Time for a Break

Believe it or not it’s been nearly ONE FULL YEAR since I’ve taken a vacation from my job. I was actually ordered months ago by my boss to take some time off – but that certainly isn’t an easy task in the publishing business, but I finally found a way to do it. I literally have one week during the month of August when we aren’t shipping an issue, so I’m sliding in my vacation there and I couldn’t be happier.

I can spend my days reading what I want to read, not gallies upon gallies of copy that needs to be edited. I can choose to have a mid-afternoon glass of vino or indulge in olives and cheese for lunch. I can pick up and go wherever I want, whenever I want during the course of the day without wondering if anyone is looking for me. I can leisurely wander through stores browsing (and of course shopping) instead of my usual lunch-time rush through TJ Maxx (that’s all I have for clothing retail near work) at lightening speed.

So bring it on – vacation here I come. Now to get through the next two and a half days of work and get this current issue out the door!

Stewie Griffin and I Have Something in Common!

Oh man - come every summer my super fair white skin turns a nice shade of tan (even if I'm wearing SPF40 which I try to do). It's funny actually, I'm the only family member that tans - everyone else tends to turn a shade of pink (course I'm also the only one who doesn't have naturally blonde hair) - but we all have the same color eyes (blue) and the same skin tone, but I digress.

So this morning C made a funny - he compared me to "tan Stewie" - an episode of "Family Guy" where Stewie gets a tan, drinks Tab and hangs out with his new tan friends. While I thought it was funny I didn't even realize how so until I found a copy of the episode on youtube and just had to share. Enjoy!

Ironic Twist?

All I can say is this is totally ironic - I was just cruising the Internet looking for a new bathing suit (believe it or not I had several but an entire bin of them disappeared a year ago - good ones that fit perfectly and cost a small fortune mind you), when I came across this headline:

"Bridget Moynahan to Have Tom Brady Baby on Gisele Bundchen's Birthday"

Are you kidding me? I hope Bridget holds out as long as possible - besides, most first babies are late anyway right?

Oh and the kicker of the whole story? Gisele is angry that the baby is expected to be born on her birthday. Oh man - celebrity gossip - I love it, yet at times it drives me insane.

That's all for now.

What Is That Ticking Sound??

Maybe it’s because in exactly four weeks and three days I’ll be joining the ranks of woman in their “late 30’s.” (where they heck does the time go???) Maybe it’s because everyone around me is either a happy parent of an infant or toddler, pregnant or trying to get pregnant, but man all of a sudden that clock everyone warns you about is ticking so loudly I can barely sleep!

Either way it’s funny how life changes. How dreams you had as a little girl to those you have in your teens and 20s can be just that, dreams.

I was engaged in my 20s (actually more than once I hate to admit) but man how different my life would be now if I had actually gone through with it. Sure, there’s no doubt I’d have children by now, but no guarantees I wouldn’t be joining the ranks of divorced, single moms raising children and working full time.

But, thankfully, that was not the case.

The funny thing is I have several friends who were married back then, right out of college, and had children and some are nearing the teenage years. I hear about it – every story, every scare, every injury, every success they have. And I’ve known them since they were born and that to me is something to be thankful for.

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago when everything really finally changed and it’s a change that has made my life so much better and so much more fulfilling than I ever though it could be. I didn’t meet C until I was in my mid-30s, but frankly if I had to wait until my mid-40s to have him unexpectantly come into my life, that would have been just fine. I never thought I would find “the one.” But yet, here he is beside me every step of the way morning to night, seven days a week.

He’s loving, caring, considerate, organized, charming, thoughtful, handsome, fun, a jokester, and he’s all mine. (did I also mention he does the laundry?) What more could a girl want? I never really thought anything, but every now and then the thought of a family comes to mind.

Now I’m not afraid it’s not going to happen. Not yet. But then again, you never know. And surely that will be something we will tend to together when we get married, when the time is right.

