Happy New Year!

I wish all of you that read my blog a happy, healthy, and very prosperous New Year in 2009!!

Much Love!

Wendy

New Year's Resolutions

The definition of a “resolution” can be quite in depth. For most people’s purposes, they are simple or major changes, or goals, we have to do at the end of every year in which something good should be the result. To many of us, that might include lose weight, stop smoking, eat better, exercise more, etc. There are those too, who decide that perhaps they need to better themselves in other ways. For example, there are some who feel they need to call mom more, spend more time helping make money for charity, learn to play chess, learn to speak french etc. Consequently, resolutions vary.

The common thread for all resolutions is that they are typically broken, and usually within a very short amount of time. Oh sure, we decided that diet was a must, and that we finally felt ready to tackle that extra 25 pounds, but by the end of January (if we make it that far), the diet was cast aside. Poof, the resolution to shed those pounds all gone. So are resolutions just rituals?

For most of us, the answer is yes. For others, it truly is a way of taking a good hard look at ourselves and deciding changes have to be made. Whether it is to make a change for the good of our health, or the good of others, resolutions are made. Making them is the easy part. But perhaps it is all about the wording?

I used to make resolutions, but after many failures, I decided one year to only make goals. Yes, it’s the same damn thing, but the word “goal" is less threatening to me. In the end it worked. I also decided that my goals had to be more realistic. Making the goal to parachute out of a plane was not realistic. I am afraid of heights. In previous years, I had goals of learning more about cheeses, making my own pasta, making sushi, and all goals were met head on and completed! I once even had the goal of learning more about the various martinis and how to make them. NOW that was a resolution worth keeping!

This year my goals are simple again, and realistic.

*Finish my Masters in Nursing Education degree!
*Do some traveling (perhaps a cruise?)
*Learn and speak more Spanish (it is inevitable)

I’m no expert on making and keeping resolutions or goals, but I do know that once you have decided you are ready to make that New Year's resolution and stick to it, you need to develop a plan of action and make that plan a priority. One of the most important secrets to keeping those New Year's resolutions is to take the process of change one day at a time. And it's OK to make big changes through taking small steps. If you can do just a little bit to get going, soon you'll feel the positive effects of the change. And that little bit of change can lead to long-term healthy habits that last far beyond New Year's Day.

Happy and Healthy New Year!

"New Year's is the only holiday that celebrates the passage of time. Perhaps that's why,
as the final seconds of the year tick away, we become introspective. Inevitably, that
introspection turns to thoughts of self-improvement and the annual ritual of making
resolutions, which offer the first of many important tools for remaking ourselves!"

- Gary Ryan Blair

Cheap Food, A Good Movie, and Family!

It will come to no surprise to you who know me, and know I feel about my kids being home, why I would share this blog entry. Daniel, took a spill, fell down a flight of stairs, and sustained soft tissue damage to his right foot! That was not good, but he is okay! Of course, he did this while out of state, and spent three hours in a local hospital ED in Rhode Island. Thankfully, Jim was with him. (Long story short, Daniel now is out of the dorms and Kelly’s (his number one and half) place and in his own place). He now has his own room in a house with five others, near campus. But, I digress.

Because Daniel has been trapped on the couch, foot up and iced, the four of us spent the day together yesterday watching a movie (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and a variety of TV shows, and eating take-out Chinese, all of us in our jammies. NOW this is my kind of family day. My kids home, Jim home, cheap food I did not have to make, and good movies. It was fun. It was long overdue.

While I have shared before that I love my alone time with Jim, and my nice clean and organized empty nest, I do love time with my kids. It made my holidays a whole lot happier!

Now I have to go and do Daniel’s wash.

Catching up on Facebook!

A while back, I joined Facebook, primarily to see why my son and daughter thought it was so great. I had heard about these web sites where people converged to share themselves and other assorted things (like MySpace, etc). Initially I did not think too much of it, but at the time, I had a no friends, except my son (my daughter kept herself hidden), so I did not think it was that exciting, much less interesting. Then little by little, I stumbled across friends who were using it, and slowly my friend list expanded, I joined professional groups, and began sharing information, and now I am hooked!

I have hooked up with so many wonderful friends from my past and I love getting back in touch with them. I also love being able to share ideas and other things within my professional groups, as well. Facebook, not just for kids.

See ya there!

T'was the Days After Christmas....

In like lightening, the holidays come, and then over just as fast! So the meals are over, the dishes washed and put away, the Yankee Balsam candles are just about empty, and the tree is starting to loose its smell. The cookies are all gone (gift baggies for those heading out the door), the gifts are unwrapped and all put away, and new doggy toys are scattered about, the living room floor looks like hell. This was my holiday, now over and done. It was, as always a good one, filled with lots of family time, good food, and tons of laughs, the makings of new memories.

