Hump Day

Hummingbird125

Well, it's even better than hump day for me since I have off this Friday :-)

What's going on today? How much more X-mas shopping do you have left? Did anyone celebrate the first night of Hanukkah last night?

Random thoughts in my head today:

1) Although I am 0% religious, I'm technically half Jewish and I wish my Grandpa still had the family over for some of the Jewish holidays because I'd love for FI (who was raised in upstate NY), to get at least a little sense of Jewish culture, just because it's interesting. 

2) FI took me on an unexpected weekday date night to see Wild last night and I LOVED it. I thought it was very true to the spirit of the book, and it made me cry several times. Now, I tear up very easily, but there was a point during the film last night that my face was all scrunched up and there were tears streaming down my face, so yeah... it hit me. Wild has been my favorite book of all time for a few years now, and it might be time for a 3rd read soon.

3)  I miiiight have figured out where we're going for our honeymoon and I am SO excited. We're considering an AI in Costa Rica, but planning on booking a bunch of off-resort activities as well. I still need to do some research and want to watch prices for a bit before booking, but I'm super stoked to have a vacation to look forward to, since it's been TWO YEARS since FI and I went on vacation together.

4) I must must must finish my Xmas shopping this weekend. No shopping on Xmas Eve this year, I swear.

5) Note to self: When FI says "Skip the gym today and work out with me at home!" DON'T DO IT. It inevitably leads to trying to follow some stupid video for 20 minutes until we give up before I've even broken a sweat. Just go to the gym.

[Deleted User]

scallop update:  it was awful!  mostly the sauce (it was soooo salty, and I only put half the salt that it called for!)  I ended up rinsing and draining them and making a sauce out of honey and fresh orange juice and peel and a tiny bit of salt and pepper.  it was better, but still not great.  we threw them in some toasted corn tortillas and made tacos.  I think that's the Hispanic way of fixing anything!

I've got all my Christmas shopping done!  I need to wrap one gift, but that's it. 

H did PIYO with me last night.  it was Buns, and it was TOUGH.  we are both feeling it today!  glad it's a rest day.

I don't have a lunch with me today, so I hope the cafe has something that's healthy AND tasty.  I don't have high hopes for that!

[Deleted User]

@hummingbird125 -That's exciting about your honeymoon location! I hope that you're able to book it soon!

We have all of our Christmas shopping done besides for MIL. DH is going to go get her gift since he knows more specifically what she is looking for. Today I'm going to bother our insurance company to get our deductible back since we weren't supposed to pay that anyways and I'm getting a call back from my doctor on some blood work I got done yesterday so hoping for good things with that.

Tonight I'm making Tilapia with a garlic cheese sauce and fresh steamed green beans after CrossFit.

[Deleted User]

@Hummingbird125 - Costa Rica is on my shortlist of places I want to go!!  what else are you considering?

@southernpeach89 - hope everything is okay!

[Deleted User]

@Twodimes We sent our Save The Dates at around 7 months out. I think you're fine as long as it's no later than 6 months in my opinion.

@CocoBellaF -Yep everything is ok (as far as I know), my OB wanted to check my hormone levels but all should be fine.

So in addition to Maddux's wormy butt he also has a small skin infection on his belly. We have to spray this stuff on it and it's supposed to clear up in a week. He does not like us spraying him I'll just say that lol. He also has gained like 17 lbs since they last weighed him, he is 67.3 lbs and they say he will probably get up to around 80 before he stops growing.

minskat30

@TwoDimes - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Indy.  So adorable.

@Hummingbird125 - Costa Rica would be awesome.

@CoCoBellaF - Scallops are harder than they look.  Took me several tries to get the right balance of cooking and seasoning so don't give up.

@SouthernPeach89 - Hope the results come back like you want them to.

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I have like 10% of my Christmas shopping done and I'm starting to freak out.  I'm swamped at work every day and my weekends are sucked up with home improvement (i.e., the kitchen). I need to get my act together but all the stuff I want to buy is stuff I really want to see in person (clothes, bedding sheets, etc.).  I think I'm screwed.  This weekend I have to, have to, have to get to it.

Swazzle

@hummingbird125 - YAY FOR HM! If you have any questions, I'd be glad to help (ie do NOT drink the water regardless of what anyone says)! 

I am GREAT today! I didn't mention it here but my mom had heart surgery yesterday. The surgery went really, really well and she is "cured" and feeling pretty good! She even got to go home last night! 

While I was at the hospital with my mama, H was at our hopefully-soon-to-be-house getting the inspection done. It went so great! The only bad things: we have to replace the water heater soon, regrout the shower in the main bathroom, and check if the dishwasher is under warranty/call a repairman out to fix the latch. It's seriously like night and day compared with the inspection from the old house! 

