Bzzzz for Angie

So this is what I did for New Years. Actually, I did it in support of our close friend, Angie. Angie was diagnosed with breast cancer in December. She is now going through chemo and has hit the point where all of her hair is gone. Before chemo, her hair was down her back... and now gone. So, for support I bought a pair of clippers, asked a friend, and shaved it all down to about 1". I had been growing my blonde hair out for about a month and kept putting off dying it again.

I went brunette in 2005 and regretted it. It did become me and my personality and my identity. It was who I was. So, when the chance came up to shave it.. I did it.


I just typed a long paragraph detailing more of why.. but then it was deleted (stupid computer). Bottom line, I have amazing friends that I would literally do anything for- even shave off my hair.

Love you, Angie.

New Year Means Changes

What a great start to 2013! A blog!

We spent last night enjoying time with friends and managed to stay up until Midnight and sneak in that first kiss of the year.

One downside to the day is that the hubby is working a 12 hour shift, which means I'm home alone with nothing to do.... not!

I was going to spend the day relaxing since I'm fighting off yet another head cold, but got off the couch around 10 and started in on the spare room. I grabbed the now unused bags that were used as laundry bags (those 59 cent blue IKEA bags come in handy) and went to work. I started in the closet and grabbed out all the stuff that has just been sitting there not doing anything and put them in a bag. Yoga mat (only used once), old blanket (too slippery to put a duvet on), backpack and a few other items. Next was the dresser. I have some shorts that were just too short and just fit weird and not used this past summer, so those went first. I then tackled the master closet. Man did that feel good! I filled up one of those big bags with just my clothes! Shirts, pants, dresses.. you name it! I have a lot of clothes that I hold onto with the excuse of "I'll wear that when I lose weight". Well, why not just buy new clothes when I lose all that weight?

After putting away the bags in the living room, I tackled the kitchen. I have been wanting to make cookies for Christmas but keep putting it off. The flour and white chocolate chips and other stuff has been taking up my cupboards and just there for the last 2 or 3 weeks. So I started to make the gingerbread cookies. I got the butter, molasses, sugar going and stirred. I added the flour and just had to stop. I took one bite and realized that I didn't need this in my house anymore. I grabbed a plastic bag and dumped it in there and put that in the trash can. I then took out the rest of the stuff I had bought for cookies and tossed it. A full bag of flour (unused), package of white chocolate chips.. gone. If I have it in the house, I know I will find time and make cookies and then eat most of those cookies. I don't need that! It's the reason I'm having to get rid of clothes that don't fit! I emptied out my flour container and cleaned it out. Then took a few really small plastic containers and put about 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of brown sugar and set aside. I do need those for other foods. But the rest was tossed. Done!

I like the feeling I have right now. Well, not the part that reminds me that I need to finally go and shower. HA!

Here's a to a new start!

Hormones and Holidays

What a crappy week to get PMS! I have something going on every single night for the past few weeks and I am getting so worn out. Babysitting my favorite munchkins, buying Christmas gifts for our kids and family, and gifts for the boss. My apartment is a mess, laundry is piling up.. AH!!!!!

I am stretching myself thin helping everyone else that it's beginning to take it's toll on me. I just want to sit down at night and do NOTHING! Instead, I will go to a friend's house to watch her cats while they are gone, put dinner in the oven, buy the last of the gifts for the boss, babysit until 9pm, come home, wrap gifts, and crash in bed. Thank goodness for a husband that helps out! I'm leaving him with gift wrapping for our "End of the World" party tomorrow night.

Looking forward to Christmas being over, the New Year to be here and a change in the crazy.

First resolution for 2013- ME FIRST!!!

Miller Christmas Time

Last week I attended a Christmas party at church. The topic of traditions came up and I realized that I was stumped. I couldn't think of traditions we had when I was a child.

After we got home, I was talking with my husband about it and realized I may not remember the traditions when we were a kid too well, but I do remember as we got older. Here they are:

Christmas Eve:

- Read Luke 2 (we would act out the story when we were little)
- Open one present (usually the biggest and as we got older, it turned into new jammies for Christmas Morning)
- Drive around and see Christmas lights while listening to carols in the car

Christmas Morning:
- My job to sort out the stockings into everyone's "spot"
- We were allowed to ONLY open our stockings and in them were candy, an orange and a small box of cereal. As we got older, they included scratch tickets and a toothbrush.
- We had to wait until mom and dad were awake, but meanwhile I would sort out all the presents into people's "spots" for them to open
- Once everyone is up and presentable, we start with everyone opening one present and going in a circle. This lasts until someone runs out (usually my mom or dad) and then it was a free for all.
- After gifts are open, we would start a fire and burn all the wrapping paper. This was the one time a year the fire place was ever used.

I really, really look forward to Christmas every year but with family spread out (sister going to Africa, us in Oregon, another sibling in Arizona, etc) it's not feeling too much like Christmas. We don't have kids to wake up with or see all happy in the morning. It's kind of depressing really.

We will keep up some of the traditions to a point. I still like to go see lights on Christmas Eve and pick out one gift to open. There are always new jammies under the tree to wear Christmas morning.

In the knick of time...

Yesterday we both got home around 4. I went to open the freezer to get stuff out for dinner and saw red liquid all over the bottom shelf. I looked and saw all my meat was slightly thawed.

I realized it was the popsicles that were in the door and they were completely liquid. I opened the refridgerator and everything was slightly warm, but still cold. I called our front office and all I got was the run around. I chatted with my husband and then called back. This time I got ahold of someone new. I was told that maintenance was going to be leaving at 4:30 and a work order needed to be signed. So, as the good wife I am, I made B put on his shoes and RUN to the front office.

We were able to get someone over right away. It ended up that a clip was out. Just a quick snap and we were back in business!!

Hooray for a nagging wife to get things done!