Monday things

So this post winds but it gets back around I promise!

My in law's are coming over for brunch tomorrow. I may have mentioned a time or two that I'm not a cook, right?

Well for as much as I'm not a cook they ARE eaters! This is 2 people who like food!! So since I would like to pay my bills this month I'm cooking for them... Cheesy chicken chowder and cinnamon roll waffles! I'm a hero huh? Well I decided to up the ante and make them "leprechauns" in green chocolate (listen people there is no way that when green smurfs and ET aren't leprechaun)

---------------------------------------

Okay, so when I was a child my mother did her very best to not let me know
A- we was pretty damn poor
B- I was the unwanted daughter of an alcoholic
So this meant she looked for ways to get me out of the house (see b) without spending too much (see a)
One of my favorite places we would go was called Putnam pantry it was (still is) an ice cream bar where the give you your ice cream scoop and let you loose at the bar (like thise new wave froyo shops) and then you sit down in adorable wrought iron chairs and there's a water bubbler in the dining room. You'll need it!
My favorite was the cherry syrup. Anyway attached to this was a candy shop (hello brain child) well there we all would ask for treats... My mom used to buy me MY FAVORITE ET pop each time (ahhhh love) but she would always buy it from the "broken bin" his poor little neck would be snapped. She'd tell me "joy imagine what he'll look like after you eat him?" and for as much of a pain I was as a child I was happy to accept a broken pop (probably on a sugar high?)

------------------------------------------


Well a number of years ago hubster and I went to good ole Putnam pantry and lo and behold the ET (and smurf) candy molds were in a dollar bin! I snatched those suckers up!

-----------------------------------------

So back to today - I made my pops and I was so happy: I was really living the memory... Yup right up until I snapped that suckers neck! Damn!!! Now I know why they were putting them in the cheapo bin! Those things are a pain in the ass.
But I happily served broken chocolate because well - if memory serves me I ate them often and I'm alive! And I have a great memory :-)

+++do you have a memory you'd like to share?+++

Friday fillins Saturday morning style!

I think it's more fun to do it today ;-) (or at least that's my excuse)

http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2012/03/here-in-ma-we-got-little-snow.html?m=1

1. When I heard VARITEK WAS RETIRING I CRIED A LITTLE!
2. COLD WEATHER makes me want TO MOVE TO ARIZONA.
3. Get MOVING - ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS, I BELIEVE IN YOU (Yes you!!!)
4. THE WOODS is where I FIND MY PEACE.
5. Hands DOWN PUPSTER WAS THE SINGLE BEST INVESTMENT OF MY LIFE.
6. I TRY HARD NEVER to put anybody down.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to VISITING A FRIEND IP, tomorrow my plans include A LOVELY WALK, CLEANING THE HOUSE, WASHING THE FLOORS AND MAKING A DONATION RUN and Sunday, I want to GET SOME YOGA ON AND FINALLY FINISH TAKING THE ANTIBIOTICS!!!

And this one courtesy of:

http://f.riday5.com/

First prize for winning an Academy Award is a gold statuette named Oscar. What would be a good second prize?
A silver statue named Fred (that was the other person in the odd couple, right?)

First prize for winning a Presidential election is four years in the White House. What would be a good second prize?
Not being stuck in the white house for 4 years???

First prize for winning on Survivor is a million dollars. What would be a good second prize?
Winning the island it's on with maid service, a chef and indoor plumbing for a year!

First prize for winning the Indianapolis 500 is chugging a quart of milk in the winner’s circle. What would be a good second prize?
Soy milk!!! Bet more people would aim for second!!!!!

First prize (for the horse) for winning the Kentucky Derby is a blanket of roses. What would be a good second prize?
A nice bale of clover hay!!!


+++what are you doing this weekend?+++

Wordy Wednesday

So I decided to change the name since I appear to be sharing texts (aka words) each week

This is another moment of pride I've had recently!

Remembering its not all about me...

I think that many people with eating disorders are very self absorbed. I don't mean that in the negative way it sounds. I mean that you (or maybe just me) spend a lot of time thinking about scales, foods, body image etc. All within yourself - and mostly alone

friend wants to get together for a walk? Ugh, what will she think about my thighs

Husband wants to go to the movies? Grr, doesn't he know the smell of popcorn makes me want some

Niece wants to go shopping at the thrift store? F*ck gotta try on clothes!

Most times I'll make an excuse
-sorry pupster and I already walked
-you know I don't like movies
-Hun I already have plans

You know, the norm

But this week a couple times I stepped out of me...