H also took a ton of new pictures and I fell in love all over again. The sink in the kitchen is one of those ones where you just tap it and the water comes on. There's also a garbage disposal we didn't know about AND the skinny cabinet next to the stove IS A SPICE RACK! I AM SO EXCITED. Our appraisal was yesterday also so I'm anxious to hear how that went!

So, there were a ton of emotions yesterday but overall: relief, excitement, and happiness

I have another Christmas party tonight and I'm hoping to behave myself and be on my way home at 7:30. 

Hummingbird125

@CocoBellaF - I would still LOVE to go on a cruise, but FI doesn't want to do that. We need to keep it pretty affordable, and don't want to do the Bahamas or Jamaica as we've been there together already, so I've been looking at the Virgin Islands too, but haven't found something both nice enough and affordable enough to consider yet.

@TwoDimes - I would probably wait until after the 1st to send them out if I were you. 7 months is still plenty of time, and then you don't have to worry about them getting lost in all the holiday mail.

KeptInStitches

Done Christmas shopping! Except for buying my dad's magazine subscription and I'm intentionally waiting until the absolute last minute on that. The last thing I want is for him to start getting issues before Christmas.

Exam is tomorrow. Study study study study study ... if you see me on here today, chase me off.

[Deleted User]

@TwoDimes - I would wait until the beginning of January and send them out.

@beanbot2002 - I SEE YOU THERE LURKING.  I guess I'm on the right track... I think H can make anything a taco!   

Swazzle

Oh and I'm done my Christmas shopping, I just have to wrap. Which I hate and am terrible at. So I'm honestly considering gift bags and tissue paper from the dollar store. 

beanbot2002

I can only stay for a moment before I'm discovered haha

I LOVE EVERYONE'S POSTS!!!! Especially @swazzle!!! I know how scary that is. I'm so glad that your mom responded well to the surgery! I was praying feverishly all day for the both of you. I'm gonna keep praying that she continues to heal and that there are no further problems with her heart! xoxoxo

@twodimes PUPPPPPPPPPY!!!!!!!!!!!

@hummingbird125 I LOVE the idea of a Costa Rica HM! How exciting!!! What kind of excursions are you thinking of?

@cocobellaF Hehehehe Tacos ARE a fix all!

As far as I go, I have not purchased one single Christmas gift just yet. Yep. Slacker party of 1 over here. No-Uh is horribly sick right now (raging fever) and I'm sitting at my desk calling the dr. office every 5 minutes only to hear the same "Sorry we're running late! Teehee!" message over and over. They were supposed to open at 8:30. I'm not amused. T&P&V for my little guy pretty please! Hope it's nothing bad. 

[Deleted User]

@beanbot2002 - thinking of your little guy... hope he starts feeling better RIGHT NOW and the doctor's office gets their act together!

Swazzle

@beanbot2002 - THANK YOU  

I am sending all of my get-well vibes to No-Uh. Poor little guy! That doctor's office better open NOW or he'll have ME to deal with!

Ollie08

@Hummingbird125 - Yay for a potential honeymoon decision!!

@Southernpeach89 - Poor Maddux! What a big boy. I hope he gets to feeling better soon.

@Swazzle - {{{HUGS}}} for your mama. I wish her a speedy recovery. And YAY for great things. A SPICE RACK?! I'm so jealous right now. Fingers crossed for a great appraisal.

I think I'm done Christmas shopping. I'll be re-checking myself this week when I actually get to wrapping everything to be sure I have everything. I'm undecided on how to wrap the gifts this year. We're doing the "4 gift" rule, but we technically have more than 1 thing for each category. One of the categories is "Something to Wear" and each DD has a full outfit including a jacket. I'm wondering if I should wrap them individually so they feel like they got more? Or just put them all in one big box? Or wrap them individually and then wrap them in one big box for the category? GAH! Too many decisions.  

Ollie08

@beanbot2002 - Oh no! Poor No-Uh! I hope it's nothing too bad. All the T&P for your little guy.

lmcooper86

@Hummingbird125 - Yay for HM plans! We know where we're going and are watching the hotel website obsessively...the hotel rep told FMIL that every winter they run a "book 4 nights get the 5th free" promotion and I would LOVE 2 free nights!

@CocoBellaF - Ugh, I'm sorry to hear your scallops didn't work out so well at least you were able to come up with a way to fix it!

@TwoDimes - I think you're find to wait until January to send the STDs. That way they (hopefully) won't get lost in the Christmas mail jam. January is still plenty of time. And I freakin' love your puppy, too cute!

@Swazzle - So many house vibes, this one sound so much better! And I love wrapping presents, I would wrap your for you but I don't live there. I've actually told FI that a gift bag does not count unless it's a super awkwardly shaped present lol

I am in a pretty good mood today, although I'm a bit tired. FI and I went to the Leafs game last night and it was a 7:30 start so we didn't get home until close to 11. But Leafs win again so YAY!