But I can’t help but wonder how it will all happen. If I can even have a child. Who knows? I know there are tests to see your chances, but frankly that’s not even something I want to think about because I’d rather know when the time is right, not ahead of time. Lord knows I have enough to worry about on a day-to-day basis. But let’s be honest. I’m in my late 30s. I’ve never been pregnant. After 36 a pregnancy is considered “high risk,” and I’ve always told myself if it didn’t happen before I turned 40 I simply wouldn’t even try. After all, it’s not a life half-lived if we don’t have children, right?

In the meantime, I try to suppress these thoughts which come creeping up on me at the least inopportune times and try to spread my love of children onto my girlfriend’s children and even more so on my only nephew making sure he’s happy and buying him everything from a limited edition Count Von Count (from Sesame Street) doll to books to fill his bookcase (even though I found myself adding some of my childhood favorites when purchasing some a couple of weeks ago). He also gets lots of hugs and kisses whenever I can get my hands on the little guy.

For now being an aunt keeps those thoughts at bay.

Too Scheduled or Monotonous?

Is it possible to have a "too scheduled" life?

Some say it’s Ok to have a “scheduled” life. And in my line of work it makes perfect sense, but man, when did life become so monotonous?

I guess it’s what happens to the best of us when you are finally settled – solid career, job security, a stable relationship, a roof over your head and frankly, nothing serious to worry about (though there are bumps in the road here and there).

But here I am and my day (Monday through Thursday) typically looks like this.

Get up, say goodbye to C, make coffee, feed cat, blow dry hair, get dressed, get in car, stop at Dunkins for coffee, fight traffic to work, put in 8-9 hours of work, (every other day replenish Dunkins late afternoon), get back in car, fight traffic home, stop by my grandmother’s house, drive home, put away my stuff, open my mail (shred anything I need to), take a shower, change, water my plants, pour a drink, talk to C, eat dinner, watch TV, read a bit, go to bed. And then it’s wash, rinse, repeat all over again the next day. Friday’s are a bit different as after work I drive to my parents store where I work until 10. Other than that, that’s my life.

I was dwelling on the monotony of it all the other day and my girlfriend pointed out that with a job like mine it’s really a good thing to have everything else scheduled. To know exactly what needs to be done each night and nothing more. Because at work, things change dramatically at the drop of a hat and can put you in a tail spin without you even realizing it.

I guess I’ve just officially become an adult. Not a bad thing, but definitely something I didn’t see coming. I used to be so whimsical and caution to the wind throwing, though I will admit over the past few years, I became much more methodical about my goings on and whereabouts.

Either way, that’s me in a nutshell –

Another friend suggested, again, that I find a creative outlet. I get to this point at least once a year and this is always his suggestion. Find something I like to do and do it. Last year it was my desire to learn how to knit – which we all know never happened as I couldn’t find a class. I know I still need to pull out my super cool still new-in-the-box KitchenAid mixer and start playing with that (but I still don’t know where to start). I do need to update my photos – yes folks, the girl who meticulously kept a photo album current every year for the past 15 has finally become one of you. I now have boxes and envelopes full of loose photos just waiting for a home. So I can definitely get on that. But I digress.

For now, I need to find a way to break the monotony – but I think the only way that can happen is if I have a less stressful, responsible job or if I win the lottery and frankly a job any less than what I have would drive me to boredom and the lottery, well they say you have to play to win and I never think to play.

Thanks for listening.

The Return of Scott Baio

I can’t believe I’m going to admit this but here goes. My entire childhood and teenage years I was obsessed with Scott Baio (aka Chachi on “Happy Days,” “Joanie Loves Chachi” and Charles of “Charles in Charge.” I love the guy. Thought he was the greatest thing since sliced bread – man, with that face what else was an impressionable young girl to think?

That being said, I, the former dues paying member of the Scott Baio fan club, (the only fan club I ever officially belonged to by the way) started to fall a bit off his fan wagon as he got older and started his long string of “relationships.” Pam Anderson, Heather Locklear, Denise Richards, just to name a few.