Caitlin and I will head to the mall so she can use her gift cards before heading back to Grenada, as Grenada has no idea that Victoria Secret exists! Dan and Jim have gone off to Rhode island to find Dan a new place to live, so the girls have the day to themselves! =) Next up; ringing in the new year!

Life is good.

No Thanks, I'm Full. Really.

Holy crap! I have eaten more rich foods in the past week, and I have one more night to go! Between the holiday parties, cookies, and rich foods that I normally do not eat, I feel bloated and toxic. Very toxic. More toxic than anything toxic you can think of.

Tonight we celebrate Chanukah with my sister and her family and while I LOVE her potato latkes, my stomach is already on full alert. I really do not have a weight issue, but after tonight, I am going on a full get rid of the toxins diet. (I have no real plan in mid except lots of water and healthier foods). The cookies will be all gone, and the cupboards empty of anything that says "Merry Christmas"!

The joys of holiday living! Pass the Alka Seltzer!

The Merging of Holidays, Cultures, and Food

Every year we celebrate Christmas and Chanukah. My sister converted to Judism years ago, so we have shared Chanukah with her and her family every year, and she continues to share Christmas with us. I love the idea of sharing the different customs between our families. We haved learned so much from my sister and her in-laws over the years about the Jewish culture, and I am blessed that they share their holidays with us.

This year was no exception and because the celebrations of the holidays overlapped, we have been spending a lot of time together. I'm happy. Good family, good frineds, my christmas ccokies, and my sister's potato latkes. This is what celebrations and good times with family are all about.

Traditions

Tradition means "handing over, passing on", and can be done through the sharing of customs or rites, orally or through practice. I have shared many traditions I had growing up through the holidays and how they have provided me with such wonderful memories.

Traditions start easily. Once you have children and you do something more than once, you're going to be doing it forever because the children come to expect it (a real tree with homemade ornaments). Many times traditions are started intentionally by parents who want to create family roots or stability. This was the case for Jim and I having started our family living overseas, so far from family. Traditions are usually something that is a little more special — something that's anticipated and that you're greatly disappointed if it doesn't happen (like not having that expected green bean casserole).

Traditions bring us together. They keep us whole. They provide us stability in this crazy world we are subject to at this time. I have spoken of grandparents and my dad that no longer exist. I have shared the various places we have lived and worked. Life hands us changes, many unexpected, but the traditions survive; they are made of love and longing for what we value, and so we hold them close and take them wherever we go. They are wonderfully portable, which has made them easy for us to take from place to place.

Traditions can be shared, borrowed, or transferred from one person to another. Sometimes you have to start one and wait for it to really grow. But, if well cared for and fostered, it can provide us with years of pleasure. At their best, traditions make us better; at the very least, they remind us how far we've come and how lucky we are.

Christmas Eve at MomMom and PopPop's House

When I was a little kid, actually from the time I was little until I was in college, we would all gather at my grandparent's house every Christmas Eve after church (The 7 pm candle light service) to celebrate not only Christmas Eve, but 3 family member's birthdays. My grandmother, my aunt, and my cousin were all born on Christmas, so not only did we eat traditional Christmas cookies to treat our sweet tooth, but each member had a special cake!

I loved going to church on Christmas Eve and being allowed (when I was little) to hold a real lit candle! (They finally let me hold one when I got to high school without constantly watching me). Our family was a large one so many of us ended up celebrating the service together, which certainly I can appreciate now more.

After church we would head to my grandparents, excited to open gifts, and share in sweet treats. The evening was long and tiresome, and we usually drove my parents nuts as we needed to get home to put out cookies for Santa. The drive home was always special as my parents would ensure to have us listen to the local radio station broadcasting the flight of Santa so we knew where he was and would not worry that we might not be there in time. (Thanks daddy and mommy).

I have so many fond memories of all the Christmas Eve's and I cherish them all. We know longer have a huge crowd, but I have certainly ensured my children have their own holiday memories with the family that means the most to me. I miss my MomMom and PopPop throughout the year at various times, but especially Christmas Eve.

Mommy's New Toy

Tis the season to treat myself to a new toy, before Santa arrives (Sorry Santa but Kohls had great sales and I had a 30% coupon). I have been desperately seeking out the steam mop made by Shark, but without much success. One of my dear friends Faith shared with me how much she loved her steam mop, and how effective it really cleaned her floors. So the hunt was on.

