Day in Boston

So today i had the great privilege of going into Boston and spending time with my sister on one of her few and far between "free" days.  My parents and I drove in and we went to her apartment first and then walked to Fenway area and had lunch at Boston Beer Works. First time for me at both places. I have never been to a red sox game, and have never eaten at Boston Beer Works. Great experience on both counts; especially since there was a game today! Tons of people yelling, cheering and walking around. BBW was PACKED with people and when the game started the radio came on with songs like "Sweet Caroline" "Muddy Waters" and even some Drop kick Murphy's, and everyone in the restaurant would start to sing along with the songs! It was so much fun, we had blueberry beer and fries and it was the best! Then we walked around the "fens" area in and out of shops and even bought some Red Sox gear! Just a great fun day with the family! Here are some pictures to commemorate! Enjoy Memorial Day! 

Wow! February 21st is the last time I have logged on! Well needless to say a lot has happened! Miss Olivia Marie is going to be 3 months this week and she is still the love of my life! She is getting so big and continues to be more and more expressive each time I see her. It is so much fun to visit and have her cooing and giggling in the background! As you can see by the new pictures I spent some time down south with family and got to see my niece Em (3 1/2) and nephew Caleb (7 months) and they are such a joy. It was a bittersweet visit because I wish I was closer so I could see them more. 

Other than family updates, not too much is new. My car finally went to car heaven and I am the proud owner of a new 09 Matrix, which gets more and more fun each day! 

Thats it for now, I really should try to keep up with this more often because I hate it when my friends who are far away don't post new things on their blog. =)

The Big Event!

Olivia Marie Norman decided to grace the world with her presence at 11:45pm Thursday 2/19!! She was 6 pounds, 10 ounces and 20.5 inches of perfection. It is surreal to me that my best friend is now a mother and this little life we have all been waiting for with baited breath is now here. She is amazing, so tiny and she looks just like her daddy and is a little spaz like her momma. Everything she does, every sound she makes is a marvel, and I could just stare at her forever!!! I can't wait to watch her grow and be a hands on auntie =)

Here it is!

So, after a while I am finally posting the picture of my "cupcake jungle". It took some work, and I think it definitely doesn't look like the picture I found on the internet, but I am proud of it.... now if only someone would find me and ask me to do all this fun stuff full time!!

Barbie

So yesterday I had the privilege of working in the kindergarten room at work for a while, and because at times like this I seem to turn into a kindergartener, I started playing with some of the little girls. Who just so happened to be playing with what........? BARBIE DOLLS. Now these dolls bring back loads of memories for me, because face it ladies who of us didn't have at least one barbie doll growing up?? So as I am brushing this plastic woman's hair I start looking at the clothes I have to pick from and how they fit the doll. Now we all know Barb's proportions are so totally out of proportion and not realistic in any way, but what struck me as very amusing..... her clothes don't even fit her! Is it bad enough we still make barbie with the "perfect measurements" but then we have to make clothes to dress her in that are skin tight, low sling and can't even snap in the back because they are so tight across her chest?? Way to give six year olds a healthy view of themselves .... way to go!

HOPE

On the eve of what is to date the most historical event of our young country's existence I find myself torn between pride in my country for overcoming prejudices we have stuck to for over a century and despair over the particular candidate who will be taking office. As a conservative republican I often have people say to me that I am un-american or even racist because I don't think Barack Obama should be president. First of all I find it very un-american to question someone else's political viewpoint to such an extreme. If you like B.H.O. for president I certainly disagree with you and hold a different opinion but I won't go up to you and say you must hate white people.....!?!?! It is not the color of the candidates skin I have a problem with, I applaud the American people for electing their first African American President, it is the character of the man who has been elected that I take issue with. I feel like I could go on and on with this particular argument but really it is futile. The election happened, B.H.O. takes office tomorrow and nothing will change that, at least for the next 4 years.  I just felt compelled to state that I am happy and sad at the same time, it is my prayer that in times of great turmoil B.H.O. will take to his knees and ask for wisdom and guidance from the God who deemed now the time for  him to make history. Well, here's to the next election!