But then this afternoon, I came across this information thanks to the always up-to-the-minute Web. Scott Baio is about to star in his own reality series on VH1! – "Scott Baio is 45 … and Single.” No surprise here – he’s the quintessential bachelor.

But back to the show. Well, it’s about him being single, finding himself in a mid-life crisis, wondering why he’s “still single, alone and still unable to settle down and commit to a substantial, meaningful relationship.”

I’m in. After all you all know I have a penchant for bad reality TV, but bad reality TV about my former favorite TV star from childhood – how could I not tune in.

It premiers July 15. Now the only problem is trying to not let C see that I’m adding it to my current frightening list of reality TV programs on the DVR. Katie and Peter was hard enough to justify, but this?

I'm in Love!

You might know by now that I have a shopping obsession, but while clothes are one thing. My biggest guilty pleasure is pocketbooks (OK, and sometimes, often times shoes). Today, it's all about the bag. (Of course I needed a new one, another one like I needed a hole in my head) Last weekend I welcomed my newest edition - Coach's 2007 Hamptons Weekend Patchwork Demi Satchel. I love her! She's so cute, so trendy, very fun and can be worn with everything! (although Sarah will tell you I love it because it's called "Hamptons Weekend" - think Sex and the City). She makes her debut tonight!

Check it out:

Eight Random Things about Myself

OK, so My Wombinations tagged me to write eight random things about myself, but I’m such an open book I’m not sure anyone would be surprised, but here goes:


1. I talk to my mom nearly every day. She’s such an important part of my life and not only my mom but a friend I can talk to about anything.

2. I’m petrified of spiders – any color, any size, real or fake. No joke. It’s the worst arachnophobia you could ever imagine. Therefore, Halloween totally freaks me out because somewhere – whether at work or at a retail store – will inevitably be decorated with some type of spider. It’s pathetic, I’m a grown woman, but man they scare me. On a lighter not – centipedes I can deal with, kill and have no fear of.

3. I still sleep with my teddy bear. By day he hangs out center stage on my bed.

4. I’m a super neat freak at work, highly organized and efficient, but put me in my car or in my home and it’s a whole other ballgame.

5. I spent an entire summer when I was a teenage on a cross-country bus tour of the United States with my grandmother. No joke! I’ve been to every state in the country except Alaska and Hawaii. And to this day – I still HATE buses.

6. I can read cover to cover at least two books a week and have a stack of at least five in the cue on my nightstand at any given time. I LOVE books.

7. I’m full of useless information that at some point or another always turns out to be highly useful. Just ask my friends and co-workers. Guess all that reading isn’t a bad thing at all.

8. I’m a shopaholic (but you already guessed that from the name of my blog). I have way too much clothing, yet somehow find a way to wear it all. I suppose there are worse addictions.

And for shits and giggles here is #9 – I, like My Wombinations, was engaged twice before meeting C. What can I say? I have no regrets – never look back and feel very fortunate I found someone as wonderful, loving, caring, funny and sweet as C.

Your turn!
I’m tagging the following:

Nikki at Life's Fun Little Lessons
Becky
FuriousBall
Lisanne at Bathtubjunkie

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose at least eight people to get tagged and list their names.

I Owe You A Post

While I know I still owe everyone more than my random posts of the past month, I promise, I will be back on here more frequently now that everything seems to be calming down around me.

In the meantime, here are some photos from the Red Sox game my department went to a couple of weeks back.

Enjoy!

The Work Gang Hanging Out Before the Game


Sean & Jenn Enjoy the View from Their Seats


I Love Fenway Park!


Group View from the EMC Club


Thanks Catdoggg - You're the Best!

