29 December 2010

Tah-tah 2010

Where does the time go? The decorations have been carefully returned to their boxes for the year and preparations to welcome 2011 have begun.

So much to do - shopping, cleaning, laundry, cooking, decorating. The menu for our little New Years Eve party has been set and I plan on going to BJ's in the morning and spend Thursday night getting ready for the all-day Friday celebration.

It's Purple !!!
Elvis and I put our minds together and decided ahead of time, whatever money we get for the holidays will be used to purchase a much needed vacuum. Not fun, I know. I think Shrugs mentioned something to the Outlaws about my needing one because at Christmas dinner we were gifted with a gift card. I did a little dance and sang my thanks. They looked at me like I had 3 heads. Obviously, they never had to sweep a tan Berber rug in winter!

I knew exactly what I was looking for. Bag-less, upright, additional pieces. I finally found what I wanted and I will be fighting Elvis over who gets to use it first - yes, really!

Our little New Years Eve starts off with Diva, Elvis and I having a silver dollar pancake party - banana, chocolate chip or blueberry. I'm not sure which one I want, I may just have to have one of each. Lunch will just be sandwiches. No one is about to starve with all the food I will be serving later. 

Around 6, Shrugs will join us for games, movies and the food parade. It may look like I plan on feeding everyone in the building, but I am not making a ton of each offering. Most of the food will be homemade and using things I already have in the house. Anything I have to purchase will have enough left overs for freezing for another time.
This years food choices -
king crab legs with butter sauce
cheese tray with crackers, grapes and pepperoni
chips and salsa
sweet and spicy crock-pot meatballs (hm)
chicken and turkey bacon (hm)
scallops and bacon
pizza rolls
crab puffs (hm)
fried ravioli (hm)
mini quiche Lorraine (hm)
Spanokopita (hm)
vanilla ice cream with pecan praline sauce (hm)
sparkling grape juice

This is the last post of 2010. Have a wonderful and SAFE remainder of the year and see you all in 2011!

26 December 2010

19 December 2010

Saying Good-bye to a Well Lived Year

I would like to start off by saying thank you to those of you who have taken the time out of your busy schedules to read my blog. Life has a way of running us in directions we never considered.

Things I am happy about 2010: Diva is finding her 'self' and developing in to a wonderful and fascinating 'tween. Elvis being gainfully employed and setting out to every work day knowing that while it may be sweltering or bitter cold 60' up in the air, he will eventually come back down, he will be paid, the lights will stay on and his family will be all the better for it.

We are now just days away from tossing out the old calendar and replacing it with a crisp clean 2011 version. The calendar is not the only thing I hope and plan on changing in the near future. I have always been 2 steps behind the chaos. I would LOVE to wake up one day and everything be in it's place, the clutter gone, have a full pantry and an empty sink. The condo is about to get a complete overhaul. There is too much. Too much to do. Too much to clean. TOO MUCH CLUTTER IN OUR LIVES! We do not -need- most of the things we have and having it prevents us from reaching a point of happiness. I -do- have a cleaning schedule worked out for the next year... wish me luck!