pink vanilla cupcakes: December 2009

31 Day Challenge: No Eating Out at Restaurants

>> 30 December 2009

Starting on January 4, 2010, I am joining Prior Fat Girl's 31 Day Challenge to eat at home for 31 days. Prior Fat Girl, Jen is her real name, is one of my favorite MN bloggers. She lost a ton of weight and always has great tips and advice. Plus, she's super fun. So, when she posted this challenge, I immediately said I would do it too! This is what it means:

No eating out at restaurants unless it's a special occasion (previously scheduled)
No buying breakfast, lunches, or snacks at work (MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE)

I checked my calendar and the only day I have something scheduled that would include eating at a restaurant is on January 19th, when I go to the Minnesota Bloggers Volunteer Meet Up. (are YOU goin? Want to?) Other than that, we are going to be homebodies and honestly, I am ready for it. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my restaurants. We go out to eat maybe once a week. It's really not eating at restaurants that is the issue for me. It's the buying of breakfast and lunch and snacks at WORK. Lord in Heaven do I spend too much money doing that. I've discussed this numerous times!

So, this will be the hardest part of the challenge for me because:

I need to PLAN my lunches and PACK my lunches ahead of time
I need to make and eat my breakfast AT HOME
I need to resist the urge to chuck my lunch in the trash and buy one of the yummy meals in our cafeteria. (seriously, they make a mean grilled cheese/tomato soup combo. YUM)

I am hoping I achieve the following:

Save some money buy not spending money at the work cafeterias
Find a breakfast that I like and can make each morning and that is satisfying. (I am buying the Magic Bullet so I can make smoothies!)
Track Track Track. This will help me track my Weight Watchers points and get me back on track. (crossing my fingers!)
Learn to cook some fun meals for the family. Hoping to find a good pizza recipe since that's one of my favorite meals. I have a few I like so I'll tweak those. I also plan on using our Crock Pot a lot. I love Crock Pot pot roast and need to find a low fat version. Any ideas? :)

So, here's hoping January is kind and that I pass this challenge with flying colors! I'll keep you posted... Are you interested in joining the challenge? Let me know!

Top Ten Discoveries From My Christmas Vacation

>> 29 December 2009

10. Monitoring calories, carbohydrates, and sodium content during Christmas is strictly forbidden by the North Pole and if President Obama were to declare this law--even the Republicans would approve.

9. Bringing one pair of shoes, specifically your Target brand UGG boots, allows you to both save room in your suitcase and get out of going to fancy restaurants and/or church.

8. Drinking nothing but Diet Coke (and the occasional beer or two or three) during your stay is not only permitted but encouraged by your husband, provided it helps keep you sane during the visit.

7. Realizing that your parents are getting older is hard. Realizing that they still act just as silly as they did on Christmas morning when you were a kid is awesome.

6. Watching "24 Hours of A Christmas Story on TBS" should be a GOAL and nothing should prevent you from watching at least ONE of the times it is on. (GRRRRRRR...I didn't get to see it all the way through once this year!)

5. Deciding early on that talking about politics at any gathering where both Republicans and Democrats mingle in the same room is strictly forbidden and punishable by law.

4. When babysitting services are offered, free of charge, take it. No questions asked. And then run like hell the other way in case they change their mind.

3. Remember that Christmas Day is not meant to be a day when all you do is be stressed about Christmas dinner, messy houses after Christmas morning, or whether or not your 3 year old gets a nap.

2. Deciding to spend the final evening at a swanky airport hotel so you don't have to get up at 3am to catch a 6 am flight is not only a stroke of brilliance on your husband's part, it might have been the best idea he has ever had. Seriously, 6am flights are EVIL. Relaxing poolside in the warm solarium sun while your kids swim with their dad is HEAVEN.

And the Number One discovery from my Christmas Vacation is...

1. Always tell your family that you love them and appreciate them and all that they do. And thank them for being crazy, nutso, and insane... cuz you wouldn't have it any other way.

How was your Christmas? What did YOU discover?

Ralphie and I are Hanging Out This Week

>> 21 December 2009

To whom it may concern (uh, YOU):

Please excuse Suzi's absence from her blog during the week of Christmas. She is spending some much needed time with her wonderful family doing all sorts of fun things to recharge her brain--including, but not limited to:

Spending time with her awesome family
Going to the movies ("Princess and the Frog", "Up in the Air", and whatever else she can sneak away to)
Eating copious amounts of Christmas flavorings (remind her about this in January)
Watching "A Christmas Story" as many times as she can during the "24 Hours of A Christmas Story" on TBS.
Reading Three Cups of Tea for her book club
Playing American Girl Doll daycare with her kids and their dolls
Shopping
Working out. Eh, maybe. ;)
Perhaps seeing people she hasn't seen in 20 years (scary thought)
Staying up late watching TV
Not thinking about work and all the deadlines she has coming up
Playing Wii games and watching Kaitlyn kick Jason's butt in just about every game
Not baking a damn thing
Drinking as much Diet Coke as she wants--while she. still. can. (sigh... darn weight loss goal)
Undoubtedly spending too much time on Facebook and Twitter after the kidlets are in bed.
Saying Goodbye to 2009

When Suzi returns, she will gladly update you on how her week was and regale in the fun times had by all.

