I GOT THE BAHUMBUG BLUES!

I am not in the Christmas spirit! I mean Christmas is usually my favorite time of the year...candycanes, twinkle lights, Soul Christmas CD's that my momma can never get enough of. But this year, something is just missing! Or maybe I should say everything is missing - the only hint of Christmas in my home are the Christmas cards my roommates parents sent her!

So this Christmas I have the BAHUMBUG BLUES! But, since I hate being Debbie Downer, I have decided to find a cure for myself! I know I'm such self-starter!

So...Step 1 - Tonight, I am going to my office Holiday Party and I have come up with the perfect gift for the White Elephant Exchange ($10 limit). 3 different sized batteries with a note that reads "gift not included," I'm also gonna throw in a $5 Starbucks gift card. Cute huh?

Step 2 - I'm am going to bake holiday sugar cookies (snowmen and candy canes) and enjoy some adult hot chocolate...recipes below!

Simply Delicious Sugar Cookies

2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Sugar sprinkles

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Beat egg and vanilla. Beat in flour. Roll dough on floured parchment paper and get crazy with your cookie cutters.

Adult Hot Rum Chocolate

4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped (use the good stuff)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons dark rum (optional)
candy canes

Combine the chopped chocolate and vanilla extract in a medium bowl.Combine the milk and cream and heat over medium heat until simmering. Immediately pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and whisk to melt. Add the brandy and pour into glass or ceramic mugs. Hang the candy cane over the edge of the mug and serve. Yummo!

Step 3 - Heading home...nothing says Christmas more than wearing holiday pajamas and hanging out with my family, especially my momma...love her to pieces! Augusta, Georgia may never be my home again but it will always be a special place to me! My heart always feels full when I'm there. And while I'm almost positive it's the people and not place, a little fresh air, lush, beautiful green trees and a few dirt roads never hurt anybody.

I'm feeling better already...MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and to all a good day!

Don't be a dummy...VOTE SMART!

I am a firm believer in the saying "if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything" - I can't remember exactly who said it, nor does that matter (at least not to me). After watching the 3rd and final presidential debate I discovered my stance on politics...and it may shock you, but I am not a Democrat!

I will say that I lean so far left, that I should have fallen over a long time ago! While filling out my absentee ballot I realized that while this election will be a huge historic milestone regardless of the outcome...I am tired of hearing about the "presidential" and "vice-presidential" angles of it.

Forget raising income taxes...what about the local proposition in my hometown that wants to allocate $180,000,000 to a freakin' tennis and aquatic center?!?! It's time to wake up and be informed about this entire political process and not just the rockstars of the election! Before you fill out your ballot, find about about your state and local politicians. A good place to start would be Project Vote Smart...you simply enter in your zip code and they give you ALL of the information.

Now that I have provided you with all the facts, I gotta let you know that I heart Barack Obama and Joe Biden...I think they are the change America needs! But it doesn't matter to me WHO you vote for...just please know WHAT you're voting for!

STAND UP: VOTE EARLY TODAY OR ROCK THE VOTE NOV. 4TH!

Google me baby!

I love google! It is absolutely the best thing ever! I google random stuff all the time...most times just to see what pops up the search results. I am somewhat of a Google-stalker because like to google the cute (and some not so cute) boys that I meet to make sure that they don't have criminal backgrounds (THE FINE PRINT: Please be advised girls and boys this method is not fail-proof!) and hopefully to avoid all of the Crazies!

But now, I can google freely no more. Meet the new website that is revealing google-ers identities (well, really just their location) everywhere and ruining my fave pastime!

Ziggs.com

So here's the down and dirty of what I know about the website...

Anyone can sign-up and create a profile with general info about themself and Ziggs.com basically sets a booby-trap for google-ers. 

EXAMPLE: I signed up created a bare bones profile and tested it by googling myself...a link popped up that included some of the info I entered...I clicked it...and minutes later I received an email informing me that my profile had received a hit...the email shared the time of the search and the geographical location of my Google-Stalker (myself of course)!

Creepy huh? I disabled my account right away. I feel like somethings should just be unknown. Who knows, maybe when I'm an even bigger deal, I'll care but not today!

So, google me baby!

Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Puff...

This past weekend I learned that I can shimmy with the best of them! Shimmy is a cool belly dancing "work-out" on FitTV and believe it or not I actually like it (me and physical activity usually don't mix well)! 

Combinations of hip moves and shoulder rolls (a stiff version of the an old school fave - "the snake") made for an interesting 20 minutes. But it wasn't the "go-head-sweat-girl-feel-the-burn" type of activity that I want and need.

