Happy New Year!

For my New Years' celebration, we dressed in clothes that make us happy,

Then, we eat yummy mexican food until ready to burst. Then we scour various Target stores for brownie mix and fun games. This is what we chose:

For an hour, I was Queen Spatula. I had to say izzle after everything I said. I had to see how many things I could stuff down my shirt and in my pockets in thirty seconds. As for what else this game entails. I'd tell you, but it's better if I show ya.

Next, we played Pictureka. Find stinky things, flies, fire, and see of you can find 32 teeth.

She kicked our butts. I don't want to play that anymore. Okay, maybe a rematch. Best out of 5.

Then we had to take a little break to toast the New Year. Woot.

Hmmm, what else is there left to do?

How about Wii tennis?

After all that excitement, we decided to loll around eating brownies and watch this:

Yep. Who needs hoopla and debauchery when you have board games and crazy friends? Happy New Year, however you decided to ring it in.

A new blog post is long overdue, I know. And if you are like me at all, you have also been caught up in the melee known as the holiday season. I shopped, cleaned, cooked, worked, laughed, cried, and I am spent! Now the old year is over and a new year is only hours away and I finally have time to catch my breath. So here is a recap of all things Christmas-y that has been happening:

Not so much Christmas-related, but my roommate and I decided to redo the home office. Nothing crazy, a little paint, a new desk, make it a little more conducive to productivity. As a result, I have a piece of advice, never start a home renovation project, however small, in the months of November or December. Despite the best of intentions, it is near impossible to find enough time to complete. The good news is, the office is no longer living strewn throughout the family room and an "after picture" is soon to come.

I made these for a delicious holiday treat (among many other things), they're Pumpkin Pasties. And if you've read Harry Potter you know what I'm talking about. This is my version of that Hogwarts Express snack. It's super easy, and super yummy. Just pumpkin, pre-made sugar cookies and cupcake tins. They're like mini pumpkin pies.

My dad came to visit for Christmas.

He fixed things. Closet shelves, dimmer switches, refrigerator light bulbs. I didn't even know my refrigerator had light. And he took me to the dump.

<--Now my garage looks like this.

<---Instead of this.

Thanks Dad.

Cocoa also came for a visit. She's a sweet potato.

And now that they're gone, my dogs are sad. No, really. I'm not making this up. They miss my dad.

Did I mention I got a new camera? Can you tell?

I have my friends and family running for cover when I whip it out. But I have to practice on someone, right?

Happy Holidays!

Um, is this a hostage situation?

Getting in the Christmas spirit.

I've been waiting on awesomeness, so that a new long-awaited post would be exciting, dangerous, thrilling and maybe even slightly nauseating. Alas, I've been bogged down by humdrum daily life and have no new awesomeness to report. Those looking for awesome book recommendations. I am trying to wade my way into my massive reading pile, but I have reading ADD and keep starting something, then putting it down and picking up something else. Currently I'm reading the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine. These are short, fast reads and hold my attention like a crime drama on television would. Nothing monumental, but fun. And while I'm waiting for the next book in the series to arrive in the mail, I'm reading Lament by Maggie Stiefvater. I talked about her book Shiver not too long ago. I just like the way she tells a story. This one is about fairies, not something I'd usually read, but I'm a sucker for a good storyteller. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Speaking of books in the mail, have you heard of Book Depository? I think it's based in the UK, but you can get new books pretty cheap. Now, I am a loyal fan of Amazon, so I was a little skeptical about a different place to get new books. I usually compare the prices, but on some books, Book Depository is significantly less expensive. I've gotten quite few books at half price and it's always free shipping, there's no minimum purchase amount to qualify. It takes about a week or so for the books to get to you and you can't really track your order, but if you're shopping for the book lovers in your family, it's worth a look. And the customer service was impressive to boot! (I had a snafu with one of the books I ordered, but they were very gracious and fixed everything right up.) I still love you, Amazon, but it's time we start seeing other people.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend. Hope everyone is fat and happy. No rest for the service industry, so eat a little turkey for me as I try to earn an honest living this weekend. And pray I don't throttle any cranky shoppers. I have an IV caffeine drip, it helps. And since I can't leave you without some sort of visual delight, as puny as this post may be...

This guy's got the right idea.

TBR

This is my to-be-read pile of books. I rummage through 2nd hand bookstores, bargain bins, online clearances, and book swaps looking for books I've been meaning to read. And this is what has happened. I don't want to pass up good deals, but I am buying faster than I can read. And I can read pretty fast. It's overwhelming now, I feel like I'm in school and this is my required reading. I've tried to curtail the buying , but I keep breaking the rules. I mean, who turns down free books? I also tell myself that I can only get books from my "wishlist" but then I keep finding new books I wish to have. At this rate, I have enough to read for at least a year. Does that stop me? Um, no. I'm sick, book shopping is like a comfort food to me, and I can't stay away from book recommendations from people I trust. So I implore you all to stop telling me about great books, at least for a year or two. Even if I beg, plead or cry at your feet. I'm serious. My house is a fire hazard. And if you see me at a bookstore, shoo me with brute force if necessary.

P.S. This is what happens if you have a chihuahua and she feels ignored by your picture-taking

She wants to make sure that all household activities involve (revolve around) her. She also gets mad if you are downloading pictures and not holding her royal self.