Friday FAIL!

Yes I know today is Thursday...now but I've seriously had to remind myself and a few others a couple of times today of the fact that today is only Thursday. We still have one more day to get through peeps...but we're getting there.

If you could see me you would see the mangled pile of "Thursday but thought it was Friday" mess I am. Hair is blow dried because of the sub zero temps today and that's about all she wrote. :) Seriously it is F R E E Z I N G here today and will be the same story tomorrow. I have lived here my entire life, this weather is nothing new to me and I have antifreeze running through my veins but this bone chilling stuff is getting old. I'm ready for some warmth. I won't even get greedy, I'd even take 35.... :)

Onto other things - I watched Oprah yesterday and I have to say I was intrigued. I am not a mindless Oprah follower but this was about food and where it comes from. She was talking about the documentary Food Inc. and I am watching this tonight when I get home from work. The big business of food is amazing and appalling. I took a class in college on Business Ethics and we discussed the food industry when we read the book "Fast Food Nation" it was interesting then but I'm looking forward to watching this movie tonight and forming my own opinion. I suggest others to do the same.

I do know one thing that disgusted me that was discussed on the show was how many hormones and antibiotics are given to chickens, pigs, & cows while "growing" them on the farm for certain companies. I guess my thing is that I'm ingesting that into my body because the animal did...yikes.

I am no hippie but the thought of ingesting chemicals I don't know about or didn't choose to take kind of freaks me out a little. Therefore Brad and I have made the decision to try to buy meat from local farmers when possible. It helps the local economy, we in turn "know" the cows, and my sis in law swears there is a difference in taste and quality. We get our first order soon....I'll let you know how it goes! :)

I should get back on my ice flow and float through the rest of my Thursday....

New Year's Revolutions! :)

Happy New Year to all my friends out there on the inter-webs. I hope everyone had amazing holiday time with family and friends. I know I did. I was off from Christmas eve until today and it was AWESOME! :) Although, hard to come back today, it was a very much needed "stay-cation" where the hubbie and I relaxed, visited with peeps, and I conquered my organization Everest!

We have a desk in our guest bedroom that becomes the bottomless pit of paperwork. If you set something down on said desk, there is a very good chance you could NEVER see it again. Anyway, I decided I would take part of my 10 days and clean out the paperwork black hole and reorganize a couple of closets. Little did I know this would spark a frenzy of de-cluttering, re-organizing, and cleaning. I am not much of a pack rat anyway, so I was SHOCKED when I came out with 5 bags for goodwill, 2 bags of junk that was thrown out, and 2 bags of paperwork to be shredded...Whew

Anyway, I hate New Years Resolutions because it seems like every year I make them and never stick to them, but I'm going to try and I'm hoping that posting these in a public place will help me keep them.

1. Be healthy - There is a hot red dress I have that I would LOVE to fit back into (it was my hubbie's fave!) and I want 2K10 to be the year of the "Lady In Red"! I don't want to starve myself and work out crazily because I know I'll just gain plus, so it's a lifestyle change and I'm going to make one. Eat healthy foods, pay attention to portions and try to get my veggie/fruit count.

2. Be happy - Life is about enjoying and I think sometimes I get too caught up in being busy. I need to learn to say no, slow down, enjoy things like time with Brad and good friends, having a cup of coffee and reading a good book, etc. Mental health is important and it helps with weight loss...

3. Be More Spiritual - My hubby works 3rd shift so church together on Sundays is hard when it's his weekend to work so we need to push Saturday evening services more. God has blessed me so much and I need to show more appreciation.

4. Be more frugal - save on things that don't matter for things that really matter - vacations, home improvements, etc.

Anyway, that's the basic premise of what I'd like my 2010 to look like. We had a great 2009 in the Smith household, but I'm looking forward to seeing what the New Year has to offer.

What I Love Wednesday

Hi! I know I've been MIA for about a month but things with the two jobs have been CRAZY! :) I think the madness is about ready to end and I am ready for that because trying to prepare for the holiday and working all those hours with grouchy Christmas shopper is NOT fun.

Anyway, I'm back to tell you what I love this Wednesday and I am cheating and taking an easy cop out because my 1st Wedding Anniversary is this Sunday, so what I love is my husband! :)

I still remember the 1st time I met him when I leaned over to my friend and whispered...not to sound weird, but he totally seems like he could be a good serious boyfriend, maybe even husband. I know that sounds CRAZY because I don't say things like that. God just knows what he's doing so well that sometimes when he brings someone into your life, you just know.

Anyway 5 years later he proposed on Christmas day. I'm so glad he did it at home in private because I was a crying & blubbering mess. He hung my ring on the tree like an ornament. Yes, he IS awesome.

Less than one year later on December 13th, 2008 we were officially "The Smith's"...can you tell we loooove Christmas? We had a cozy little ceremony with lots of candlelight and sparkly snowflakes. We have had some ups & downs this year and adjustments to the economy and each other but I believe it's made us a stronger couple.

I'm so excited to have been married to my best friend for a whole year. Our plan is to go to dinner somewhere and then Bronner's in Frankenmuth to appease the Christmas freaks in us. I want to get an ornament to commemorate our anniversary. I think it's going to turn into a yearly thing. Also we're going to walk around and do the crazy Frankenmuth Tourist thing, plus I need my fix of the "Tuti Fruti" popcorn they sell in one of the gift shops.

The first year anniversary gift is paper and I got Brad's gift already. It's a pretty good idea if I do say so myself.... :)

We're famous...woot!