So, I've decided to switch between Shimmy and Yoga to supplement to my real exercise...but its something that I definitely recommend. I felt a little silly at first and probably didn't look super hot and exotic like a belly dancer should but whatever, it was fun and I will continue to SHIMMY (heck, I might even invest in one of those coined sarongs). And you should SHIMMY too, even if its just your shoulders while reading this!

Best Mistake I Ever Made...

Long time, I know. Blame it on my head and not my heart, because please believe that I heart sharing terrific tidbits of my fabulous life with you!

So during my blogging hiatus, much has changed...I am not a runner...I'm still doing the green thing...my roommate and I caved in and got cable...I finished Cane River (shrugs)...and I made a big mistake.

I stopped by Harris Teeter to grab something quick for dinner and $45 later...I decided that I needed to get the hell out of there. But not before grabbing a bottle of red wine (which I read is actually a good and healthy choice...don't ask where I read it).

CUT TO - 24 year old me trying to pick out a "good" bottle of wine. It was ridiculous...I had no idea where to start so I decided to pick whatever bottle jumped out at me. 

ENTER - (oops) wines...my most favorite red wine ever! The bottle was cute and it clearly explained what you were getting on the bottle (love that)! I chose the Carmenere Merlot or in (oops) terms the "cheeky little red". 

I had two glasses (just a little tipsy) and spent the rest of the night relishing in my great mistake.

END SCENE.

Find out more at oopswines.com and if you dare try them all (I know I will).

And don't worry I'll be back sooner rather than later....with more mistakes I'm sure!

Thirsty? Grab a Book!

My roommate (Ashley) and I have officially been living without cable TV for 2 months. Crazy right? Two insanely beautiful young women (twenty-somethings) living in a house without cable? They must be mad?

Well yes, we are mad - but not the definition that involves straight jackets and padded walls. We are mad (well really... I'm mad, Ashley's just indifferent) at the "cocky cable conglomerate" that won't make good on their mistake and don't deem customer service necessary! Therefore, I am boycotting the "cocky cable conglomerate" that I do not wish to name because it will only give them free publicity. 

Split second change of heart -  TIME WARNER CABLE sucks! 

However, due to this unfortunate situation with the "cocky cable conglomerate" my passion for reading has been reignited! YAY! Just this Wednesday, I read an entire book cover to cover in one night! It was an awesome book, The Kite Runner - by Khaled Hosseini - I mean this book is the true definition of a page turner, I literally read non-stop from 7pm to 2am. I couldn't put the book down (granted I was the child that started reading early...and growing up in 'the country' I choose reading over playing outside)...but still I shocked myself. 

The story is set in Afghanistan and touches on childhood betrayal, rape, family secrets, classism and even a bit of political drama. I'm telling you I laughed, I cried and I wished the story would go on forever - but of course it didn't. I hear they also made a movie about it, but please do yourself a favor and read the book before you see the movie (because its really hard to do it the other way around - trust me I've tried)! 

If you haven't already read it go out, grab it and quench your thirst for good literature. I am starting Cane River - by Lalita Tademy tonight...I'll fill you in when I finish it (or maybe you can put your library card to good use and read it with me)! 

Any must-reads that you know of? Share the knowledge.

Go Green or Go to Mars!

So I am in the midst of writing this article for a home improvement mag about "Going Green" and it is packed with facts, figures and serious ways becoming eco-friendly can improve your lifestyle and the environment!

And while writing it...I burst into laughter because I am writing about something that I have absolutely no experience with or connection to!

So I've decided to add another aspect to my article. In addition to the serious info about the health implications and cons to traditional cleaning, I will include a few tips on how to "live green without losing green."

And, because I love my faithful readers (friends, family and people I make read it by shamelessly plugging it every 2.5 seconds), I have included a few fabulous tips below that won't break your bank but will get you on the path to becoming a GREEN FIEND!

Put on for your city - Buy local produce and support your local farmers! More often than not, you'll end up with fresher veggies at a much lower price than the grocery chains!

Save water, share a shower - Just kidding, but for real try to be mindful of how much water you use to wash dishes, brush your teeth, etc. And if you're really serious buy a cool water conserving showerhead!

Let there be light - Incorporate energy efficient light bulbs into your budget. They cost a little more on the front-end but they last longer and cut-down on energy consumption (bottomline - pay more now to save more later)!

B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Bag) - It takes a little more effort, but reusable grocery tote bags are so eco-chic and they come in cool colors and patterns! Get yours at Reusablebags.com! But if you must, be sure to choose paper over plastic!