Until today I had been using those disposable floor pads and not only did they not clean that great (something I thought they did until today), but the smell annoyed me, and I worried about wet chemicals and litle paws meeting. And the cost was something I always thought of, as they were not cheap and with cleaning my floor as much as I do, the pennies added up!

I finally gave up on the Shark, and bought myself a Bissell Steam Mop. After one steam cleaning event, I could hardly believe the difference in my floors. What I thought were clean floors; well they were not, enuff said! UGH! I could not believe it. I am sold and happy with my new toy. I love my very clean floors! Thank you Faith!

Disaster Strikes!

Jim recently bought Caitlin a scanner so she is able to make copies of things she needs for school, thus saving her copying money. Upon trying to connect scanner to her laptop he got a prompt that he couldn't and would have to ensure all updates were in her computer. Now I am not sure of all the technical stuff, and I really do not care, however what did happen is that after she took the time to ensure ALL her data was backed up on an external hard drive and it was time to move things from the this back to the lap top, it erased everything! NO, I mean everything...all her hard work, saved work, very much need information for her next term , and her very much loved pictures of her dogs. (I'm not which was more important)

Jim is besides himself. Although none of this is his fault, he is taking it so hard and wishes he could turn the clock for his little girl. I feel horrible too. In fact, she is taking it better than I would have handled the situation.

I am so very hopeful that someone in the class ahead of her will share and share generously with her when she gets back to school.

As for the pictures, thankfully we all have pictures of her beloved pets...

I am so sorry Caitlin.

Hooked on a 17 year-old Vampire!

About 6 months ago, I began to hear about a series of books by Stephenie Meyer whose main character is a 17 year-old vampire who begins a romance with 17 year-old Bella Swan, who is not a vampire. I found myself wondering who was this Edward Cullen that many young girls were enthralled with all of a sudden? What was it about him, or the series of books that had everyone's attention?

So like most interested and nosey readers, I picked up the first book of the series called Twilight, and was imediately sucked into the book. Seriously. I was hooked and within two days inhaled and immensely enjoyed this book. I just began book two New Moon, and I have just about inahled it all today! I love the writing, the characters, and the way the story unfolds. I have never been a fan of vampire books, all though I did read Anne Rice's Lestat and did enjoy that book.

I'd write more about this new pre-occupation with vampire teens, but I have to get back to book two!

A Day in New York City!

The Rockettes as dolls!

The march of the wooden soldiers, my favorite!

Me, Jim, Josh, Jilly, and Caitlin

The tree!

There's so much to do and see in New York City, especially during the holidays. One of the things we like to do each year is to see the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall...I never tire watching all those legs dance as they do! I have always loved the Rockettes from the time I was a kid, and love them more each year. I have secretly always wanted to be a Rockette, despite my awkwardness, inflexibility, and poor leg design.

This year Caitlin and I decided to share this excursion with Jilly and Joshy, as they have never seen the show. I loved watching their faces as they watched the show! Before and after the show, we walked around the city, and were treated to a very snowy atmosphere, gorgeous windows, and a little bit of shopping. We had an awesome time, and only wished we had oodles more time, and even more dollars!

I love spending time with the kids.

Cold Weather, Hot Soup!

Pureed White Bean and Winter Squash Soup

This savory pale orange potage makes a comforting winter meal. White beans (and beans in general) are one of the best sources of fiber you can find and they’re a great source of protein as well.

1 pound white beans (such as navy beans, small white beans, or cannellini), washed, picked over and soaked for 6 hours o overnight in 2 quarts water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 1/2 quarts water
A bouquet garni made with a bay leaf, a couple of sprigs each thyme and parsley, and 2 sage leaves
Salt to taste
2 leeks, white part only, well washed and chopped
1 pound winter squash, peeled, seeds and membranes removed, and diced
Freshly ground pepper to taste

For garnish:
Slivered fresh sage leaves
Garlic croutons (toast slices country bread or baguette, rub with a cut clove of garlic, and cut the toasted bread into cubes; optional)
A light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (optional)

1. Drain the beans. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot over medium heat and add the onion. Cook gently until tender, about 5 minutes, and add 2 of the garlic cloves and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir together for about 30 seconds, then add the drained beans and the water. Bring to a boil and skim off foam. Add the bouquet garni, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour.

2. Meanwhile, heat the remaining olive oil in a wide, heavy skillet over medium heat and add the leeks and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook gently, stirring, until tender, about 3 minutes, and add the remaining garlic and the squash. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant and the squash is coated with oil and just beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir into the beans. Add salt to taste and continue to simmer for another 30 minutes to an hour, until the beans and vegetables are thoroughly tender and falling apart. Taste and adjust salt. Remove the bouquet garni.