Said niece has wanted a tablet - I've been scouring Craigslist and eBay to no avail - well to no avail until Saturday morning ... 1 popped up on Craigslist for a price I couldn't refuse. A quick email later and I stepped outside my comfort zone and drove the 45 minutes to Worcester to grab her a nice little tablet - ignoring my body that didn't want to be seen. I seriously can NOT wait to see her reaction to her "love you" present!

Another time a friend needed a ride into Boston for a date night with her hubby - they wanted to drink, and know I'm not fearful of driving in the city... Umm okay I'll take you. Knowing that not only did this require people looking at me but said friend was bound to hug me (do people not understand I am not touchable?) but I did it, I survived it and well in reality I'm proud enough about myself to be blogging it!

Both things were instances where probably the average person wouldn't have been phased but I'm not average I guess (is anybody really average? Doubt it!) but overall it felt good to let people I care about "win" over the demons in my head!

+++when was the last time you stepped outside your comfort zone? How did it work out?+++

Haha pretending to cook

So biz http://mybizzykitchen.com/2012/02/26/i-grill-in-winter-so-it-smells-like-summer/ is hosting bsi which I'm pretty sure stands for blogger secret ingredient (or not and I made that up?) but it was potatoes this week and hubster loves him some starch... AND we had company coming over AND I saw these amazing purple (blue?) potatoes at whole foods AND a while ago I went with a friend to a pampered chef party and bought this microwave chip maker (I'm one of those people who feels obligated to buy something and I figured this wouldn't take up much space and there was at least a chance I'd make something).

So here's my submission to bsi potato:

Microwave chips

Ingredient:
1 blue potato

directions:
Slice very very thin (Apparently there is a thing called a mandolin that will do this for you - I thought that was a musical instrument) place on chip maker and cook for 6-7 minutes (I have a shitty microwave) rotating trays every minute or so...

Now if you don't have this microwave chip maker then apparently you can do it on a plate

See here:

http://www.food.com/recipe/uncle-bills-microwave-potato-chips-47195

And again I wasted my money!

When it's done feel free to spray with cooking spray (mine is coconut oil spray) and sprinkle with... I used sea salt and hidden valley ranch dressing mix! And that is how I cook "formal"!

+++have you made chips in your microwave?+++

Friday fill ins

Courtesy of:
http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/

1. I'm feeling LIKE I ACTUALLY SUCCEEDED AT A MOMENT THIS WEEK!
2. I want TO PLAY TO FEEL A LITTLE BETTER AND TO CUDDLE PUPSTER
3. I need TO CONTINUE TAKING THE ANTIBIOTICS EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE MAKING ME FEEL LIKE ASS
4. I was thinking ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT I AM IN THE WEE HOUSE VERSUS THE OLD HOUSE - I REALLY CARE ABOUT HOW THIS PLACE LOOKS, I HAVE PRIDE IN HOME OWNERSHIP (that's why I am attaching pictures!!!!)
5. I wish THAT MY FAMILY JOINED ME IN THIS EXCITEMENT BUT I GUESS IT'S TRUE WHAT THEY SAY FRIENDS ARE THE FAMILY YOU CHOOSE
6. I'm reading BLOGS AND NO PLACE FOR A LADY
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to A DATE NIGHT WITH HUBSTER, tomorrow my plans include DRIVING FRIENDS INTO BOSTON AND PICKING THEM UP LATER and Sunday, I want to HIKE THE BLUE MOUNTAINS!

And this one courtesy of:
http://f.riday5.com/

1-What significant anniversary will you be celebrating sometime this year?
Hubster and I will be celebrating 9 years of marriage! And what is 9? Ceramic or pottery can anyone suggest what you get a GUY for pottery? I'm leaning towards http://etsy.me/wAUHVm or http://etsy.me/AbE8lX (realistically I'm leaning towards this one because it makes me laugh) but he doesn't have a mustache (but did for a while when he was like 20)
2-In your life, what is today the one-month anniversary of? I have no freaking idea!
3-What is today the one-week anniversary of? Last Friday which wasn't a very good day
4-Sometimes the traditional wedding anniversary gifts seem a bit staid. If you had your way, what would be the right gift themes for the five years’ worth of wedding anniversaries? A trip to Italy
5-Among your friends, who’s been married the longest? I guess Joey and Kurt but I have lots of other friends who've been together longer but have chosen not to marry (which since I think marriage is just a piece of paper I rather agree with)

+++what's your feeling on marriage?+++

Wordless Wednesday

Can I say how amusing I find it that my two last ww were texts?

