I resolve to

Here I am on this 1st day of the first month of the new decade trying to come up with some sensible resolutions. I usually do pretty well...til about March. So tonight as I sit here listening to my hubby snore, I resolve to:

~go to bed earlier...especially on school nights...by midnight for sure.

~drink less soda (to help w/ prior resolution) and eventually wean myself from my daily addiction.

~drink more water...it does a body good

~read at least 8 books this year...I know that doesn't sound like a lot to some but for me it's plenty...I read 6 last year and was feeling quite accomplished and rather "smart".

~and finally, to blog at least 4 times a week...even if it is rambling that no one but myself cares about.

And you...How many books did you read last year? You thought I was going to ask what your resolution was, didn't you?

Our December Diet

All we did for the month of December was EAT! Apparently, we have friends and neighbors who love us just the way we are (veluptuous) and want to keep us that way. This cute cookie jar was delivered to our door with THE BEST Pumpkin cookies I've ever had...the tin next to it was filled with the best sugar cookies EV-ER. The Snowman platter with candies in it was filled with Scrumptuous homemade fudge and the polka dot and striped candy dish was filled with almond M&M's which were pretty Diddly arn delicious.

These cinnamon rolls were DA Bomb!!

and so was the tiramisu!

Some sort of streussel cake...I didn't even get a piece of this stuff.

I did, however, eat ALL of these!! I love nuts! If you've got nuts, you're my best friend!! And I will eat them!! (that sounded horrible)

one of my favs was this homemade fudge...she tried to wrap it all up in name brand paper but I swear, we could taste the LOVE in it! There's no foolin' us Jolene!Sarinah's candy didn't last long enough for me to even get the camera out...they had it eaten before I could say "wait!!".

This cranberry nut bread sits on my counter tonight...enjoy yourself little loaf...for tomorrow you will be no more!!

Of course, we washed it all down with a little bit this...
and a little bit of that...And, this, my friends, is why mama needs a new pair of running shoes!!
My apologies to those whose treats were not shown here...I didn't think of taking the pics until the day before Christmas...or somewhere around there.

Candy-licious

The 3 year old got to hang the candy canes this year. but everyone took turns eating 'em...

and there were tons to be eaten!!

Thank goodness for strong branches...

And toothbrushes!!

Christmas Memories

Wow!! Time sure has flown by!! I just logged on to write a new post and saw that I hadn't blogged in a month. Guess that's what happens when you're making 8 million tamales!! I never thought I would be as busy as I was. I decided that I would only commit 2 - 3 days a week to my tamale work and the rest of the week was for family and Christmas stuff!! I stuck to my 2 days a week but it seems I just never got around to the Christmas stuff. I checked my calendar and it was suddenly December 20th....and I'd done absolutely NO shopping!! I'm not quite sure what it was but I just couldn't get with it this year. We didn't even get the tree up until the 16th. Anyways, Christmas came wheter I wanted it to or not and with that came lots of wonderful memories. Like...Jareds birthday.. parties with Santa..and a surprise visit from Josh.. Then of course we had Steve's company Christmas picnic..stubborn children...and unsuccessful family pictures.. (guess that's what I get for trying at the picnic) We taught our kids about crack and how unattractive it can make you...beat eachother up...spent time with old friends... and said our goodbyes...

Another great year with family and friends...It's a wonderful life!!

jipped

I'm feeling a little jipped this morning. I went on to the pioneer womans blog to catch up on her book trip only to find that MM and boys tagged along and signed books with her!! What did we do so wrong here in Phoenix that we weren't special enough for this treat so many others got to enjoy? I'm demanding my $ back!! Or a special trip out here just for me. I'd make her some tamales...and my famous chicken tacos. Think she'll come?

a little later in the morning: Okay, I sent her this...Hey Ree, I live out here in Mesa, Az where it's still 80 degrees...AND where MM and boys did NOT accompany you to the book signing!! Though I enjoyed meeting Melissa and your MIL I must admit I'm feeling a bit jipped not having MM's signature in this treasure of a cookbook...not to mention the boys!! Please advise me of how soon you can get them out here as I plan to have some fresh tamales waiting for them and maybe some chicken tacos before they leave. Oh, btw...your invited too.
What do you think she'll say?

My party

Wow!! It's been a while since I blogged last. I have been rather busy. This whole working out of the home thing is still throwing me for a loop!! My poor kids grades are suffering and I know that has to do with my not being here to help them. Scouts and Sports practice is missed more than it is attended because I'm at work and they just don't remember. Jared played a whole season of flag football including the playoffs and I made it to 1 game. I haven't been to church in forever because I have only had 1 Sunday off since I started working there in early August and no Saturdays off. I'm totally hating it!! Yes, I'm just feeling sorry for myself. And as my hubby would say...Thanks for attending my pity party!! Even if you didn't RSVP.

the CEO and the Pioneer woman

So I was getting ready for work yesterday and thought to myself "hmmmm, I wonder when the Pioneer woman is going to be here". I knew she was coming because I had read it on her blog recently. So I run to the computer fearing I had missed her and much to my surprise she was scheduled to be here that day!! I told myself that I would definitely find a way to be there and that I wasn't going to call 8 million people and tell them because then that would add to the crowd that I would already have to fight to see her.

Then, my phone rang.

me: Hello?

Hi Julie, It's Rebecca (my boss)

me: Hey Rebecca, what's up?

I have you scheduled to work alone today until 2.

me: oooookay? (rolling my eyes and wondering why she felt the need to call me and tell me this...I work alone all the time)

Well, rumor has it that Renato Cataldo is in town so I just wanted to give you a heads up. There's a chance he may stop by our studio (with excitement and a little nervousness in her voice).

me: alllright, who's Renato Cataldo? And why is he coming to see me?

UHHH, the CEO of the company!! And he's making surprise visits to some studios in the valley. (then she gives me the whole talk about what I should do if someone walks up to the counter and how I should be friendly and recognize them immediately...you know, because I'm so unfriendly and never do that ANYWAYS!!)

So we hang up and I go to work. Then the phone rings at work and it's a manager from another studio...Hi Julie, It's Chris...has Renato shown up there? (all the while hyperventilating and sounding very nervous)

me: no but I'll call you if he does

okay. Thanks Julie...I'm so nervous.

me: no prob...bye!!

Once I hung up I wondered why everyone was so flustered by this? I mean, he's the CEO. He's a normal person like you and me. It's not like the president was stopping by. The way I feel about it is as so: If you're doing your job and you're doing it right, then you have nothing to worry about. Right?

So about an hour later, I'm on the phone with Rebecca again and who walks up to my counter but the CEO. He was actually quite nice and didn't have a negative thing to say. He asked me a few personal questions..how many kids?, all from the same marriage?, what I did before I worked there?, etc. Of course, I had to brag about my freshman who's on the varsity football team!! Then I had to argue with him when he said if it was Soccer then he would care. But since it's just football, he just can't get that excited. All in all it was a great experience and I was thrilled to have met him. Not many associates get that opportunity.

I was off by 2 and decided I would go meet the pioneer woman. I went by myself and met lots of really nice people. A little later in the evening I called Diane who lives just 2 miles from there and she came and spent the evening with me just hanging out and chit chatting. I'd never been to a book signing before and I've always wanted to meet the pioneer woman!! And yes, I did get her cookbook! Good times, good times!!