Can't think of a better New Year's weekend

We spent this weekend celebrating Christmas (and New Year) with friends. Saturday night we went out on the town to Annapolis and did our gift exchange. We ended up going to a quaint Irish pub/restaurant. It was probably built in the 1700's, old stone walls, very cool. Afterwards we went to a haunted tavern. It was indeed creepy, but oh so AWESOME!!! We then headed back to our friends house to relax the rest of the evening, enjoy champagne and eachother's company. It was perfect.

Today my best friend and I headed out to celebrate Christmas together. We exchanged gifts then headed out for coffees and manicures. It was pretty sweet to sit there and have someone massage your hands and arms while making your rough old hands look oh so pretty ;) We then went out to lunch, and did a little shopping. Looking back I'm thinking to myself, I don't think the first weekend of the new year could have been any better. I am so blessed.

Tonight It's back to reality as work is tomorrow. However I'm going to enjoy these final few hours of my mini break parked in front of the fireplace watching football. There's no place I'd rather be tonight then here with my husband and pups. Happy New Year all!

Mini Vacation!

Hooray for being off work until Monday! You can't see me, but I'm dancing in my chair as I type this ;) I'm so ready to have some down time and enjoy the last few days of my most favorite time of year. On the agenda is girl time and dinner tonight with a close friend and gift exchange with her girls. One of which is my Goddaughter, so I'm super excited to give them their presents. We have a New Years Eve party, Christmas with some friends, and then Christmas with my best friend on Sunday. Very busy, but very grateful for this lovely time of year.

As soon as the work day was over I ran out of the door (ok not literally) but close. I headed up to the gym and did a 2 mile run. My legs are feeling it for sure. I'm happy to report that according to my FEV1 meter, my #'s were awesome!

Here's to 4 days off work!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Day 28 (5 Days off work!)

Tonight I am very sad to see my 5 day break from work end. It was a wonderful time off, infact it was amazing. Thanksgiving x2, Black Friday, Christmas spirit, lazy time on the couch, Football...and lots of it, Family time, and pure holiday fun.

However, despite being sad it's over, I am VERY thankful that I had 5 days off to begin with. My job allows me off every weekend, and holiday. I am so thankful to have been able to have this time off, especially to spend with Scott. It's been a long time since we had so much time off together due to his school/work schedule. Goodbye 5 days off and hello back to work tomorrow. I will miss you good old days off, thank you for letting me enjoy 5 of them :)

Back to Reality tomorrow

I have to say this has been one of the longest breaks I've had from work for the holidays, well ever. Being a nurse we usually don't get time off like this. Somehow this year we did, and I've absolutely LOVED it! I can honestly say I haven't been able to relax and lounge like this for a long time. I am honestly kind of sad it's over because it has been the best.

However tomorrow is back to the grind and the real world if you will. Starting at 0440, it's up for work and time to be a Nurse again :) After work means back at the GYM full force. I did take a mini vacation from it for about 2 weeks for the holidays. However I have been keeping very active, and am very excited to get back to the grind. I even have a new iPOD that Santa brought me to use! ;) It's even got a pedometer so I can keep track of mileage etc. How cool is that!?

So goodbye wonderfully awesome Holiday break, you were very good to me. And of course........GO RAVENS!!!!!!!!!

Heavy Heart (Would've Been Due Date)

Well tomorrow is the day I've been secretly dreading since I miscarried in May. Tomorrow, December 30th, was my due date. It's been quite a journey to get here, and by no means has it been a smooth one. I think about this every single day, and some days it takes over most, if not all of my thoughts. Right about now I'm thinking about all of the "would have beens" and it's not easy. Everyone told me that Christmas was going to be tough this year, especially approaching the 30th. I thought to myself that I'd be fine, and am far from it.

I had no idea that something like this would take so long to heal. I had no idea that something like this would have me grieving for so long. Nor did I know that having something for only a short time, would leave such a big whole in my heart. I didn't know that being pregnant not even 2 months and losing it could make you feel so empty and robbed.

I do know that while that little bugger was in there I was very happy, and it WILL happen again. I'd give anything in the whole world to be that nauseated and exhausted again.

So since tomorrow is going to be a tough day here for us, we decided to turn it around into a good day. So by chance Scott's sister and brother in law, as well as my nieces asked us to go to the beach over night. If you ask me, the timing couldn't be any better. So tomorrow we're up bright and early! I took off work, we're stopping for coffee and we're off. Our hotel has it's own ice skating rink, and heated pool, I'm so excited! We're ready for a fun day and night away for sure!!!

