The two-hundred-and-seventy-first and two-hundred-and-seventy-second days combined...Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

I cannot wait for 5:30 to come today. Why, you ask? Because that's when my vacation officially starts - and I can finally get some sleep. Well, actually 5:30 is when I'll be catching a quick nap on the train (and then on the bus) because when I get home, I'll have to head right back out to do some last minute shopping with my family. I really hope we get everything done tonight as I don't want to have to be a Christmas Eve shopper, but with our track record - we'll be out all afternoon tomorrow too :)

I actually just got my paycheck and am now certain that I will be out tomorrow as, silly me, I expected the Accounting department to do what they have been doing since I started working at my job and direct deposit my funds. How silly and naive of me! Nope, they chose to F me over and sent me a paper check - so now I have to wait for it to clear. What joyous holiday merriment. Thanks Accounting!

Man it's cold outside. Now, I know its' cold outside in NY, and you know it's cold outside in NY. Apparently, however, this woman was unaware as she chose to romp around the city in leggings and flip-flops. She was actually on line complaining that she was so cold and had no idea it would be so chilly out.

She knew enough to throw on a winter coat

In happy news, the absolutely lovely Kim from J & K, A Journey (a fabulous blog, btw – definitely check it out if you haven’t already :) tagged me and gave me an award recently! It is the…drumroll please…Happy 101 award! I love this award – and not just because the badge has cupcakes on it – but because this one is all about happiness and some of the things that make me happy :)


So, I have to list 10 things that make me happy, and try to do at least one of them today. Then, I am to tag 10 bloggers that brighten my day. Those 10 bloggers should link back to my blog (if they choose to create their own happy lists :)

And now for the fun:

1) Laughing and making others laugh – I can find humor in almost anything, and when I start laughing, I laugh long, loud and hard! It’s awesome – I wholeheartedly subscribe to the ‘a hearty belly laugh a day (or more in my case), keeps the doctor away’ adage :)

2) Movies :) Going to the movies, watching Netflix movies, watching movies on tv/cable...it's all wonderful.

3) The Ginger People Ginger Chews (original and spicy apple flavors :) They are sooooo good. If you are a fan of ginger candies, you have to try them. If you like them, you can actually buy them cheaper on Amazon too;

4) Writing in my journals. I've kept one since my freshman year in high school, and though I don't write things down as often as I did then, I still try to jot something down every now and then;

5) Writing stories and making up nonsense words. I have an over-active imagination (always have);

6) Gadgets. I love reading about and messing around with new gadgets. Ipods, video game systems, computers, watches, clocks, and so on and so on. I find it all fascinating;

7) Piping hot hot chocolate on cold days - with a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg added, and then topped with a handful of marshmallows and some whipped cream. Yum!;

8) Boardgame/Cardgame nights with family and friends. Ludo, Quelf, Uno, Clue - oh my;

9) Sleep. Ahhh, blissful sleep – especially when it’s actually a relaxing and restful night of sleep; and

10) Saving the best for last – my man and my family. They are just awesome - it's self explanatory, really.

All of the blogs that I follow (and those new ones that I discover each day) brighten my days; but here are 10:

1. Jeanette @ Cooler Ranch or Nacho Cheese?;
2. Badass Geek @ The Badass Geek;
3. Optimistic Pessimist @ The Audacity of an Optimistic Pessimist;
4. Sunshinemeg @ Float On…;
5. Moonjava @ Moonjava’s Muse;
6. Lee @ Photographing the Days;
7. Fidgeting Gidget @ Fidgeting Gidget;
8. Haley Dawn @ Cape Cod Love;
9. Novelista Barista @ The Novelista Barista; and
10. Children of the 90s @ Children of the 90s.

Have an amazing Hump Day everyone!

The two-hundred-and-sixty-sixth day to two-hundred-and-seventieth days combined...Hello Winter, Hello Snow!

Hello everyone :) I hope you all had lovely, non-stressful weekends. My weekend was full of planning shopping routes (Friday) , shopping (Saturday), and then staying home and off the snow and slush filled roads (Sunday).

I stuck to my plan, and am only one gift away from being done with my Christmas shopping - I just have to get a treat for my doggie (he loves Christmas too :)

We headed out early on Saturday to try an avoid the snow. It started coming down very lightly when we were leaving Kohls; but it wasn't until we were leaving the mall at about 5:30 or so that things got bad. One would think that people had never seen snow before by the way people were driving. Thank goodness for hot chocolate and Netflix, because that's how I spent the rest of my night.

How did the weekend treat all of you?

Santa at the mall

The beginnings of the blizzard

P's holiday gifts for me (she had quite the Hello Kitty theme going with the ornament, Pez, and socks)

Have a great day everyone!