My hubby and I were featured on my FAVORITE blog...myhusbandisannoying.com
We love the blog because there are always features in a relationship that are less than awesome all the time and learning to deal with those is a huge part of marriage and being in a real "adult" relationships, even if the people IN the relationship are the furthest thing from adults. :)

Anyway, being featured as an annoying wife isn't the ideal situation but it's a badge I will wear with honor because I do these silly things to make my husband laugh and vice versa. Anyway, it's a piece on my lovely habit of turning the world into my own personal musical.

Check it out here at
http://myhusbandisannoying.com/

It's titled "A Husband's Side of the Story"

In other "annoying" news I have found a new favorite obsession with the Glee Volume 1 cd. It has been on non-stop repeat since purchased and blared in the living room, my car, and office. My husband as you can imagine....is thrilled! ;)

If you are a Gleek, I highly recommend. Buy it, buy it now...what are you waiting for??

What I love Wednesday

It's What I Love Wednesday again and today's recommend is something I already know a lot of people love but it is my FAVORITE show on television right now...Glee.

I love Glee for all the reasons everyone else does: the comedy, the story lines, the drama, and oh the singing. It makes me miss choir camp and all the relationships I had there. All the amazing friends I made and staff that pushed you to see you were capable of more than you thought.

Music for me made me feel like part of a family. It gave me some of my best friends. I actually had one of my choir camp friends stand in my wedding because we've remained close all these years. Through the magic of Facebook I keep up with many others. Glee gives me memories while entertainment and that makes me LOVE it!

The two week hiatus was cruel because there are two things I can't stomach and that's baseball on television (I love going and being there but watching it on tv is like watching someone knit a scarf) and the New York Yankees. Ugh, I had to give up my beloved Glee for both.

So, tonight you know where to find me. I have an official date at 9:00 pm with my couch, some chinese, a glass of wine, and my pajamas. No phone calls please....I won't answer! ;)

OCD much?

My husband was laughing at me yesterday about some of my weird “quirks” if you will. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone on this. Most people have little things that if they’re not in the right place or done differently it irritates them…I just may have more than most. While my husband teases me and calls me "OCD lady", I’m pretty sure the problem is not that serious. I’m just organized and want things done the right way, MY way…(giggle)

Here is a list of my Top 5 “Pet Peeves” or quirks if you will. I’d enjoy knowing if I am alone out here in crazy land or if others share my quest for perfection.

1.If a light is controlled by more than one switch, both must be in the OFF position if the light is on. If one is up while the other is down, and the light is off this drives me crazy. I will go back and forth between the switches (sometimes up and down stairs, and most of the time in the dark using my cell phone as a trusty flashlight) to get them “right”.

2.Toilet paper must roll with the loose end on the bottom. I know most people want it on the top, but to me, it looks neater if you pull from the bottom.

3.Towels must be folded the way I want them folded. If my husband is trying to do me a favor and folds the towels another way…I sneak in the closet and refold them. I KNOW I’M SICK! 

4.Making the bed is the same sort of deal. I make the bed a certain way and all of my throw pillows have a place, if it’s not done that way or if you move them, I will notice and fix them.

5.Volume on the car radio or television MUST be listened to in a multiple of 5. 10 or 15 are acceptable, 12 is not. I don’t know what the deal is with this one. It’s just always been done.

Wow...this isn’t even half of the crazy “Rules in Andrea’s head” but looking at this small sample tells me that my husband is a saint for dealing with me sometimes. I’m sure things will lax more when we enter baby territory but it’d be nice to know I’m not alone on some of this stuff….Right?

What I Love Wednesday

Life is good on Hale Drive and it should be celebrated, even if they are tiny little celebrations. I decided that sometimes after going 1,000,000 miles an hour we should pause and think about things we love or that make our lives easier. This is why Wednesdays will be dedicated to something I use and love, or have found that I love, and I think would help others out also.

Coupons – I am not a grocery coupon clipper. I’ve tried but I just cannot think about what I need ahead of time. Sure I have food staples I buy every week, but most of the time coupons are not used on staples, SALES are used on staples. I also clip them with the best of intentions and then forget to take them when I make my shopping voyage. I always make a list and look at the flyer but I’m horrible at remembering to take my .75 coupon on “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter”.

Now I feel guilty NO MORE! I simply go on Kroger.com and there are a few links to electronically ADD coupons directly to your shopper card! I ALWAYS scan my Kroger card so I will now ALWAYS have coupons when I shop.

If you click on the links it takes you to a website where you can choose what coupons get loaded on to your card and when you buy that item, the discount is automatically taken off the card. No clipping, remembering to bring anything with you, or holding up the line while the cashier scans your coupons.

The trick is you have to remember what is downloaded onto your card which I created an excel spreadsheet with item, expiration date, and amount of coupon. I just print that before my weekly shopping visit, put it with my grocery list and cross off as used. The next week I delete what was used, add more if I’ve loaded more and repeat. If you are not tech savvy and prefer to clip, you can print out coupons at home and use them that way also.

I tried this last Saturday and saved $35 on my shopping trip. I am IN LOVE, and with the holiday season upon us, there are several deals on helpful holiday favorites like Crescent rolls, premade cookie dough, etc. I HATED grocery shopping, mostly because I hated handing over so much moolah to the store for 2 people, but this has made it more enjoyable and because it saves me money…therefore I love it and it’s my first “What I Love”.