Merry Christmas to all!

(ha, "and don't forget to drink your Ovaltine!")

Not Me Monday: Holiday Preparations Edition

I do these Not Me Monday posts for a few reasons. I like the format, it's fun and easy to write. I like that linking up to MckMama's blog brings in more readers to my blog. I like that it does help me let go with a lot of the stupid things I do each week. And now, for another installment of Not Me Monday...but this time, with a holiday preparations twist...

I did NOT make a list of gifts that I wanted to get the girls way ahead of time only to blow through that list and add on a bunch of other stuff, thereby blowing my budget, yet once again. Sigh...
I did NOT have a mild panic attack wondering if I bought and wrapped more presents for Chloe than I did for Kaitlyn and her keeping a running tab and finding this out.
I did not buy more wrapping paper and tissue paper and bows in a fit of worry that I would not have enough--only to come home and find rolls and rolls of unopened wrapping paper and tissue paper and a bunch of uncrumpled bows.
I did NOT bake a bunch of cookies, Buckeyes, and cupcakes for various holiday functions only to have a ton of it leftover and waiting for me in my fridge and freezer. Luckily the cupcakes are stale and the Buckeyes are starting to go (thanks Jason). :)
I also did NOT buy myself way too many clothes from Old Navy and justify doing so by only buying things on "sale" and with my 10% coupon codes I got after filling out various surveys. ha! Hey, Old Navy, way to suck me in.

OK, I could go on and on about all thr stupid stuff I did (I mean, didn't) in preparation for Santa. :) I bet YOU weren't as naughty, huh!? :)

2010 is when...

>> 17 December 2009

May 2010 be the year that I...

finally clean out my closet of clothes I don’t like, don’t wear, don’t fit, don’t fit my life.
take my daughters to DisneyWorld
finally get to my goal weight (+/- a few pounds!)
learn to love going to the gym
make a conscious effort to save money instead of spending it
learn to cook (and not just passable cooking—really learn to make delicious healthy meals)
run a mile without stopping
redecorate the girls bathroom
make advances in my career
get an iPhone
take my blog to a new level and make it something more than it is
take my daughters to their first ballet performance and their first Broadway musical
go on more dates with my loving husband
appreciate what I have and not long for more
let go of caring about what others think of me and focus on what I think of me
learn to forgive myself for not being a perfect wife, mom, sister, daughter and just be the best that I can be and get over it
learn how to mow the lawn and use the snowblower (that one’s for you, J)

What will 2010 be for you?

My Girls

>> 14 December 2009

My girls are amazing.

My girls are beautiful.

My girls are smart.

My girls are funny.

My girls are sweet.

My girls are sensitive.

My girls are happy.

My girls are my world.

Minnesota Bloggers Volunteer Meet-Up!

>> 09 December 2009

One of the coolest things about writing a blog has to be the people I meet through it. Mostly I "meet" these people virtually-I recognize their names, visit their sites and comment often, follow them on Twitter, join in on conversations with them about blogging and social media, and exchange share an email or two. Up until now, I haven't met any other blogger personally and I really didnt think that much of it. I mean, makes sense--they are part of my virtual world. Until now. Well, January.

I am going to the Minnesota Bloggers Volunteer Meet-Up event! This is the brainchild of one of my uber-favorite bloggers, Missy from The Marketing Mama. She had this great idea to gather up the local bloggers and volunteer our time and give back. So, we are. You can check out her awesome blog here and she blogged about the event and is keeping a growing list of who is going.

Event Details

What: Minnesota Bloggers Volunteer Meet-Up!

When: Tuesday, January 19th 2010

8:00 - 9:30pm

Where: Feed My Starving Children-Eagan Location

Pre-Event Gathering at a local restaurant (TBD)

So, ya, I am super excited about this. Not only am I excited about meeting these fantastic bloggers, but I've always wanted to go to an event at FMSC. I've heard so many amazing stories about groups that have done team-building events here. It really is a great organization.

So, there ya go. If you are a Minnesota blogger and are interested in joining us for some fun, great discussions, and for a great cause, let Missy (aka the Marketing Mama) know and she'll hook you up!

Merry SITSmas 2009!

>> 08 December 2009

Merry SITSmas!

