Wrapping up Today I Am...

So since I skipped September and October, I think it's fitting to wrap this up and start something new tomorrow that I've been thinking about for a few days now. Excited to get it going tomorrow! So this is my final "today I am" for 2009...

Today I am:

Reading: Nothing! Just finished reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. LOVED it. By far my favorite of the three Langdon stories. Started it yesterday morning, finished it tonight!

Listening to: Not much. My two minute commute to work hasn't left me with much time to listen to music. Now that I have a new computer, just need to reload iTunes.... Hoping to get it done later this week.

Obsessed With:
**Food = nonfat decaf no-whip caramel brulee lattes at Starbucks, Odwalla Chocolate Protein Monsters (still my new favorite breakfast), cheese
**Crafts = Finishing up Katie & Kile's guest book, getting back to my nephew's scrapbook. Waiting on pictures for both from my sister!!
**Workouts = Working out most days now. Still going to the night classes at the YMCA. Had an unexpected sideline a few weeks ago due to the flu. Not sure if I had swine flu or not, but I was grateful I had the vaccine for it and the flu lasted less than 10 days.
**Time wasters = The usual suspects... Facebook. Television. Sleep!
**House = Still purging. Still planning on painting. Working on stripping the paint and stain from a reclaimed window.... lots of time spent, but it will be worth it in the end!

Thinking About: The holidays. Decorating. Christmas shopping. Cookies. Love Christmas!

Planning: Way too many things as usual. Up next? My very own 30 by 30 project...

Dreaming Of: Warmer weather already. I live in one of the mildest climates on Earth. I hate the cold!

Enjoying: Time spent with my husband, time spent with family and friends.

Vowing To: Get that window stripped of paint and sanded next weekend!

Working On: Work. Cleaning. Nothing ever seems to change there.

Excited About: Learning how to make marshmallows (still). It will be done in the next couple of weeks! Spending time with everyone over the next month.

Favorite food I made in the last month: Made a brand new pumpkin pie recipe for Thanksgiving last week. AWESOME recipe. It's a keeper!

Getting out and about: Let's see.... in September we stayed close to home and hung out a lot of the time. In October, I went up to Placerville for my cousin Jamie's baby shower, had a great time! This last month, was sick with the flu at the beginning of the month, but still managed to see New Moon on opening day with Nancy + Mackenzie and had my parents visit for the holiday last weekend.

I am terribly behind and still need to download the cameras, but at least I have this picture to share for the last few months:

The nephew of course, Hollywood as we call him. Loves having a pair of sunglasses and posing for the camera!

August: A Wedding, a vacation and some fun in the sun!

Again noting that this was written back at the end of August and is just now getting posted! geez!

Still trying to keep up, but things are slowing down a bit and we are playing catch up around here!

Today I am:

Reading: Nothing but the random magazine or blog post. Hoping to get back to reading by the end of next month!

Listening to: Careless Whisper (Seether's version) is a new favorite. Other new favorites right now are Say Hey (Michael Franti & Spearhead) and the new Daughtry album.

Obsessed With:
**Food = iced passion tea at Starbucks, Odwalla Chocolate Protein Monsters (still my new favorite breakfast), Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches, strawberries, Brian's homemade chocolate
**Crafts = Finishing up Katie & Kile's guest book, getting back to my nephew's scrapbook.
**Workouts = Working out most days now. Still going to the night classes at the YMCA. A little bike riding with Brian every once in a while.
**Time wasters = Facebook lately.
**House = Still purging. Still planning on painting.

Thinking About: What we are going to do to celebrate our 4th anniversary in a few weeks.

Planning: Home improvement projects for the upcoming months.

Dreaming Of: Winning the lottery! :)

Enjoying: Life right now. Things are busy but mellowing out. Looking forward to fall and the holidays.

Vowing To: Finish purging everything in the next couple of weeks!

Working On: Work. Cleaning.

Excited About: Learning how to make marshmallows (got a book!) and losing 5 pounds in the last six weeks. I earned every single pound!

Favorite food I made in the last month: Nothing new unfortunately. Brian made a delicious chicken pasta veggie bake though. :)

Getting out and about: My sister's bachelorette party, her wedding, had our nephew for the week while they went on honeymoon. Took the nephew to the zoo, aquarium, parks, shopping, beach. So much fun!

Favorite photos from the last month:

My Sister, Brother and I were taking our pics... and my cute nephew decided he HAD to be in the picture! Ran over, looked up and posed for the camera. It was too adorable!

Love this pic of the two of us! :)

And last but not least... here's a picture of the Bride and Groom:

This picture is my absolute favorite out of all the pictures from the wedding!

All three of these pictures were taken by the nicest people, David and Christie Posey, owners of Lexigraphics photography. They are amazing!! They photographed my wedding, as well as my brother Tom's wedding and my sister Katie's wedding.

July: Where did it go???

Noting again: Just now posting what I noted back at the end of July...and apparently having issues with blogger tonight as I publish this for the first time EMPTY! :)

I truly feel like July passed me by in a hot second. So here's what I jotted down last month.... and I am just now posting!