My friend got engaged - I was so happy!

Friday fill ins

Courtesy of:
http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2012/02/and_16.html

And...here we go!

1. Finally, I DID A FRIDAY FILL IN ON FRIDAY
2. LEARNING NEW THINGS (this week it was a new crochet stitch) sure takes some getting used to!
3. Dad says: BIO DAD - LET'S HAVE A DRINK. GOD DAD (who I love way more than bio dad and miss him every day) - NOT MUCH BUT HE WOULD SHOW HIS LOVE RATHER THAN SPEAK IT!
4. DIB DAB DOB is my favorite nick name for THE PUPSTER
5. It took a long time, but IM READY.
6. MY SISTER MAY BE THE WORLDS LARGEST PAIN IN THE ASS AND MAKE ME WANT TO STRANGLE HER DAILY BUT SHE LOVES ME AND I wouldn't have it any other way.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to MY REALTOR IS COMING OVER TO SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE WEE HOUSE (random, but she will be shocked), tomorrow my plans include maybe going to Boston and Sunday, I want to hike the blue hills with hubster and pupster (it's our redo of valentine's day)


+++What are you doing this weekend?+++

Wordless Wednesday

Typical text to the hubster explaining a walk with the pupster

A lesson learned??

Warning that this post is e.d. Heavy so don't read it if that upsets you!

The littlest things will set me off... And I'll purge. It's nobody and nothing's fault other than my own and I own that. The other day I was fine - nothing happened other than body image (omg I seriously hate body image issues) and I decided I needed to purge (ok brain we really need to work on this) and I did after I did I looked down and my moms diamond was missing from my finger and the ONLY thing I could think was I flushed it I lost my mind. Well I hadn't lost it it'd fallen off in the kitchen (I found it on the floor)

Will I learn? Will that fear keep me from purging another day? I hope so!

+++have you ever lost something very precious? Did you get it back?+++

Friday fill in

another courtesy of
http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2012/02/and_09.html

1. When it comes time to make a decision, I MAKE IT AND THEN QUESTION IT FOR THE NEXT TEN MILLION YEARS
2. DO WHATEVER EVERYONE ELSE WANTS that must be the rule.
3. Ma says, GOD KEEP YOU TO MORNING
4. I AM SO HAPPY WALKING IN THE WOODS, BUT at the same time I REALLY LOVE BEING IN THE CITY
5. I never saw A SLUSHIE I DIDN'T LIKE
6. PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING IS not a new invention.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to FIXING MY FRIENDS HOUSE, tomorrow my plans include GOING TO A TENTH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL, and Sunday, I want to GO FOR A RUN AND FRIENDS ARE COMING OVER

+++what are you doing this weekend?+++

Sleepless night success

So yesterday at 7:00 AM I tweeted about insomnia and that it had won the battle but that I'd win the war!

But that wasn't the whole story... Insomnia may have kept me awake but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

You see while I wasn't sleeping I came up with Pretty fun crafts... On pinterest a week or so ago I came across these: http://www.atwestend.com/Catalogue/New/set-of-four-felt-piggy-banks

My heart swooned - however, the price? Not as big a fan... But last night, last night I remembered some felt scraps I had leftover from Christmas presents and I thought to myself - there no time like the present. And so I cut and I sewed and I ended up with two cute little piggies and an owl. Worked out well in the end - a little (okay a lot) less sleep but I got myself one little piggy and my etsy shop got a pig and an owl (and I'm betting after tonight a heart) so I think I won the war (ish??? Let's give my sleep deprived brain this win, okay??)

Side note: I got 6 hours of sleep tonight

+++are you a good sleeper? And seriously how cute are felt pigs? +++

Friday fill in super bowl edition

Another fun Friday fill in courtesy of:
http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2012/02/and.html

This has been a really rough week for me and I'm hoping for better days soon :-) unfortunately a lot of what makes me happy short term isn't what works long term...

1. Go ahead, there's some SUNNY D ON THE TOP SHELF OF THE FRIDGE
2. HEALTHY MIND SET (or the cutest shirt i ever saw it said "almost not crazy" i die) I'll get that soon!
3. Don't worry, I DO ENOUGH OF IT FOR ALL OF US! You're welcome :-)
4. SURVIVAL IS THE GOAL for the day.
5. Pretty much EVERY DAY
6. PLAY SCRAMBLE EITH FRIENDS OR WORDS WITH FRIENDS with me.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to MAKING PUPSTER'S VALENTINE'S CARDS tomorrow my plans include A WALK IN THE WOODS and Sunday, I want to WATCH THE PATRIOTS WIN THE SUPER BOWL!

