Here Comes Santa Claus

Anyone who knows me, knows that Christmas time is my favorite time of the season. Not only for the presents but its a time to help your fellow man. Even though we should do so throughout the year, most don't. However the urge to help one another is greatest throughout the season.

There is something about the first snow, or Christmas Eve, the holiday celebrations with friends and family, where you can stop take the time to enjoy one another. And always, the first taste of hot chocolate on a winter day.

Bloggers Jolly Mom and Go Graham Go are hosting a holiday blog party!

HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS Event Starting Nov. 23rd. Don't Miss It!!

OOO... what I could do with this!

Jolly Mom is giving away a HP TouchSmart600 Computer!

What an awesome prize and big props to Jolly Mom for hosting such a fantastic giveaway.

There is so much I could do with a machine like this. There are so many great features to this computer. From the online reviews it sounds like its great in the kitchen as well, the recipe box program is toted as one of the best as far as organization. And the TouchSmart feature, makes for easy scrolling/reading. The TouchSmart has voice recognition that will read a recipe too you, step-by-step. So if you have your hands full or dirty, the machine will read the next step to you!

How crazy to think that a computer could be in your kitchen and actually be of great assistance. It actually could pull recipes from the web and format them into the Recipe Box program seamlessly.

The monitor can be wall mounted to save on counter top space. I would use this to help out in the kitchen and to hopefully make my life a little easier. How cool to pull recipes from the internet and have them read back to you. What amazing technology.



I just found this blog today, and will instantly become a follower.

Here's the link directly to the giveaway

Dreary Friday!

Well its raining in NH this morning. One of those days where I am glad that I am at work. It stinks those days that its absolutely beautiful out and you are stuck at work. So when its rainy and miserable out, I don't mind being at work!

I get so nervous about Toy Bank this year, I am anticipating a huge increase in the number of families needing assistance this year and also worry about donations being down this year, all due to the economy. But all I can do is my best.

I am taking a vacation December 8th through the 12th to go to North Carolina to see my brother and his wife. I am looking forward to seeing him. Its not going to be the same this year with him being down there and the family being up here. This is my first year taking a vacation while it's Toy Bank season, and I get nervous, I have to trust the other people on my committee to pick up my slack. I hope that someone steps up. I've pretty much done all the work, they just need to get people to show up.

Last night Ben and I went to bed at 830pm! He's been up late with work a lot lately, so last night he didn't have to work, and was really tired. I had to make a deal to watch SOA tonight rather than last night. Poor guy. Though I think I got too much sleep! 9.5 hours - my body isn't used to that much sleep! and I am yawning like crazy today. Even typing the word yawning makes me yawn....

My parents leave Sunday to spend the week with Nick and Lindsay and to celebrate Thanksgiving down there. So I am spending the week in Hampton house/pet sitting for the rents. It will cut down my drive time to work, that's for sure! There is much to do for toy bank next week as we have to get all the boxes out to the local businesses.

Ben and I celebrate 2 years in early December (actually while I am down in NC on vacation) - not really sure if we are doing gifts or not, its really close to Christmas... so I'd rather just have a nice dinner out or date night. Maybe a card, I guess I should talk to him about it.

Weight watchers is going well. I am 6 weeks in and down 14.4 pounds. that's an average of 2.4 pounds per week, which is a little higher than average, I'd rather see 1-2 pounds per week, but then again, I am sure it will all even out. And I am sure its mostly water weight.

I heard a quote and I kinda like it - but it's who said it who is causing the controversy. Model Kate Moss was quoted as saying "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" - and I kinda like it. It's kind of motivating, to keep my hand out of that cookie jar. But since Kate Moss had an eating disorder, I think she takes flack anytime she would make a statement like this. But I've heard this in another form, so its not like its anything new!

I am looking forward to Black Friday, I am trying to get my shopping lists together, I am going to try and actually buy gifts for other people, instead of buying lots of things for me! LOL. I am so bad. And I get to spend time with Tabs! Which is always fun!

Sunday!

Well, I was supposed to be on my first full day off. And well, yeah, that didn't happen. Ended up getting an overtime shift for tonight, so here I am. But I did manage to get 98% of my housework done. Really only have one or two things left to do. I felt very accomplished after today.

Ben must have been tired, he's been working crazy hours the past few weeks. He slept until 11:30 on Saturday and noon today. He deserved it for sure.

Tomorrow is WW weigh-in day, I am hoping for a loss, after being up last week a loss of greater than 4 pounds would be fantastic.