Homemade Animal Crakcers

Good morning all!

For an upcoming shower I have, the decision was made to make a homemade "box of animal crackers", so I pulled out a cookbook yesterday and tested out  new sugar cookie and icing recipes..... and here are the results!!

First Project

It's been a while since I've been on this, so I decided to dedicate some time to my blog. Spice up it's look and content. I trust everyone had a great Holiday season and kick off to the new year.  Over the Holidays, I decided to take the plunge and venture into baking for gifts... turns out I'm kind of good at it, so I'm looking into making something of it. ( even if it only turns out to be baking more for my family)  =)

So with this decision comes some more "plunging" and getting a little adventurous in my baking endeavors.... time to move out of the world of awesome cookies and brownies.... so to the left is my next project. My best friend in the world is having a baby, so here is what will hopefully be the "cake" for the event! I will let y'all know how it turns out!

Rant

This is totally a post devoted to ranting about a particular subject. Today's would be people who have no social grace whatsoever!

Today is my birthday ( let's not discuss the year), and I decided to go get my haircut. Most of the time, at least for us girls, this is supposed to be a nice, relaxing experience. Having someone else pamper you for a while. Well while I am sitting in my chair, chatting with my hairdresser and getting my hair cut, a woman walks into the salon, and starts wandering around throwing out random questions about "flaky hair". First of all..... EW! Keep your flakiness to yourself, second of all since my hairdresser and myself are the only two people in the salon, there is no one else to go over and take care of this woman. So my hairdresser politely excuses herself to go and offer some guidance to the woman. She shows her some product, explains its uses and then returns to me and turns the hair dryer on ( obvious signal to the other woman that the conversation is over, and get lost) no....... not going to happen. The woman stands at the counter and continues to have a conversation ( with who I don't know because we aren't paying attention to her!) about her flaky hair and why doesn't her $2 walgreen's special shampoo work. My hairdresser is trying to be polite, all the while trying to get the woman out of the store. She isn't buying anything, she's just sighing at the counter and chatting. I really wanted to get up and say..... This  is my time.... my time to relax and have my hairdresser to myself, and you are in here for no good reason!!!! Get out and stop distracting the woman who is holding the scissors next to my head!!!!!

So I don't really have words..... I tried to flush my head down the toilet but it didn't work..... I hear Australia is nice this time of year, maybe I will move there. Anyway for those of you who don't understand what you have just voted yourselves into....

" Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. It's inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill

A Democracy???

So I just went and voted this morning. 

Observation #1:

on my long winding drive to the center I go to vote, the side of the road is "littered" with signs for John Kerry, George Ross, and other people running for office in the state of Massachusetts.... also represented in the signage.... Obama.... but did I see any McCain signs... you guessed it NO. Lets try to at least pretend we believe in the system of elections people.

Observation #2:

I enjoy confrontation so I wore my "McCain/ Palin: Country First" t-shirt, and I wore my coat open and walked proud... so the stares and backhand whispers were to be expected. And shockingly enough people, there were many. I also learned a little life lesson as I went into the gym to vote... you are  not allowed (at least in MA) to wear any apparel that displays favor of a particular party or candidate into the voting booth... hence the police officer bringing me to the side and telling me to zip my jacket...  interesting!

That's it in a nut shell. No matter who you vote for, please exercise your right as an American Citizen and VOTE!!!

So everyone single person I know has a "blog". What's the big deal I say to myself, a whole page devoted to telling anyone who wants to view it, what you think about different topics and all about your life. Then I thought about it for a while and got a different perspective. No I'm not getting married, or having a baby or living in a new place... so what do I write about that is at all interesting.... my life that's what. I figure I don't need to have some big huge event in my life to have a blog, I can just write/show about what I do. I teach, I shop, I socialize and I guess now I can add I blog! Hopefully much more to come, although I have a very short attention span =)