+++are you watching the game?+++

On storage

Another fun survey from:
http://f.riday5.com/?p=582

What are your favorite storage containers like?

I love pretty bins and boxes - things where they not only hide the clutter but also add to the aesthetic value of the room.

What seems to require more time and energy to store than it’s worth?

Non sentimental holiday decorative items! Ever since moving into the wee house we have a storage unit - it costs $100 a month if hubster wasn't a Halloween hoarder we wouldn't need it and I bet for way less than $1200 we could decorate for Halloween

What unusual container are you storing something in?

I don't think any of it's unusual
Ohhh wait does storing my printable coupons on my phone as an image count??

What packaged product has a container you really like?

Republic of tea - their tins are so cute

If you suddenly had some new storage space in your home, what would likely go there?

Games

+++what odd things do you store?+++

Where everybody knows your name

So this week I went to get my labs taken. I walked in and the receptionist was like "hi joy" before I gave her my paperwork. I laughed and commented that I must go in too often if she knows me by sight. As we are laughing the tech walks in and says "hey joy, got any blood in your veins this week" and we joke about me being norm and this is my cheers...

This led me to thinking of places I'd actually LIKE to be at so often they know me. Here's my list:

Massage parlor

Manicure/pedicure place

Facial place

West Elm

Mahoney's garden

Jamaica

Stone zoo

Harold Parker state forest (trees are people too)

Ikea

The library

Charitable everything

The yoga studio

Hair salon

The dog groomer (they do know me and pupster and have withdrawals if I go more than a month)

The barn

++where's on your list of places you wish they knew your name?+++

Stitch in time

I got this fun 5 survey from:
http://f.riday5.com/
Go check them out!

What was your first wristwatch like?

It was a swatch - and I wanted it sooooo bad and I lost it the first day

What lately seems to have been a thief of time?

Working out?
Therapy?
Purging? (yup wrote it, meant it, wanna stop it!)

What were yesterday’s quietest five minutes like?

Ohhhh sitting on the couch with my feet on hubster and my pupster 'nuggling up close

In what way have you lately been saving time?

I save time by doing things exactly the same each morning

We are often charged hourly rates for labor, but we never get to reciprocate in kind when promised completion times don’t match actual completion. If you could bill people for the time you spend waiting, what would be a reasonable amount?

I think somewhere in the $10-$20 an hour range would at least make people stop and think!

+++what's a TIME when you were truly happy?+++

I want that and a stroll down memory lane

I was on pinterest just now and saw these:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005OSB0WA?is=300&in=2
Ummmm let's think this through FAIRY TALE salt and pepper shakers oh holy hell I want that! I could be my own damn fairy godmother
So while checking out the link I noticed they were made by Fred http://www.worldwidefred.com/home

and it reminded me of a time that hubster and I went with sone friends to Foxwoods and saw the titanic exhibit... Well when we were given the tickets to "board" I asked if anyone died and the person was like well yes the vast majority die. And I freaked I was like I better not die and he replied that he (and I) had no way of knowing until the end.

I went through the whole exhibit swearing up and down that if I died there would be bad results (you really become this person) and so when we got to the final room I skipped by all the interactive stuff and went to see if I was dead! Happily I was not!!! And my two friends made it out alive, hubster did not have the same fate however and he fed the fishes... For the rest of the night I laughed so hard it hurt (I actually don't believe I've ever laughed that hard before or after)... We saw the cutest Fred (see it all comes around) ice cube tray as we were leaving (of the titanic) and I didn't buy it because I could stop laughing enough to STAND in line... It was bad!

+++does Fred stuff make you laugh too?+++

Sometimes you do not feel like being yourself

And on days like that this DIY "quick disguise kit" would come in handy!

http://www.designhousedigital.com/content/blog/happy-april-fools-day/

Heck even pupster sometimes rocks the stache

20 questions yo

I found this over on janetha's blog and thought it'd be fun to play along

http://mealsandmovesblog.com/2012/01/13/twenty-questions/


1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday?
Hiking with pupster :-) (and yup we have every intention of bundling up and doing just that soon)

2) List your top three favorite TV shows.
House
Grey's anatomy
Private practice

3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them?
I'd always rather take pictures * speaking of photos I was cleaning out drawers of our side table yesterday and they were literally stuffed with photos like thousands - crazy huh? So I went through them and between duplicates, horrid pictures, pictures of things I could not care less about and people I don't know I got rid of 60-70% of them - crazy huh? I have a dozen I'm mailing to people who'd love them the rest went out in the trash