I haven't been able to get my walks in like I should. I need to get in a mind set that any movement is better than no movement. Though today I was sweating and moving so today's movement is checked off! I need to take each day as a success and start anew the next day. And not let the little things get me down. I had a really great conversation with one of the guys at work about it. Very uplifting. I can and will be better! I want my iPhone! LOL.

This week I am working at HCA 2 days, last time at PIM on Wednesday, nice office - I wouldn't mind going back, but living in Kingston now makes it tougher to get to Portsmouth. And I really like my setup at Clipper. But then again its not really up to me.

Tomorrow morning I am going to an AM radio station locally here (WXEX in Exeter) to do a recording about the chili cook-off. I am still trying to coordinate one with the Wave in Portsmouth as well, but that one is for the Seacoast Wide Toy Bank. Its frustrating when the person in charge of the seacoast wide one hasn't really been seen or heard from lately. Which reminds me that I need to call him again.

I cannot believe that next week is Thanksgiving! My how time flies. Here it is the 15th of November and today it was near 60 degrees! We are going to have a big shock when the snow comes, and who knows, there may be snow on the ground for Memorial Day at this rate!

Well that's all the ranting I can stand right now.. lol.

Prioritize!

I need to prioritize my life and set some goals. This time of year my life gets crazy busy! Although I don't like it, there really isn't much I can do about it. I need to learn how to say no from time to time. Its hard for me to do, that's for sure. I am a people pleaser, one of my faults... I've done it for years! Even when my parents were divorced. It's just part of my nature. I know one of these days its going to cause me to have a breakdown! So I am trying to space out Toy Bank so that its not all at once, but rather spaced out over time. I guess we'll see how it goes. I am really hoping for a good year.

I'm still trying to squeeze in the last few of my vacation days in as well. And trying oh so hard not to use vacation time for Toy Bank things, though its tempting!

I am flying out on Dec 8th through Dec 12th to go see my brother in NC. This is the first year that we won't be together as a family for the holiday and its just crazy to think about it. So I will go and spend some time with him. I'm excited to go, but I'll be missing my actual anniversary date with Ben (2 years! - seesh!) however Ben and I plan on celebrating when I get back into town. Not sure what we will be doing, but as long as I am with him, I'll be happy!

HOBY is coming back to life. I am hopefully that after this weekend things will get back on track. I have said to Ben that I am only doing what I am doing now, I do not plan on taking any more roles within HOBY. I don't want to go to seminar weekend, I'd just like to help with the grants and seeking donations for the organization.

There are so many non-profits out there that I would enjoy working with and the causes are very worthy. I just don't have enough time and resources. So I have to be choosy with where I give my time.

Then of course there is time with my family and friends. And then lastly work. I love my job and the people I work with (my guys are the s*!) and I am terribly fortunate that I still have a job. As anyone knows the economy isn't what it used to be. Its rebounding, but I think it will take awhile before we are comfortable. Everyone is trying to make their dollars stretch more. I know for me I've been using more coupons and not being such a brand whore when it comes to certain types of food.

Speaking of saving money, one of my favorite holidays is coming up shortly.... Black Friday! I cherish my day with Tabitha and being one of those crazy people standing outside a store at 2 am!

I know that for me personally, I realized how bad I was off with my credit cards and I am trying to pay off them one at a time now so that I am not in this position again. I know there are worse people off than I, but I am not comfortable in this position. I'd like to own a house someday, and I know I need a down payment, so I am trying to save up for that as well.

One way I try to save money is searching blogs and online sites for deals. One that I came across was http://www.sahmsue.com/2009/11/50-custom-thank-you-cards-giveaway.html and www.uprinting.com for doing a giveaway of thank you cards. These cards would come in real handy for my Toy Bank thank yous that I do after the holiday season!

I have to keep my notebook with me at all times. I am very forgetful and I am a list person. I love my lists, there is order and structure in my lists. And I do get some satisfaction in crossing my tasks off my list as I complete them. I guess I am just sick in the head.

Sorry this is a random post... sometimes I just type what I am thinking and feeling in the moment. Apparently today, I am quite scattered ;-)

Veteran's Day & Tis the season?

Is it too early to talk about Christmas? Never! I say. I love this time of year. It's also Toy Bank season (www.toy-bank.com). The union that I belong to, Professional Firefighters of Hampton, Local 2664, donate countless man hours to the toy bank. Every year we help families and children have a Christmas that may have gone without. This project has always been a passion of mine, and it's in my blood, my dad started it almost 30 years ago! Before I was born! I have many countless memories of going places with my dad in town, and doing Toy Bank things. So naturally when I became a Fire Alarm Operator and joined the local, it was a given on who was going to take over Toy Bank and fill my dad's large shoes. Dad is still there helping me and guiding me, making sure I don't miss a single thing, and I am so appreciative of his help. There couldn't have been a more seamless transition.

