Jan 1, 2010

2009




I am so bad at my blogging lately. I have been busy with my mom and the girls.
#3 went back to school on Monday. It was so hard getting up early again. It was dark and way to cold to get out of the bed. #1 and #2 are still home and have to go back to their schools on Sunday. I am not looking forward to that. The house will be quiet again and I will be lonely and watching too much bad TV.

I am looking back at 2009 today......
the good, the bad and the ugly.

the big events in 2009:

#2 graduated from high school, I sent two kids to college, my house got quiet and empty, my mother in law passed away, my mother was diagnosed with cancer


the worst thing that happened:

I know my mother in law passed away and my mom was diagnosed with cancer this year also, and I am not minimizing that, but when Cleo, our St. Bernard died in January, unexpectedly, I was so heart broken. We discovered she was sick around midnight one night and less than two hours later she was gone. She was my 4 legged, 180 lb. baby and such a love bug. It was devastating to me, I think because it was so unexpected and I was not prepared for the loss.



the best thing that happened:

I may have to skip this one.... NOTHING really wonderful comes to mind. I am looking forward to a better year.

favorite movie:

Julie and Julia.... loved it. I cooked for days after seeing it.

worst movie:

so many to choose from... but I'd have to say sitting through Transformers was like punishment. The Man of the House said I snored. I know.... not very ladylike.

favorite TV shows:

The Amazing Race, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Top Chef, CSI, Modern Family, What Not to Wear, Platinum Weddings and True Blood to name a few

favorite restaurants:


favorite book:

probably a James Patterson book or Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See



This is a wonderful book about two Chinese girls, their families, their secret language and the practice of foot binding in China. I have the sequel in my stack of books and hope to get to it soon.


new places I went:

the Man of the House had a conference in Hawaii and we tagged along (poor #1 is still not over the fact that we left her in Chapel Hill because of school)







favorite new products:


I love these things. I keep them in my car and purse.




....I also love this garlic peeling tube. I bought mine through Pampered Chef, but have seen them in stores. Garlic and toothbrushes..... go figure!



I use my garlic peeler to make my family's new favorite home cooked meal:

Braised Short Ribs

You can't see them well,
but there are about 20 short ribs swimming around in there.
After bubbling away in the oven for over three hours , they melt in your mouth.



and last but not least.... my favorite and much needed "beauty" product:


Earth Therapeutics Hydrogel Under-Eye Recovery Patch

I keep them in the fridge!




It has been an emotional year and there have been a lot of changes, many we did not wish for. I am just soildering through each day, one step at a time, taking the good with the bad.

Hope you all are keeping warm!















6 comments:

Sandra said...

I hope you have a great 2010! There are always ups and downs and the downs are so overwhelming. But there is always a balance. Hugs to you. xoxo

Joyce said...

Its nice to see you back...my girls also go back to school on Sunday and I'm dreading the quiet house...I know I'll get used to it again but I miss the activity and chatter.

So, did you watch the new Bachelor : )

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

Don't worry, I have been on blog posting sabbatical for the past 2 months. Just got back on board yesterday! My daughter goes back to college this weekend too. I am not looking forward to the quiet house, but I have more than enough to keep me busy. You and I still need to get together sometime and meet for lunch. That would be fun! I hope 2010 turns out to be a better year for you. Love & blessings from NC!

Betsy said...

Your year is similar to mine in that you have gone through so many changes. I didn't know about your dog. That is so sad! Dogs are almost like children. :(

I use those little wisps too! Aren't they great? And I have never seen one of those garlic peelers. I need to find one of those!

Hope 2010 is a wonderful year for you!

Love Being A Nonny said...

Thought of YOU today when I did my post...you need to check it out.

Buffy said...

Hope you have a great 2010---Love your blog and the name HA!:) You have got to share your rib recipe looks yummy! I think I need to try the under eye patches, I turned 35 this year and have started to notice lots of changes!