There is no way that I could have survived these last several months without Scott. I know for sure that he his hurting so much too. Yet, he's always there when I'm having a moment and need to cry, and believe me it's a lot. I'm so grateful for my family, and friends, including my wonderful FB friends who give more support than I could have ever asked for. I thank everyone so much for being there during one of the most difficult times of my life.

Positive thoughts and moving forward.....

Putting Myself in A Bubble

I don't know what to do.... I feel like I've been surrounded by SO much negativity lately, and I can't stand it. It's mainly at work, and It's bad. I don't understand it, It's Christmas time and we have so much to be thankful for. Why is everyone so damn miserable?

I walk into work and am chipper, making the morning coffee, and It starts already. Why? Literally at not even 5:45 in the morning and people are complaining, hating life, and just being all around mean. Don't get me wrong, we ALL have bad days, and no one is ever 100% in a great mood. However it's all the time lately, all day, nothing positive.

It's starting to wear me out. I try so hard to not let it bring me down, but am sinking. I wish I could just put myself in a bubble all by myself. That way all these negative people wouldn't get to me and try to bring me down. Although, knowing them they'd all be carrying pins.

No more negativity! Please!?

The Tree is Up!

We brought in the first day in December with putting up the Christmas tree! I just love this time of year! Usually we have it up after the marathon day on Black Friday, but have been so busy with other things that it didn't happen. So last night was dedicated to putting up the tree. We started out the night with Scott getting Chipotle carry out for dinner :) Then I lit the Yankee "Christmas Cookie" candle, got 2 wine glasses (red and green) opened a special bottle of wine, and let the Christmas music fill the house! We had a great time, and it looks BEAUTIFUL! I love how when the lights are off the tree and basister just glisten with lights! Even the dogs get into the spirit ;) Happy Holidays!

Black Friday

Well 15 hours later from shopping and I am Home Sweet Home! I had a wonderful day out with my best friend Beth. The day started at 0400 am which is only 1/2 hour earlier than I'm usually up for work. We met up at Starbucks, then off to the races. Our day went like this...

Stood in line at Target, got the "Door Buster" deals! Totally worth it, and the line was fast!
Kohls and got a TON of things for my family. I did most of the buying here!
Bass Pro Shop (only because I love my Father) Otherwise I was a lost soul in that place!
Bed Bath and Beyond
LUNCH break at Baja Fresh, yum! Relax and Refuel.
Dollar Tree, who can resist the cheap cute Christmas stuff including gift bags?
Off to Columbia
Marshalls, ahh one of my favorite stores. Ok so I may have bought for myself here, shhh ;)
Back to Target for more goodies forgotten earlier
Marley Station Mall
Sears
Hot Topic to seach for cool Transformer Stuff
Bath and Body works, need my fill of Warm Vanilla Sugar soaps for the house this winter

Dropped Beth off at her Jeep to unload my Xterra which now weighs 500 pounds less, lol!

The day was filled with Christmas spirit, Christmas music, and lots of laughter. After this long, crazy, but so fun day I drove home like a zombie where I soon stuffed my face with a vat of Mac N Cheese. Unloaded the bags, which are neatly thrown upstairs....yeah I'll tackle the organization thing tomorrow ;)

What a successful shopping day! Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!

Sad, Productive, Happy, and Tired

Yes all of those emotions are playing on me today big time. I've been on the emotional roller coaster on this beautiful fall Saturday.

Sad because we are losing a Cyster Courtney. She has decided to go home to God now. Courtney has fought such an amazing corageous battle these last several months. As saddened I am with the news, I am so proud of her bravery to do things on her terms and respect her decision immensely. Her sister started a blog for all of us to follow her journey, and I thank her for letting us share this time with them. Courtney will be missed so much, but I am happy for her to now be an Angel. We Love you Cyster....

Productive because I started and finished painting our upstairs hallway today. Did the upper half above the chair rail a dark cream color, and below a Mocha color. Looks awesome! I even did some touch ups to the Dining Room and Bathroom moulding. I started this morning around 10, after my mandatory coffee run ;) I finished this evening around 7. T.I.R.E.D. but productive!

I'm Happy because tomorrow starts the first of 3 Thanksgivings for us. We always celebrate Thanksgiving the Sunday before with Scott's family. I can't believe it's this time of year already, but It's my favorite and I'm trying to savor each moment.