I am fearful of a troublesome year. As everyone knows, the economy isn't the greatest and many people are without a job. Times are tight and everyone is reining in their spending. My fear is a decrease in donations with an increase in need. Every little bit is going to help this year.

So with that, my mind is focused and I am diligently working on Toy Bank things, to make this year a great year. I have to stay positive.

In more personal news. I have been attending weight watchers for 5 weeks now. Overall I am down about 10 pounds, but this past week I was up 4 pounds! I attribute it to my mini vacation this past weekend. (I took Ben to Providence, RI for an overnight trip) and we ate like Kings! LOL. So its ok to relax - so long as I don't give up. And I am back at it again. I am determined that I will not be this heavy for my life. I have too much to live for.

We have a new dispatcher, he's working out well. I am finally getting my routine back a little bit. I hope that stays, I like my routine...

Tomorrow I am heading west, to the Big E with the girls from PatchWood farms for the Equine Affair. I am looking forward to the drive! And to be surrounded for at least a day, of all things, horsey!

In closing, I'd like to say "Thank you" to the Veterans out there, past or present. Thank you for the service to your country, which enables me to live my life the way I want to.

Another week goes by

Well work has been super busy, I unfortunately missed BOTH the Deerfield and Fryeburg Fairs this year :-( Bummer. I guess that means that I will have to go next year ;-) I seem to be missing many of my fall routines this year. It's almost peak fall foliage season, and no trips in site to head north to see some of the beauty.

According to the google calendar, Ben and I have the first weekend in November off, so NO PLANS! Ben and I are going to enjoy a nice quiet weekend together. I have to say I am looking forward to it. I've been so busy between work and EMT refresher training and he's been way busy with work (product is getting ready to ship), I think it will be nice for the two of us just to have a quiet weekend together.

So its official, my cousin Cathy, Kelli and myself are joining weight watchers, well Cathy has already joined but this will be my first week (as well as Kelli's). Kelli and I have been going back and forth with the idea, and then Cathy sent me a message asking if I would like to join her (first stating that she hoped that she didn't offend me) which - I'm fat, I know I am. So no, it doesn't offend me, if anything should motivate me. I think it will help to have some friends there who can keep you motivated to stick it out - since they are going through the same struggles that you are. Nick and Lindsay are doing it down in North Carolina, seems like they are quite successful at it. And my insurance will reimburse me each year up to $300 for healthy stuff like WW, so I really do not have an excuse. And I still have the books from the last time I did it, so really it should be short money up front. I find it difficult to put the time/effort into eating better when I work so much, but I need to put down the take-out menu and pick up a previous prepared healthy meal.

Speaking of Nick, he called me on Friday (I was at the farm and literally had just gotten back from my walk with Kathleen and the dogs) and he said that he just got the package I sent him in early September! Somewhere in Post Office hell, they didn't deliver the package right away.... which is funny, since when I went to mail it, the Postwoman asked me if I trusted the Post Office to get it there quickly, to which I said, of course! Big mistake I guess! Oh well, brother appreciated the thought. I was just trying to send him a taste of New England!

The rents are camping this weekend, so I had to stop by the house and check on the cats this morning on my way into work, good thing I did! Food dish was empty! Poor Melly was wasting away.... any of you who know my cat Melly, she won't die of hunger ANYTIME soon... she's a fat ass and fits right in with the family. But Aunt Pam and Uncle Ralph have gone home and Aunti Barbara wasn't there, there is still some stuff in her apartment, but she wasn't there (either at church or at her new house in Rochester) so big doings at the family farm in Hampton.

I was watching Grey's Anatomy this week and one of the supporting characters needed a liver transplant due to his alcoholism, and he was talking about how he got that way. In that he would drink, and then say that he would never drink again, and he'd be good for a day, but then he'd reward himself with a drink, and start the vicious cycle over. I feel the exact same way with food. I do really well for a day or two and then I "reward" myself with a treat. My thought process is, oh I went for a walk today, I can have this candy bar, or whatever.... its really a bad way of thinking. And really, makes me think that I am a food addict.

Coming up this week is our kick off Toy Bank meeting! Holy Moly, its Toy Bank Time again! Seesh! Working at HCAPS (doctor's office) this week and hopefully a lunch date with Liane, a friend from freshman year in college, we've rescheduled this lunch about 4 times now over the past few months, so I am hopeful that I'll get to see her! And BINGO on Friday... so even though I work a lot, I do get some time to play, and when I do, I like to play hard!