4) Why do you blog?
so I exist to more than just hubster and pupster

5) Share five websites that you visit regularly…
google reader
Twitter
Pintrest
Groupon
Task rabbit
Craig's list

6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list who would it be?
bob from biggest looser

7) List a few of your favorite snacks.
I'm not a snacks person but a yummy tea is always good

8 ) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind?
I have pupster the standard poodle

9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without?
my phone
My car
My house

10) What’s your favorite drink?
lately chai tea

11) Do you enjoy cooking?
no

12) Do you have children?
pupster?

13) What are your favorite hobbies?
Running
Hiking
Looming
Crochet
Jewelry

14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing?
I'd say people probably think I'm shy but I'm really just insecure

15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?
my attitude towards me?

16) Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Julia Roberts

17) What’s the coolest thing you’ve done this week?
clearing out the drawers was pretty cool

18) Do you live near your family or far from them?
pretty close

19) List three of your talents.
I listen well
I'm pretty good with dogs
I'm a faithful friend

20) What is your greatest attribute?
I'm a faithful friend

+++would you like to answer a couple?+++

Friday fill-ins

Another great one from http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2012/01/and_12.html

Another great one from And...here we go!

1. When I looked out the window this morning I SAW THAT THERE WAS STILL A TEENY TINY PILE OF SNOW & I REMEMBERED IT WAS STILL WINTER
2. PEOPLE'S VIEWS OF THE WORLD AND OTHER PEOPLE doesn't make sense to me.
3. Remind me THAT EVERYONE HAS FEELINGS EVEN IF I DISAGREE WITH THEM
4. WALKING IN THE WOODS is something I love to do!
5. TP is SOMETHING WE RUN OUT OF ALL TOO OFTEN
6. I cleaned the refrigerator recently and I found NOTHINGNESS - I REALLY NEED TO GROCERY SHOP LIKE AN ADULT! THE FRIDGE HAS BEVERAGES AND THE FREEZER IS FULL OF FROZEN MEALS... COOKING? HMMM NOTSOMUCH
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to HANGING WITH THE PUPSTER AND WATCHING MR POPPERS PENGUINS, tomorrow my plans include GOING WITH MY NIECE TO THE GARMENT DISTRICT, and Sunday, I want to WATCH FOOTBALL - SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO WATCH THE PATS WIN!


+++what are you doing this weekend?+++

What I've been up to...

I was thinking that it would be fun for me, to every once in a while show what I've been doing.

I craft - well I go through spurts where I craft and then I hate it for a while. Ironically in the winter I prefer to bundle up and go for a hike more than sit around the house. And in summer I like to run... But often fall or spring I craft

Lately I've made these headphones. I saw THE CUTEST ones ever at juicy couture but they were $80! If I'm spending $80 I guarantee you it's on pupster not headphones! So I went down to the local store and bought $5 headphones and looked in my scrap yarn. This is what I came up with!

As it turns out my nieces think they're pretty cool and I made them some too! And a pair for a friend (still haven't gotten to mine yet but I am loving giving them away so great trade I think) so instead of $80 I spent $5 and a couple hours - cant beat that with a stick!

+++are you a crafter?+++

Friday fill ins

Another great one from fridayfillins.blogspot.com

1. Discussions USUALLY HAVE TO HAPPEN BUT IF YOU CAN RESUME LIFE WITHOUT THEM THEN IT'S GOOD.
2. GOTTA KISS THE PAST goodbye.
3. I think it's time TO LIVE FOR THE FUTURE
4. PUPSTER ALMOST ALWAYS puts a smile on my face.
5. Maybe sometime I WILL WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF SOCIETY AGAIN MEANWHILE THOUGH IM A RECLUSE
6. OFTEN WRITING AND PINNING gives me strength.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to GOING TO CIRQUE SHANG HAI tomorrow my plans include A LONG WALK WITH PUPSTER and Sunday, I want to WHO KNOWS BUT I DO KNOW HUBSTER IS GOING OVER OUR NEPHEWS HOUSE TO BUILD

Fabulous and five!

Today one of my goals was buying myself a new coat - my current coat is rather (shall we say) worn? That's what happens when you're a person who delves onto things without thinking. There was a hole in the back from where I sat on the fireplace and it melted my coat. The arms and bottom front had green on then from where I painted HUBSTER'S ladder green for Christmas... The arms had lost most of their down. Every single time I wore it my self worth went down...

