Cleanse After the Storm

Happy New Year!

This year I went from living on Lean Cuisines before my wedding to saying "Screw It!" for the six months that followed. I ate more sweets this Christmas than ever. Cookies are good breakfast food. Also snack food, meal replacements and with a nice glass of wine.

I went away to a cabin in the mountains for New Years with a group of friends. It was so much fun and I'm not sure that there is a picture that would be appropriate. There is a video that once I get a copy of I will show, because, well, its the best dance routine ever! Anyway, while at the cabin (or Booze Cruise on Land, if you will) we ate. A lot. The whole trip was basically one itinerary of "what are we eating for the next meal?" This is all well and good, but by god I hit my wall (and you know how when you are on vacation you get a little off, uh, schedule, know what I mean?) Anyhoo, it's time to do something.

This week I have drank more water than I ever have in my entire life I think. This is called Alison's Water Cleanse. That's it. No soda. No juice. No alcohol. I allow one cup of coffee in the morning, because come on. I am peeing every twenty minutes but I swear I'm shedding bad stuff. I can feel it!



It's not as if this is something new. Water is good for you (energy, skin, appetite). But I have to say I really feel great. I like making changes that are small. I didn't want to do anything where I had to take a bunch of vitamins, deprive myself of anything, be starving...this is a small and relatively easy endeavor. I highly recommend it. I'm going to try to keep it up for another week, we'll see how I do.

*Word to the wise: with all the peeing and in turn wiping, baby wipes are not a bad idea :)

What Makes Me Happy

As I get a little older I find that happiness is a bit relative, isn't it?

Little things make me happy, small joys like the printer at work working when I need it to.

Some other things that make me happy are:

Waking up early on a Saturday, making coffee and just enjoying being at my home

Nights when my husband and I sleep with our arms wrapped around eachother all night. If one turns over, the other follows.

Mornings that start with music.

Reheating delicious leftovers (made by me) to eat while catching up with shows on my DVR. This has to happen when the house is empty and peacful. Isn't that just heaven? Ahhhhhh...

Walking into my parents house, my dad greeting me as he looks up from his newspaper, saying "Hi Sweetheart!" with the biggest smile on his face. Melts me.

When my mother tells me "Don't fret, Sweetpea."

Farmers Markets.

Having my boss say "Lets shut 'er down" two hours early on a Friday.

Bear hugs from my sweet brother.

Listening to live music on a grassy hill.

Touchdowns...flying or football.

When the bus comes early in the afternoon and I'm there waiting for it!

Reading a book that I just can't put down. Isn't that the best?

Being silent with a dear friend. Or talking non-stop. I have to have those kind of friends.

Feeling that peaceful feeling inside that I know exists but sometimes slips away; I feel like that today, that must be why I needed to write this. I feel at peace for no reason at all. It feels like a deep breath, like the most satisfying drink of water or the first day of vacation. Relaxed, calm, not worried...even in the face of chaos, worry and dread. I love to feel as if I have some control over my emotions, my state of mind and my reactions. When I don't, I am not happy. Today, at least, I feel very happy.

Holiday Giveaway!!!

I am giving away.....drum roll....

All the rest of my Chex Mix so that I will stop eating it! Last night Courtney (you don't know her) came over to watch White Christmas, like we do every year. As she walked in the door I looked at her deeply in the eye and said "Help me. Please. I need an intervention. A Chex Mix Intervention." You see, I had been passing the time waiting for her by devouring the Chex Mix straight from the large tub that it resides in. This method is exactly the opposite of what any good dietitian, nutritionist, sane person, person who doesn't have a problem with binge eating, would do or recommend.

I have a problem and I need help.



OK, so I will do a real giveaway...right after I win this one!

Happy Holidays (in a singing baritone voice)

Oh aren't the holidays just filled with cheer and love and warmth and joy?

Or is it all the booze and food? I'm not sure, I don't care. The holidays are, uh, fun! Right, they're fun!

I've almost got all my gifts and I'm happy with them. I on the other hand really don't want a thing. REALLY. I'm serious! I don't want one single gift....well I would like a new wallet (like from Target) and maybe like a Starbucks card. But thats it!

I have a small house, people. I do not, I repeat, DO NOT, want any more crap to be brought inside my house. None. I am into minimal living, I don't like waste and I don't really need anything. I am as happy as can be with what I've got and really, if I need something I can buy it for myself. So, Internet, all this to say if you were thinking of getting me something, don't trouble yourself, OK?

Cool.

So, now that we have that out of the way lets all give a quick shout-out to Won over here. We had a mini-internet squabble but I think we're cool now. It was just a case of miscommunication, voice not coming through over the internet and that oh so special thing of thinking that what we type is not really real (like when you drunk email an old boyfriend at 2 am....not that I do that!)

Also, lets give a big ol' smooch to Kaylen over HERE cause she thinks I never talk to her anymore (not true though....I have about 247 outgoing emails to her in my sent box)

Gosh, who else have I offended lately??? Me and my big mouth are just going to go into hybernation for a while and eat the rest of the Chex Mix. So, see ya!

Office View

Remember when I said I wanted to be "out there?"
Not anymore I don't, its freezing out there!

Starbucks Christmas in a Cup

"Just hear those sleigh bells ringin' a ting ting ting ahh...." (something something something)

I would hate to say I'm in the holiday spirit, Mrs. Cynical me, but I am!

I blame the Starbucks Gingerbread Latte. It is yummy and full of holiday cheer! I include Thankgiving in "The Hoildays" so don't think I am jumping the gun, that is next week!

It's Friday (the 13th)!

Friday the 13th. Meh. I'm not superstitious really.

I've been slacking on this little ol' blog -o- mine. I'm sorry blog. I still love you.

Let's talk about what's floating around in my head, shall we?

1. My father in law had heart surgery last week. Last night he ate at Buffalo Wild Wings. That's all I'm sayin'.

2. I just ordered this cute shirt today! Aren't you loving it? I wanted this cute little jacket that they had, too but it was sold out. I mulled it over for too long and missed my opportunity. That happens to me a lot. Usually I just say "well, it wasn't meant to be." But what if that is the wrong attitude? Maybe I'm missing great opportunities all the time.

3. Do you ever feel like your lady parts doctor isn't hearing what you say? I do. Its like they act as if "if you've seen one, you've seen them all" I like to think I am special down there and because I'm so special I have issues....know what I'm sayin?

4. I would like to get a new camera. Does anyone have any suggestions for a reasonably priced one that takes nice photos? I don't need anything fancy.

5. I put my new black jeans in the dryer last night. Now as I sit here and type they are digging into my stomach. That was a bad move after two glasses of wine. Drinking & Drying - DON'T DO IT!

6. I'm starting to feel in the holiday spirit. I've already got a couple gifts picked out from Etsy. My husband and I decided that this year everyone gets a gift that is $40 or under. I hope to do gifts that are homemade either by me or someone else. Just say no to malls! This has been a big year for us financially (house, wedding, honeymoon, stuff for the house etc) so I think everyone will understand. Plus, I really don't think that Christmas should be about gifts anyway. I don't need anything and I'm happy to just spend quality time with my family.

7. Speaking of Christmas - this is our first Christmas in our new house and as a married couple. I want to start our own tradition of some sort, does anyone have any good, original ideas?

8. Let's all go to Mexico. I have been freezing for the last two weeks, I think Mexico is the only way I can warm up. Here is a photo from the last time I was there to convince you that we should go :