Today is the SITSmas blog fest over at SITS. I love participating in the SITS "fests" because I discover new blogs, reach new readers, and hopefully win fabulous prizes! Yes, my friends, PRIZES! There are giveaways every hour! You totally must stop over there and enter in the giveaways except the ones I want to win, of course. :)

Perhaps YOU are a new reader, to which I say hi! Welcome. Here is some info about me:

I live in Minnesota
I have 2 little girls, Kaitlyn (6) and Chloe (3 1/2)
I am married to a robot
I LOVE my Ohio State Buckeyes!
I love cupcakes. All kinds.

Here are some links to my favorite posts:

Here is a link to my current giveaway: A Nintendo DS game!

Like what you see? Join my Facebook fan page!

Follow me on Twitter!

Thanks for stopping by and

Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

Not Me Monday: Corporate Life Edition

>> 07 December 2009

Today is Monday and that means MckMama's Not Me Monday blog carnival. Normally, I try and deny any wrongdoing in these posts, but after the week I've had wondering if I was getting laid off (I STILL HAVE MY JOB, THANKFULLY), I don't have any strength to deny it.

So, screw it, here's what I DID:

I drank enough Diet Coke this week to fill a swimming pool. I drank enough water this week to fill a bird bath.
I was completely stressed at work waiting to hear my fate and managed to eat an entire school of Swedish Fish.
2 words: Chinese Food

seeing a trend here??

I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation both Thursday and Friday nights, thereby not getting the required amount of sleep I need. Thereby making me a complete crabby pants.
I spent most of Thursday and Friday at work in a daze after hearing about layoffs and trying to determine the rationale behind them. (My Conclusion: I STILL DON'T GET IT.)
We went to the Mall of America on Saturday to see Santa and spent more than I should on clothes for Kaitlyn and here's the kicker--she's wearing them tomorrow. Great. So much for wrapping them up for Christmas. Ugh. Oh ya, I bought her boots too. FML

So, there. I feel better.

Sometimes it feels better to just suck it up and spill it.

Hope this week (and mine) is better for you! :)

Is my number up?

>> 02 December 2009

I've been in the software/web application industry for about 13 years. I joined a start up in early 2000 that lived or died by their quarterly numbers and what venture capital it raised. I loved that company and stayed with that start-up through an aquisition. We were bought out by a larger company from Canada. I LOVED that company (still do) too. I survived about 4 rounds of layoffs while employed there. Each round was heartbreaking. One of the rounds happened while I was 6 weeks pregnant with Kaitlyn. That one was awful. I hadn't told anyone yet and I was feeling horrible and had taken some time off because my morning sickness had started full on right at the same time as the layoffs were about to happen. I was sure I was one of them. I remember the HR reps from "corporate" coming to our office and overseeing the executions. I remember one of the directors walking to each of the employee's cubes and asking them to "come with me". I nearly had a heart attack when he walked near my cube. Luckily I was spared.

At my current company, we've had a few rounds and my area has been affected. The rumors started in late October. Our company has weathered this financial crisis pretty well so most of 2009 I didn't really worry too much about losing my job. I do a good job, work with a lot of people who do important things and know me and my abilities. I am on important projects. I am leading important projects. I feel like the people on my team like me, respect me, and trust that I am looking out for their best interests. I get along with everyone. I LOVE my company. I love what it stands for, what it provides, and believe in it's purpose. Truly, I've been lucky to work for some great companies, but this one is where I feel the most allegience to.

Does that even matter anymore?

December is here and we know that something will happen before Christmas (Merry Christmas to you, too!). I am hopeful that I am not one of the "walking dead" in our company but you never know. I'd like to think that I contribute a lot to my organization and I have value there. The same can be said for a lot of people I work with--even some that were laid off. So, I try not to get too worked up. Whatever happens has already been decided--probably months ago--so I have no control over it now. I try to remain calm and focused on the projects and work that I am doing.

But still.

How many rounds of layoffs can one person survive? I've heard of "survivor guilt" and I believe in it. I felt guilty and horrible for those that were cut each time layoffs happened. I remember the tears and the look of panic in their eyes and the shear desperation in their face that they could not hide. It's such a horrible part of being in the workforce. Reductions in staff are something I will never fully comprehend. The people are a company's biggest asset. Why is that so hard to rememeber when it comes to cutting costs? The cost to hire and retrain a person to do the empty position is huge and is a setback to the group or project's progress--every time.

I am not an HR expert. I am sure I am missing the "big picture" about why companies choose to lay off their employees in order to cut costs. I know they are easy numbers to quantify and line items in the "big" spreadsheet, etc. But still. I am not a line item. I am a person with a mortgage, a car payment, with children, and with great amounts of respect and dedication to my company. I am a company person. I don't just go in, do my 8 hours, and leave. I work all the time. I think about my projects and goals all the time. It's just who I am. I love my job and I love my company.

Surely that should count for something.

Or not.

Stay tuned...