Today I am:

Reading: The same two books as the last FOUR months now.... meaning I officially am not reading anything. Good grief. Hoping to turn that trend around by September. Making the Cut by Jillian Michaels and Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger

Listening to: Not much. Spend about 2 minutes at a time in the car everyday (on the way to/from work, the gym and Starbucks). That's where I used to listen to all my music, so I need to find other times of the day to flip on the radio!

Obsessed With:
**Food = shaken iced passion tea lemonade at Starbucks, Odwalla Chocolate Protein Monsters (my new favorite breakfast), Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches, nectarines
**Crafts = Been working on the design for my sister and soon to be brother-in-law's wedding in August. Also working on a ribbon bouquet for the rehearsal.
**Workouts = Had my last spin class, as Brian decided to give up his second job (he's feeling a little burned out these days!). Started going to the YMCA classes with some fabulous girls who motivate me to workout after work every day. Having fun with step, kickboxing and a variety that seems to keep me consistently sore!
**Time wasters = Still no time for them. Though I could argue that laundry is a time waster...
**House = No change but planning to purge and thinking about getting started with all the painting Labor Day weekend.

Thinking About: My sister's wedding coming up -- lots to do.

Planning: Still in survival mode. Hoping to get our plans to work on the house settled soon.

Dreaming Of: Sleep. Seriously!

Enjoying: Everything except the stress of all the time deadlines and stuff going on.

Vowing To: Get everything done on time!

Working On: Still on hold with all the things I want to do -- been recouping from the wedding, but busy getting stuff done for them.

Excited About: Katie's bachelorette party, the wedding.

Favorite food I made in the last month: Nothing new.

Getting out and about: Went to see Demi Lovato & David Archuleta with Mackenzie. Visit from Katie, Heather and CT for a day at the spa (soooo needed that massage!). Usual day-to-day.

Favorite photos from the last month:

Picture of David Archuleta performing :)

June: The time for parties!

Note: I documented this journaling in June and I'm just now posting it....eek! Just proves to me that this year has been as busy as I thought it actually was. So without further adieu....

Really starting to feel exhausted. Trying to start cutting down the weekend planning more. I need a vacation. Seriously.


Today I am:

Reading: The same two books as the last TWO months now.... meaning I *really* haven't made any progress on this front.... sigh.... Making the Cut by Jillian Michaels and Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger

Listening to: Jason Mraz and my eclectic workout playlists mostly.

Obsessed With:
**Food = shaken iced passion tea lemonade at Starbucks, still stuck on the dry cranberry lime Gus sodas, salad (everyday now), Odwalla Chocolate Protein Monsters (my new favorite breakfast), Skinny Cow Skinny Dippers (YUM.)
**Crafts = Everything got put on hold for my sister's bridal shower. Made 42 cute little bird favors
**Workouts = Bike riding is the new favorite workout. Just went mountain biking for the first time with Brian last weekend. It was fun, but I have the scraped knee to prove that I'm new at it. Also loving the spin class I'm taking now on Thursday nights. Had to miss it tonight to catch up for this weekend. Still too much to do tonight!
**Time wasters = Still no time for them.... can barely catch sleep every night between working, working out and trying to keep up with everything going on right now!
**House = Made up my mind on a color scheme for the master bedroom last month, finally figured out the master bathroom. Decided to paint the master bath first, but also decided I want to tile the floor, replace the baseboards and replace the two light fixtures. Since it went from a paint job to a renovation of sorts, I'm pushing it all back to labor day weekend in September. Take a few days off if I can and try to knock it out. Need some time to convince Brian to do all those things, though I'm fairly confident I could figure them all out! :)

Thinking About: All the baby showers and babies in the next week - it's madness!! Two showers on Sunday and one baby that should be here any day. And those are just the family members and close friends.... seems like everyone is having a baby right now! Trying to get all three gifts finished and wrapped up for this weekend.

Planning: Trying to survive tonight at this point actually. Trying to finish up what I'm making for two of the three baby gifts for this weekend. Sewing machine is NOT cooperating. Took a break out of frustration. Now to do laundry in-between. yay. :)

Dreaming Of: A weekend of peace and quiet 4th of July.... well when the neighbors aren't shooting off illegal pyrotechnic displays anyway.

Enjoying: The weather, my new routine and workouts, time with Brian -- more now than a month ago thanks to yet another change in work schedules!

Vowing To: Finish this stuff for the weekend and get a handle on all the clutter next week. I'm soooo over all of it.

Working On: Still working on the same things. All have been put aside temporarily for parties this month demanding my attention.

Excited About: Alli's baby shower, seeing more good friends (Drea and Annie), more time with family -- all this weekend. More fun stuff coming up in July.

Favorite food I made in the last month: Tomatillo Shrimp Tacos (from the Jillian Michael's book above) -- quite yummy.

Getting out and about: It's all turning into a blur. My sister's bridal shower, lots of time spent getting ready for it, hanging out with Erin & Nancy at some point. Brian's 8-hour mountain biking race he won. Busy, busy, busy!

Favorite photos from the last month: