain it all but I want to thank anyone who sent a prayer or a positive thought to Christy and her family.  Everything was heard. 

I do not feel like I am exaggerating when I say I feel like I experienced a miracle talking to Christy on the phone. 

My heart hurts with gratitude and happiness for my dear friend and her family. 

Moving On

Today I'm moving on from my old office dwelling to a new office home...with a window!  Since joining the work force I have had two offices of my own; both of which were on the interior of large buildings and were essentially closets.  I enjoyed those closets but today I have a window and I will undoubtedly enjoy that even more!

I am considering this (though it's not really) my job's SPHR congratulations present to me since I won't get a pay raise or a promotion until I move into another job.

Once I get settled in and somethings I don't need get moved out I'll post some pictures.

Until then happy Monday! 

One Day Goal - pt.2

Considering it's 11:53pm I think it's safe to say today's one day goal has been met!  I even got a free Starbucks thanks to my super sweet boss!  (No, I didn't ask for it silly.) 

I did have to stop myself from picking up some things  a few times (mainly a step stool to do some things around the house tomorrow) and I'll be honest, I do have a shopping list of things to pick up tomorrow but for today...no money spent. 

Yay me and my wallet!

One Day Goal

Happy pseudo Friday!! 

I'm taking tomorrow off - much needed - and will be spending the day baking my Berry Natural Strawberry cake for Holly's birthday.  The day genuinely sounds like heaven right now and the thought of it will be helping me get through the next seven hours. 

Let me just stop and say work is not as bad as it's probably sounding; I just need a break.

Anyway I think I've decided to set a goal for myself today..

I'm going to try to go the whole day without spending any money. 

Just looking at the goal it seems pretty easy but truth be told for some reason I have been spending money like crazy lately!  Whether it be for Starbucks or lunch with my boss or groceries or bills, the list goes on and on.  So today I'm going to try and go without.  I went shopping for the ingredients for the cake yesterday and can pay my hospital bill tomorrow without incurring any additional fees.  (Side note: I will literally jump for joy when I am done paying off of my medical bills.  It still doesn't process for me that I have been paying medical bills every single month for the past two years and I'm only 28.  Oh and I still have my headache.  *sigh*  I'll step off my soapbox now.)

To position myself to be successful for this I have fat free half and half in the fridge downstairs for my coffee fix, I have a plan for all of my meals today, and can spend money if I realize I need to tomorrow. 

Hopefully I'll have good news to share on Friday.

A Slacker in Photos

Pineapple cake

Peanut butter cake mise en plas

The aftermath

Her's and his hand-dipped Maker's bottles