3. Using an immersion blender or a food mill fitted with the fine or medium blade, puree the soup. Heat through, taste and adjust salt, and add pepper to taste. Serve, garnishing each bowl with slivered sage leaves, (optional) garlic croutons and an optional drizzle of olive oil.

Yield: Serves 6

Advance preparation: You can make this up to a day or two ahead and reheat. It will thicken. Thin out with water or stock if desired.
Approximate Nutritional Information per Serving: calories: 120

The Arrival of Santa!

This past weekend, Santa made his rounds on the fire truck, riding through the neighborhood, wishing us all a happy holiday, and providing us each with a candy cane (If you walked to the end of the driveway to say hello back, and of course I did!). I love the idea that towns still do this. What is it about the association of Santa and a fire truck?

When I was little, growing up in Allenhurst, Santa would come on the fire truck and give each of us a large holiday decorated brown paper bag filled with candy, fruit, and one large gift (nothing cheesy). I loved those days! We never had any clue who the Santa was being played by, nor did we care. Those days are long gone, and now a simple candy cane is tossed out to the kids, but how cool is it that the tradition of Santa on a fire truck still exists?

While living in Europe, Jim and I took the kids up to northern Germany to a British Air Force (on the Holland border) base for a holiday party. St. Nick parachuted onto the base via a helicopter, with many “Black Peter’s” parachuting in with him. Black Peters are mischievous helpers with black faces. The kids had a ball, and were thrilled to be a part of this European (Dutch) tradition. I am not sure if the kids remember this day, although Caitlin might.

This is the thing I love about holidays; the creation of so many wonderful memories with family and friends.

I (think) I am Done with Christmas Shopping!

I believe I can officially say I am done with my shopping for the kids (Cait, Dan, and Kelly) and the other kids (Lexy, Luke, Madison, and Migo), and Jim. I got my mom's gift, my sister's gifts, and a gift for the baby next door.

My cookies have been baked and packages made and given out, or ready to go. The cards have been out for a week or more. The house has been decorated. I have the Christmas Eve menu set, task given out, and food preparation started. I know what I am responsible for for Christmas Day dinner. The stockings are by the chimney hung, with care.

Now I can relax and really enjoy the holidays!

Happy Birthday Joshua Ryan!

This time of year birthdays get pushed and shoved into corners with all the holiday hustle and bustle. (What is a bustle anyway?) However, having a December birthday, I know how important to recognize those who do too. So it is time for me to publically wish my nephew Joshua Ryan the bestest of birthdays! Love you buddy!

Happy Holidays from the Dogs!

This is last year's Christmas photo, and since the dogs have not changed much, it will be this year's photo as well. Getting all four dogs to sit at one time, in one place, without having someone lose the scarf, or pull it off the other, was nothing short of miraculous so why tempt fate again?

So with that said, my dogs wish all of you a happy and joyous holiday.

From left to right: Lexy, Madison, Migo, and Luke!

Poorer Christmas Times

Okay, I know you are sitting there looking at the photo and thinking, "It appears to be a pine branch, perhaps belonging to a Christmas tree? There are gifts, so it must be, so what the heck is that on the branch?"

That my friends is a candle. Seriously, the red is the candle, and the yellow, it's flame. It was 1980 and we were poor folk living in our home in Fayetteville, PA. I was crafty, so i thought, I'll make the ornaments!

Off I went to the local material store, where I bought Christmas patterned material. I brought it home and with my scissors in hand, I got started on a huge collection of stuffed material ornaments. Quite honestly, although not the highest quality ornaments, they were the prettiest, and the tree was full and done tastefully (well as tastefully as one can do with material ornaments).

Over the years, these ornaments have been lost, eaten (dogs), and lost through moves. I have a few left, and each year they go on the tree to remind us where we were at one time, how far we have come, and quite honestly how blessed we are these days.

Times were simpler. Sometimes I yearn for those simple Christmases again. The extra glitter and tinsel really does not add to making a holiday more meaningful. I love that little candle reminder.

First Inch of Snow

We had our first inch of snow, and while it was nothing to really get excited about, the dogs sure loved it!

The light dusting was enough to cover everything and make it wintery and pretty; a good thing around the holidays!

Caitlin will read this while sitting in hot and humid Grenada and will make a face. Sorry Caitlin!

I am hoping that she will see some snow as soon as she gets home. I know she will when she heads to the slopes with her dad in January.