Water Cooler Gossip - Holloway & Ramsey Together

Oh, this is great! My mom actually just called to tell me. You'll never guess who is dating? Beth Holloway and John Ramsey. No joke! Fox news is reporting the father of murdered JonBenet Ramsey and the mother of Natalee Holloway who went missing in Aruba are an item and have been involved since January. Now that's an unlikely pair! Then again, nothing shocks me anymore - and this certainly solidifies that belief.

Gotta Love Retail!

If you've never had the opportunity to work in retail, then you really have no idea how painful at times it can be and how much patience is necessary when dealing with customers, who can be beyond difficult. Below is an example I heard from a friend of mine working at a liquor store the other night:

Woman: *holding up bottle of wine* Is this the only one you have?
Cashier: Well, let’s look at the shelf. *looks* Yep, that’s it.
Woman: No, I mean the other bottle.
Cashier: What other bottle?
Woman: The big one.
Cashier: *puzzled look* Um, I don’t think we carry that in the big bottles.
Woman: Yes you do.
Cashier: I don’t think so.
Woman: *indignant and firm* Yes you DO! I’ve bought them here before!
Cashier: *eyeing the growing line of customers, looks at stock person* Ask Manager/Owner if we carry that in the big bottles, wouldja?
Stock person: *in back, with Manager/Owner, who is talking to another wine rep, woman following impatiently* Manager/Owner, do we have large bottles of (wine’s name)?
Manager/Owner: They don’t exist.
Woman: Yes they do.
Manager/Owner: We’ve never had them. The company doesn’t make larger bottles of that brand.
Woman: Yes they do.
Manager/Owner: I have NEVER had large bottles of that here. We don’t carry it.
Woman: Yes you do.
Manager/Owner: No, I don’t.
Woman: Yes you DO! I’ve BOUGHT them here before!
Manager/Owner: You couldn’t have, because we don’t carry it.
Woman: Yes you do.
Manager/Owner: Well, it’s my store, and I’m telling you, we don’t carry it.
Woman: Where’s that old man?
Manager/Owner: Who?
Woman: The little old man with the white hair. I buy them from him all the time!
*at this point the stock person doesn't know whether to burst out laughing or beat the woman with a stick. Manager/Owner goes over to the shelf to help her find something comparable, while the woman continues to rave about bad service and stupid salespeople. The wine rep looks at the stock person and shakes his head. Eventually, the woman goes up to the counter to buy a bottle of something else, still visibly stewing*
Cashier: *smiling beatifically* Did you find everything you were looking for, ma’am?

Ok, that’s not verbatim, but you get the idea. That last line, however, is verbatim.

Read to Laugh Out Loud - I'm Serious!

I have to share this. If you want to laugh completely out loud (make sure your office door is closed if you have one), then check out today's post on my brother's blog. I certainly needed a laugh this morning and this definitely gave it to me. Check it out here! If the hyperlink doesn't work for you the direct link is: http://www.hangingblogger.blogspot.com/

Talk to you later!

Goals Not Reached

My goal was to have some great updates on here this week, but needless to say, once again time totally got away from me. Between everything that happened at work this week - super hectic, but wrapping up. I'm also preparing two presentations for a meeting Monday morning, plannig a menu and getting the house ready for the first time mom and dad come over (tomorrow night for dinner) and now I'm going to the Red Sox game with my department on Sunday (really looking forward to that). So, it might be Monday before I can post my new pictures and fill you in on everything going on in my world. Until then have a great weekend everybody!

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner Prepares to Take Flight - Liz is Tired

Since I’ve been MIA for nearly a week, I thought I’d let you all in on what I’ve been up to. At work we are finishing up a project that has taken the efforts of each member of the staff to complete. It’s our first-ever issue of the magazine focusing on one topic – the summer launch of Boeings’ new 787 Dreamliner. It's also a giant issue - which we love in this business - with more than 100 pages.

On the other end of the spectrum, while we were in the process of getting the magazine to press, we were also developing a landing page on our website which highlights every story, every image and every podcast. It’s really quite amazing, so I wanted to be sure to share it with you all. You can check it out here at www.designnews.com/Boeing. Let me know what you think!