I'm Tired because of the crying, emotions, physical labor, and running today. I'm following Ronnie's challenge while he is in the hospital. Deal is you have to either match his walking time, or a running time he gives you for each day while he's in the hospital. What a motivating thing to do! So today I completed a 23 minute run for us! After this day, I sure am beat! Night all.

Holiday rewind

We had a great Christmas. It looks like we've had a present explosion upstairs, and we're very grateful. Usually on Christmas we run all over Maryland, but this year we actually cut out 4 hours of driving time and were able to stay local all day!! Woo Hoo!! Santa was very good to both Scott and I (and even the dogs).

I've also had off way more than usual too, which has been lovely. With nursing, it's kind of rare to get the schedule off that I just had. So from Christmas Eve through today has been such a nice holiday break. Back to work tomorrow though, blah. Oh well I can't complain really, because I'm off Tuesday (request) and we have no cases scheduled for New Year's Eve or New Year's Day! And then back to work on Friday. Scott has off until January 5th, I'm Jealous! We've been doing lots of fun things during our break too...Scott downloaded on our Wii the classic Mario Brothers games and we've been going to town playing the old school games! It's been a blast!! We've also hung out with friends, went to our favorite bar, hung out with family, shopped, ate like it's going out of style, and just enjoying hanging out. I love the holidays and am sad that they are soon coming close to an end. Oh well, I'm hoping for a snowey winter so that will get me back into the spirit of things.

On that note our annual summer party we've decided the theme will be "Christmas in July" fun fun!! Happy Holidays!!

Ahhh

This is a sigh of relief. We are definitely off work tomorrow (Christmas Eve) which is so great! It wasn't official yet because we had to wait to see if any patients and or cases would be posted. But no, so HOORAY!!!!! Dad and I finished his shopping last night and had a really nice dinner like we do every year this time. I finished Scott officiallylast night too, as I had to buy him one last thing :) I even finished wrapping last night too! Although I have to say I am usually done all this by now, but that's ok it's done right?!

Tonight Scott and I finally had the chance to go out and get coffees and check out the Christmas lights. It was so nice, and we even took the dogs with us to make it a full family affair ;) I'm so excited to be off work tomorrow! I can't remember the last time I had off on Christmas Eve! I'm extremely grateful it's fallen this way for us, and that so many of our doctors have taken vacations this week, which means we get the time off too. Woo Hoo!

Tomorrow includes, coffee, wrapping up any loose ends or anything I may have forgotten about, a Christmas Eve lunch (Scott and I used to do annually when I wasn't a nurse) so that's cool, party @ my cousin's at night, and finish helping Scott remodel the bathroom.

For the next 5 days off (wow I can't believe I have 5 days off!!) I plan on doing some shopping, relaxing, making some new recipes, baking, doing nothing at my lovely leisure, and enjoying this lovely holiday season. Scott has off until January 5th...lucky! :) The one thing I do need to do is make my Christmas home made peanut butter cups that I make every year. Again for some reason time has slipped away from me for the first time this year ever and I didn't get them done. Oh well, I'll have them ready on Monday so at least I still fall into the holiday time frame :)

Christmas decorating

Yes it's that time of year again! Time to decorate for Christmas :) And today we did just that. We cleaned, got all the Christmas stuff out of the attic, put up the tree, and decorated the inside of the house for the holiday season! It looks beautiful and smells so festive too, thanks to my yankee candles "Christmas Cookie" and "Balsam and Cedar!" Yum! Time to call it a night though.

Tomorrow we are hosting our 3rd annual "Cookie Day" with Scott's family. The whole family comes over and we do a huge cookie exchange. This year I think Scott and I might do Gingersnaps, Sugar cookies, and Peanut butter cookies from scratch. Mostly everyone else buys a big tup of batter and does it that way. Nothing wrong with that, but I love making my own batter and giving it that home made touch!

Thanksgiving

It's that time of year again already...The Holidays!!! :) We went to mom and dad's last night for Thanksgiving. The food was amazing, my mom did a great job as always. Over all it was a nice time, however I could have done without some people in my family's negativity over everything! Some people will just never be happy I guess. Aside from that it was nice.

Today we are cooking Thanksgiving dinner here for us and 2 of our friends. The house smells like Thanksgiving, the food is coming together and I just love it! I'm extremely grateful for the wonderful people in our life, and everything we have.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!