We decided last year that this year we would go green. That is we would buy LCD lights for the tree and help the environment a little bit more. Better bulbs, etc. Well, after seeing my tree all lit up the only thing that will be green next year will be the needles on the tree. I am not happy with those tiny runway lights. Good grief, my whole foyer looks like Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

I bought the lights last year at 75% off the original price and got a great bargain, as those little economical lights on the tree were not so economical. I could not wait to get them on the tree and am a little sad that they are not what I expected. I might investigate them further to see if they are now found in colors, but the white lights are definitely going to be on my tree after this year.

If I had any energy left they would come off now, but I am whipped and will not have that kind of energy until the tree has to come down. It is a big job. So, for now I will simply put on my sunglasses when I want to sit and enjoy the tree.

Empty Shoes

When the kids were little, and we lived in Germany, every December 5th, they would put their shoes out by the front door, and would patiently await a visit from St. Nicholas. He would bring them each a small gift with some fruit and candy. How could he not visit them? And when we moved back to the states, where St. Nicholas day is not celebrated, we managed to keep up the tradition. How could we not? This is the first year since the kids were small that we have not celebrated, as the kids are both no longer here to do so. It makes me sad.

Some history: St. Nicholas was born in 271 AD and died around December 6, 342 or 343 AD near the Asia Minor (Turkey) town of Myra, where he later became Bishop. He performed many good deeds and was a friend to the poor and helpless, and upon his death, myths soon sprang up about him all around the Mediterranean Sea. He was reputed to be able to calm the raging seas, rescue desperate sailors, help the poor and downtrodden, and save children. He was soon named as the patron saint of sailors, and when Myra was overthrown, his bones were transported by sailors to Bari, a port in Italy. It is here that a tomb was built over the grave becoming the center of honor for St. Nicholas. From here, the legend spread on around to the Atlantic Coast of Europe and the North Sea to become a European holiday tradition regardless of religion.

I miss the kids being little, especially this time of year. Happy St. Nicholas day Caitlin and Daniel. I love you both.

Decorating the Graves for the Holidays

Today Gidget and I did the annual decorating the graves for the holidays. It is a task that I always enjoy doing, and while my sisters think I am a royal pain in the BUTT about it (Everything has to be just right), I do not let them squash my desire to ensure everything is “just right”. They happen to think I overdo, however I disagree.

The thing is I happen to like knowing that the graves are seasonal, so this time of year a pretty wreath is placed at each grave (My dad’s, my aunt and uncles, my grandparents, and my great-grandmother). I also add seasonal flowers to both my dad’s, and my aunt and uncle’s gravesite. My mom does not like grave blankets and instructed me that her parents did not like them either, so all four graves get just a simple green wreath with a simple bow and few adornments.

I can remember as a kid watching my dad make grave blankets and wreaths (he worked part time at the local florist to help make ends meet a little better). He did so with great care and each one was special. He love working there and each arrangement was worked on with precision and tastefully done. I would like to think I am honoring that part of my dad by ensuring that his grave is done just right. I really do not care how much my sisters dislike my OCD graveside behavior.

Not everyone understands my obsession to ensure the graves are decorated for the holidays. It doesn't matter. I get it. I know my dad gets it. And that's all that matters, to me.

"Live the life you love, Love the life you live"

I’m promoting another blog, “live the life you love, love the life you live”. Daniel’s girlfriend (the number one and half) is now writing a blog to capture her thoughts and adventures as she goes through culinary school and life. You can find it here: http://beachbum1436.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

A Simple Christmas

I am decorating less this year, and will enjoy it more. I have little desire to take everything I own related to Christmas decorating out of the basement to stick it around the house. So I have brought up some of the storage tubs, will take out ONLY what I want, and then that is it. Christmas will be simply and tastefully done. Not that I overdue, but I just have so little time to do decorating and will have even less to undecorated, hence my decision.

I like taking out the little things that I have brought back from Germany or the cute things the kids have made over the years. The rest can stay put in the basement. I will have a smaller tree too. Seriously, I am not over doing this year and rethinking about what Christmas is really all about.

Take that you stupid Santa-in-the-mall-on-November 1st.

He's Baaaaacccckkkk!

Well, I know I have shared with you all that I dreaded, although could not wait for, the return of one very busy puppy. Migo is home. The busiest of any dog I have ever owned came home with Caitlin this past Wednesday, and already we have one very large hole in the backyard, and he was already spotted yanking on a bush branch.

The truth is I love this little guy and missed him terribly when he was gone. He is so full of love and sweetness, but he does find trouble easily. He came back to the pack and was immediately accepted back as if he never left. Madison is overjoyed that he is back as she now has her rumbling buddy back with her. Luke has been playing tug of war with him, and Lexy could care less about him, although she has washed his face several times.

Life in the dog world here is back to normal. My life is back to having a child with the terrible twos. Life goes on, and I am thankful.

PS: Do not let the picture fool you.