It's Coming

Sorry folks, it's been a super busy week at work to the point that I can't even begin to sit down and write at the end of the day because frankly, I'm too tired. I'll update you all this weekend (I hope) and plan on having some photos to share, etc.

Until then...

I Must Have This!

Check this out: It's amazing! Click here

How Does Your Garden Grow?

So, it's always been a dream of mine to have my own house, my own yard and thus my own garden of sorts. And now, thanks to C, I have all that. While he already planted a tulip border along the fence, along with two rose bushes, my goal this weekend is to turn our lovely backyard into a haven for me to relax, read and entertain. But first things first, I need to plant some flowers.

The thing is - I've never done this. I've re-potted plants, so I can't imagine it being any harder than that. I just hope I don't kill anything. We have two window boxes on our shed - where I'm hoping to plant some flowers. I also want something in large pots near the stairs to the back door and in the corner. Course if I'm going to the backyard, then I guess it's time to pick up my hanging plants for the front porch - I love this even more as we have four hooks and a really good size porch.

Oh and because I am my dad's daughter, or as C calls me, "Little Big T," I'm going to try to grow tomato plants too. That, plus the fact I LOVE tomatoes.

Now, from all of you. The yard is full sun all day long so I need some help. Any idea as to what would be the best types of flowers to plant out there? I'm heading to buy the flowers in the morning so any tips you can offer up today would be greatly appreciated.

I'll post again this weekend with "before" and hopefully "after" photos for all of you!

Until then...

Snapfish Help

Not sure if this has ever happened to anyone, but it's totally freaking me out and was always one of my biggest fears. I went into my Snapfish account this morning to order the prints I uploaded over the weekend and guess what? It doesn't recognize my user name and password. So I, of course, click on the forgot my password link, and discover that, according to Snapfish, my e-mail address is not registered. Of course it's registered!!! I've had the account for more than 3 years!!! and, AND - have years of photos on there - most of which aren't backed up anywhere else. I am not pleased. I sent them an e-mail wondering if they can help me out. I'm just hoping, and PRAYING, that they are having a technical issue and it will all work itself out. Fingers (and toes) crossed!

New Photos!

It's been a long time since I posted new photos of Baby Anthony. The once squishy little baby is now all boy and growing by leaps and bounds. He's so cute I just can't stand it!
Enjoy!

This is my favorite! High-fiving with Papa


Showing Auntie his "touch down!"


Little mall rat


With Auntie at Easter


I love everything yellow!

Rachel Ray Go Away

First she took over my cuddling, loving Sunday mornings with C. We'd lay in bed and talk and then one day found ourselves watching the Food Network and my lazy Sunday mornings were then spent listening to her scream at me with her big loud mouth! Not to mention that big grin similar to the one I used as a child posing for photos. (If I had one on me I'd post it right here). Talking about "man overboard" if something fell out of a bowl and "EVOO." Give me a break!

I'm talking about Rachel Ray.



Then, a few months ago I head to the market (which anyone who knows me knows I do my best to avoid as I detest the supermarket) to pick up a few things including my standard Wheat Thins. What do I see? Her chubby face smling at me on the box thanks to a recent endorsement deal with Nabisco. Fine, but looking at her automatically puts her gruff, loud, obnoxious voice in my head. Now I'm looking for another cracker for my cravings.

But the worst was the other morning when I was getting ready for work. The TV is on the bedroom as I get ready so I can listen to the local weather and traffic reports. Next thing I hear - at 7 a.m. in the morning mind you - is her horrifying voice over my TV. Apparently she's now the face of Dunkin Donuts. Why! Why for all that is holy is this woman everywhere?

Give me Giada De Laurentiis any day!



She's soft spoken, sweet, adorable and man her recipes rock!

And one word about Rachel's "30 Minute Meals" - sure they take 30 minutes, but that doesn't include the 30 minutes you need prior to chop everything!