But I HATE coat shopping I hate spending the money required for a coat! After stopping at (far too many) places I stopped at the thrift store! All blue tag items we're half off and fortunately there was a long pea coat in my size. It's bright blue (which I love) and its warm! I feel a need to alter it a bit (pretty buttons an something on the collar) but overall it'll do! Best of all??? 9.99 and 1/2 off so $5! Now that's fabulous

***note that's not me, or my coat - but close

+++do you thrift?+++

Return to sender

Three simple words, seemingly harmless and yet, for me, loaded with fear.
Yesterday I drove into the yard and there was a package on my front porch... Upon closer inspection I realized it was one I'd sent; to my cousin, my mentally ill cousin whose brother died early last year, my mentally ill cousin whose "crazy" brother that she'd never lived without died last year.

The package said in red stamp "unable to forward, return to sender"
Nothing more. No "don't worry Joy she's okay but moved to a place where she could be taken care of" stamp. No "you suck and haven't talked to her since thanksgiving and she threw herself off a bridge" stamp.

I carried it inside and called her, there was no answer - I hadn't really expected one but I'd certainly been hoping. I googled her name and nothing came up so I will assume she's not dead.

But now I wait, for her to contact me - the ball... It's in her court. The worry and Christmas package... Well it's in mine!

+++have you ever lost someone without them dying?+++

End of 2011 meme

1. What did you do in 2011 that you had never done before? Lived at a new address.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't really set resolutions so I can't really keep them!

3. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? A better handle on who I am.

4. What’s your biggest achievement of the year? In reality I am pretty proud of myself for having survived last year. And for realizing that I am not responsible for every bad thing in the world

5. What was your biggest failure? Probably how much I let others and myself hurt me physically and mentally

6. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yeah 2011 was the year my kidneys decided they hated me, my heart agreed and I broke 5 bones in my foot thankyouverymuch

7. What was the best thing you bought? Pretty sure I'm supposed to say the house but the reality is my real tree made me happy! Really really happy! So did some craft supplies

8. Whose behavior deserves merit? Pupster. He greets each day and each person with happiness and love

9. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted? My oldest sister - there's not one thing she's done I'm proud of

10. Where did most of your money go? Buying and furnishing the tartis house

11. What did you get really, really excited about? The house :-)

12. Compared to this time last year are you?

a)happier or sadder? happier

b)fatter or thinner? Slightly thinner

c)richer or poorer? Same in the bank but WAY less debt sooooo richer?

13. What do you wish you had done more of? Hung out with friends

14. What do you wish you had done less of? Please people who are unpleasable

15. What was your favorite TV program: starving secrets

16. What did you want and get? The new house.

17. What did you not want and not get? A rain barrel

18, What was your favorite film this year? Michael Jackson this is it

19. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you? I don't think I did anything I was 36

20. What kept you sane? Pupster always pupster

21. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Simon cowell.

22. Who was the best new person you met? Nicole my new friend and designer.

23. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. That you cannot reason with irrational people who think their way is the only way.

On dogs and such

We are considering getting pupster a pup of his own. The rescue league let me know to expect ~$300 a year in costs... I choked (back the laughter). Pupster costs monthly:
$45 (insurance)
$25 (average of vet bills)
$60 (dry food)
$33 (wet food)
$20 (treats)
$70 (grooming he's a poodle)
$10 (average of toys and clothes)

Ummm that's $263 A MONTH -

however when you add in what a simple pat on his head does to my mood, or the fact that his calming breath can stave off a panic attack, that his high 5 can count as my greeting and will often get me to places I wouldn't go I am pretty sure that he is saving me money. Sure I go to therapy multiple times a week but I'd probably be in patient or worse if I didn't have a great friend who doesn't judge and who kisses my tears away....

+++are you a pet person? Do you see their value in therapy?+++

Welcome to 2012

Happy new year! Did you have a great new years eve? I certainly did! I spent it with my sister and her family! It was a great way to welcome in a new year!

I'm not one for new years resolutions because I never keep them but I am one to set life goals and one that I am working towards now is volunteering more. Hubster and I recently volunteered at a shelter and it was a life changing experience - the people were amazing and grateful and a lot of the people there (who worked/ran it) were people who had overcome their own demons and were now giving back! It was awesome to see and wonderful to feel a part of! I will be starting a series of my volunteer experiences - I'm hoping they'll be inspiring ;-)

+++do you volunteer?+++