And last but surely not least RECYCLE! I know, easier said than done...but in most cities there are already recycling programs that you can take advantage of without spending too much of your precious time (I know...you're special)! Find your cities recycling info and more green tips at OurEarth.org!

Be sure to fill me in on ways you're living GREEN and what tips your going to try! GO BIG GREEN!

Mini Shout-Out -

Thanks to Mr. Green (ex-boyfriend, who owns Micro Earth, a green cleaning janitorial service in Savannah, GA...long story for another blog) cleaning himself for sparking my interest in the "World of Green Things!"

Good Noise vs. Bad Noise?!?

Good noise helps me concentrate, bad noise gets on my nerves. I am a multi-tasker - probably one of the best that you will ever meet. For example, right now I am singing No Substitute Lover-Estelle (awesome CD...if you don't have it already -GO GET IT), chatting it up on Facebook and creating this literary masterpiece for your reading pleasure.

Which brings me to something I thought about today...I work

in a really noisy office! It's an open-air office (we all have defined office space - but there are no walls), but we don't have a receptionist and occasionally Sprite, my boss's parakeet comes in to visit. But, with all that said we (all 8 of us - quirky, talented and multi-task friendly) are probably 10 times more productive than a team 3 times our size.

I contribute this to 2 things: Pandora.com and headphones. As you can imagine our small, organized chaos, super-energetic office gets noisy really quickly...

The Scene: Susie Mae and Katie Jo are on an important conference call with the web designer...while Shirley Sue is meeting with investors...and James Lee is rocking out to our concert footage on YouTube...and let's not forget Sprite chirping away in the rafters...All while I desperately try to "balance" my marketing budget/make more money appear out of thin air (where's that Mind Freak guy when you need him?).

So my solution to combat the BAD NOISE is to throw on my headphones and "get in the zone." Enter my new best friend - Pandora.com! It's internet radio that caters to your musical palate - GOOD NOISE. You simply give the name of one of your fave artists and low and behold they play music from that artist along with other artists that have similar styles! So get some good noise in your life and start jamming out to Pandora. And because I am such a huge Pandora supporter...here are a few fun ideas to get you started...

• Let Pandora be the deejay at your next party! Your guests will thank you.
  
• Got an iPhone? Get streaming music from your fave artists directly to your phone.
  
• Need some good noise to drown out your co-workers? Buy some headphones and "get in the zone!"

I'm LOVING it! Try it out and tell me about your Pandora experience! Disclaimer: Real staffer names were spared in the making of this blog! :)

P.S. Running for beginners...i.e. walking - was swell!

Run Mimi Run!

Tomorrow is the official kick-off for my "Running for Beginners" fitness plan. Woo-Hoo! In an effort to increase my level of activity (which is at about a 1 right now -- IF walking to and from the car counts) I have decided to become a runner. And because everything in my life has to be planned and scheduled to a tee...I decided to do a little research (I mean I wouldn't want to run incorrectly, that's just silly).

Anywho, I went to google and simply searched "Running for Beginners" and after weeding through about a zillion websites that were trying to sell me running shirts, stop watches and I kid you not Mini Babybel Cheese - that is totally portable and 100% natural by the way?!?

I mean c'mon can you imagine what the other runners would think if I ran around the track chomping on a cheese wheel. I know what I would think (eat your snacks at home fatty), lol!

Anywho, after grabbing a snack (blame it on the cheesy-ness of the Babybel ad) I finally made it to a very helpful website Best-Running-Tips.com and chose a Beginner's Running Program that promises to help me run 30 minutes in 12 weeks! The website also encourages beginners to set-up a goal/reward system. Annnnnd, I know you don't really know me yet but I LOVE rewards (in all shapes, sizes and amounts - I mean by using my VIC card I saved $1.74 at Harris Teeter just yesterday...lol).

But seriously, my reward for the half-way mark will be these hot new (runner approved) kicks...

Pearl Izumi synchroSeek 2 GTX ( I wear a size 7 - you know just in case you're in the giving mood)

I've read some good reviews and apparently with these sneaks "running through trails can feel as smooth as flying through the air."

Ummm yeah...I'll let you know if thats true

in a few weeks :)

So readers get excited because now you know a runner (or more accurately a runner-in-training).

I'll be sure to keep you all posted and will definitely let you know how my 10-minute walk goes tomorrow. What?!?...I gotta start somewhere!

As a matter of fact, I challenge you to become a runner with me! And if you are so inclined, leave a comment about your running experience!