MOO

My new favorite snack.....Chocolate Peanut Butter Skinny Cow Sandwiches. Yum!!! I love these!! I've been trying to stick to the Best Life Diet (I'm not on a diet, but just trying to eat a bit better by following their suggestions) and these are on the list. The peanut butter are not on the list, but many other varieties are, including Cookies n Cream, and damn are those tasty too!! If you are looking for a tasty low calorie snack, give these a try!

I Must have one!

I recently stumbled upon this adorable find at www.tastespotting.com. My wonderful friend Faith turned me on to this website. I want one!! It's a great way to have the "feel" of brewed for you frou frou latte drinks, without having to spend money. It's also a good way to do your part to help save the planet. Hint, hint honey. It's not pink, but it would make a nice Valentines Day gift! ;)

I...did....not....see....that....coming.....

As stated in my last post, I KNEW they were going to lay off people today. I just had a feeling. I had NO idea how deep it would go. I figured they would lay off some sales staff and that would be that. Oh no. Not even close. Let me break it down for you this way so you can see the impact. We have 19 people in our office, approximately 12 construction people out in the field, and approximately 12 sales staff after 2 rounds of layoffs already. After today the numbers are as follows: 5 people left in the office, 3 in the field, and about 9 sales people left, who will be phased out as we sell out our inventory. Wow. They laid off everyone. It was crazy. It's tough to see your friends who you've worked with crying. Everyone was so upset. It's emotionally draining. So yes, I was laid off. I'm sad for everyone else, but for me it's a benefit. Now I get a severance and can reap the benefits and relax for a bit down in SoCal and not stress about money, etc.

Everyone send out your well wishes to my coworkers, and send out positive vibes that they find employment soon and land on their feet.

Here we go again.....

If you recall, around new years I said we had some exciting things happening this year. J received a promotion back in September and it is in Southern California. I never thought when I left Minnesota with J, it would be such an adventure, but I'm happy to be on this journey with him. We've been in Northern California for a little over three years (which has flown by), but now it's time to move on again. I've met some awesome people up here and I'm really really going to miss them. It's funny because I spent 26 years in Minnesota, but I will always consider Sacramento home. (Mom, don't be upset, I miss you too, and just wish you guys lived out here!). The people here are great, and my job has been fantastic. I've always been somewhat of an unhappy person, but the last year spent here in Sacramento has made me extremely happy. I'll miss my home, my friends, and my job, but I'm looking forward to the adventure ahead.

For the past 13 years I've been in the home building industry. As I'm sure you well know, that industry is in the toilet right now. I'm tired of round after round of layoffs and downsizing. So I decided I'm leaving the industry. I've always been interested in the medical field, so I think I will be going back to school for that. I get to quit my job and relax for a bit. It doesn't sound like much, but it's very stressful going through layoffs. People you know and care about losing their jobs and watching their lives unravel. It takes an emotional toll on you as well as the waiting to see if more are coming, and who? when? I need a break. I'm going to sign up for school to start in March I believe, but we'll see.

I'll keep you all posted as it unfolds! We rented out our house and we are renting a house down in Orange County. Believe it or not, I've never seen it, so I'll post pictures once I know what the house looks like I'll be living in!

I finally put in my notice at work yesterday, so that is why I feel comfortable posting this now. I know another round of layoffs is coming and I think it's going to happen tomorrow, so I wanted to let them know before someone loses their job that could take mine instead!!

Back to knitting basics...

I finally decided to get back into knitting back in December. I'm always pulling it out every few years and starting a scarf, because it's all I can do at this point. :( I started this scarf on Friday night and finished it today. This has to be the fastest I've ever knit a project. Now that I'm back into it and enjoying it again, I'm going to actually sign up for a class this month. I say it every time, but I'm going to. I like knitting scarfs, but I'd like to learn some other skills as well.

Keep checking back and you just may see some other items posted. For now, you will see scarfs because I have a few more to knit. :)

An Open Letter To My Neighbors...

When the news calls for 65 mph gusts of wind....DO NOT put out your trash. I think I was the only intelligent person who didn't put out my trash, and yet some how, everyone elses trash cans and actual garbage ended up in my yard. If you look down the street, you will see all of the garbage cans...and there is trash EVERY WHERE. Next time...think.

A Stationary Junkie

Ok, so some of things I am doing this year (Which I'll tell you about later this month) require me to save money right now. I have been skipping my morning Starbucks, etc. But some things I just cant stop buying. I LOVE stationary of any kind. I have tons of it. My friend and I went to JoAnn Fabrics today at lunch and they have the cutest dollar section! I bought all of these note cards (40 of them) and a notepad for $6.00! I'm a $1.00 section junkie lately since stores are carrying some really cute things. My faves are Target and now JoAnn's! Check them out!

I also picked up some yarn while I was there to make some new scarves for people. This is the softest yarn! The colors are amazing as well! I need to learn to knit some other things soon too. I think I'll sign up for a class!

Happy shopping everyone!

A Christmas catch up....

Ok, so I've been slacking big time lately. J was gone for almost the whole month of December, so having him back for the holidays was nice. We lounged around in our pajamas for days and watched movies and ate. We both gained about 5 pounds. Doing all that eating of cookies, etc made time for blogging scarce. So here is a recap of our holiday. I'll call it What's for Dinner Christmas...

We wanted to make a nice dinner and hang out, but we were too lazy for that come Christmas. We decided to go to Trader Joe's and pick up something to eat instead. We went for an Asian fusion theme. A little Chinese, a little Japanese, etc. Overall for precooked food, it was great. I heart Trader Joe's. They have great food.

For dessert we went for my new favorite dessert....Mochi!!! I big puffy heart it, and I seem to be the only one because everyone I tell about this new obsession makes a yuck face. It's awesome. I single-handedly keep Trader Joe's in business by buying their Mochi.

For Christmas my parents got us these really cool inside out champagne glasses from Red Envelope. We decided to pull out our Raspberry sparkling wine from Karmere. Yum. If you notice in the background, the kids are waiting for some too. ;)

After all the food was eaten and presents opened, our house was a mess. Tivo decided he needed to attack the mound of tissue paper left over from the gifts. He was mad he didn't get what he wanted for Christmas.

Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season! 2008 has so much to bring!


Update: I realized the picture of the inside out champagne glasses was deleted some how....so here is the picture to go along with that.

Better late than never...a post for Mom

If anyone knows who Hoops and Yoyo are, you'll get this ornament. A funny thing my Mom and I share is a love of Hoops and Yoyo. They have hilarious e-cards and items you can buy at Hallmark.

I received this ornament as a surprise in the mail from my Mom! It's so cute! They were right in the front of our tree at the top for everyone to see. Thought you may like to see the ornament in all it's Christmas glory!

A New Beginning....

Wishing everyone a safe, happy and wonderful 2008!

I have many new things happening this year, and as they unfold, I'll be sure to write about them. :)