I only have this morning to try and get a bunch of things done at work, and then I'm out of the office all afternoon for a meeting. Right after the meeting I have to jump on the train and trek out to the 'burbs to meet my sister to finalize her BM dress; my mom is coming too, which means a potential drive home. I also need to grab the ingredients to make bars for our office cookie swap tomorrow. I have NO time to bake this week so I am cheating and making these no-bake bars that are like rice krispie squares, except made with mars bars. So much yum.

Our realtor sent us another big set of listings that I need to review properly today because we're supposed to be going to look at places tomorrow night. At first glance there are a few that I actually WANT to see, as opposed to feeling sort of meh about all of them. I'm feeling good about this set of listings, I think there are a bunch of places that have potential. Fingers crossed!

lavenderfields13

@Hummingbird125 we might be considering Costa Rica too! We'd both like to go and have never been before. We haven't been to Jamaica either but FI has something against Jamaica for some reason. 

I have no idea when we're going to get to go on our HM though FI had to pick his 2015 vaca weeks last month and he couldn't even get our wedding week off so he's going to have to special request that time. We're getting married in June- I don't think they'd let him take time off for the wedding then a week plus for HM and places will be HOT then. He has a week off in the middle of September but I guess that's hurricane season for the Caribbean so I don't know what to do!

@swazzle I'm glad to hear about all the good news! yay for your mom being OK- that must have been sooo scary! and yay for the house! what an exciting time

@twodimes I think you're fine to wait until after Xmas to send out your STDs. Like @hummingbird125 said, I'd just do it before the 6th month mark

I am NOT in the Christmas spirit this year. We didn't get a tree and didn't decorate. I'm broke from buying presents for FI, getting my brakes done and having to buy a new laptop. I was paying down my credit card and then all this shit happened right before Christmas. I'm so aggravated. I have most gifts done for FI. None for anyone else. I just want to skip Christmas this year!

Swazzle

@lmcooper86 - I hope you find something that is perfect (or as close to perfect as possible)! I will say, however, try not to be *too* judgey about the listings. The house we're buying was one that I normally would have skipped right over. It had no photos and was listed as having only 1 bathroom (At least 1.5 was a must for us). Our realtor pulled it and we were like, eh I guess it can't hurt to look at... And then we walked in and fell in love! 

Peaseblossom55

@Hummingbird125 we considered Costa Rica for our HM but decided to go to Belize instead because of the Mayan ruins.  I want to get to costa rica at some point though.

@swazzle I'm so glad your mom is ok from surgery and it went well.  Yay for the house inspection going well.  Your kitchen sounds amazing!!!!

@beanbot2002 Hoping to get to the doctor's office soon

 I did not celebrate Chanukah last night. 

I have barely done any Christmas shopping. I know what I am getting people I just need to execute my ideas. I will finish up my shopping on Monday.  I had a really good rehearsal for Doubt last night, it made me feel really good.  I've been pretty emotional lately and I felt like I had a good day yesterday and I'm in a great mood today.  Although I have an ENT appointment tongiht, I'm not sure what the outcome of that will be. 

[Deleted User]

Christmas shopping is DONE! Thank goodness. Work is super crazy this week and I just don't have time for shopping.

I do, however, have a lot of wrapping that needs to get done. I also need to get a packing list going because we are spending the holiday in Estes Park in a rental cabin with H's family this year and I just know I'm going to forget something if I don't make a list!

Today I find out if I get a promotion/raise. I have a good feeling this year, inspite of the layoffs...so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! With baby on the way, every little bit helps! Plus, I've taken on a lot of additional responsibilities here recently so it would feel awesome to be rewarded for that.

H and I also have our 20-week ultrasound on Friday. 2 more days and I get to see baby again (and possibly for the last time) before we meet him/her in person! I'm so excited that we're halfway there. I cannot wait to meet our little person and all the joy that will bring to us. eek!

[Deleted User]

@allusive007 - ALL THE VIBES FOR YOU!!!!  and a cabin for Christmas sounds so wonderful!!

[Deleted User]

@AuroraRose41 - what are people wearing in San Diego right now?  I have no idea how to pack... I've never been to that part of the country, and I know that 60s and 70s can feel different depending on where you're at!  and I don't want to look totally out of place.    please advise!

labro

@Swazzle YAY! I'm so glad your home inspection went well!!!

@TwoDimes OMG YOUR PUPPY IS SOOOOOO CUTE!!!! As a side note, I didn't mail my STDs until exactly 6 months out because we took our e-photos late and then I had to wait for pictures and wait for my STD cards to arrive in the mail. I'd personally wait til after New Years and then send your cards out.

@southernpeach89 I'm so sorry about Maddux's worms and skin infection. I hope he didn't get them from his cousin. And holy crap he is getting so huge!!

@allusive007 You are nearly halfway done!!!

I still need to buy one more Christmas gift for my youngest sister and then I think my Christmas shopping is complete. I'm really tired today because I've been up working til 11 the last two  nights in a row because someone at my office can't get his shit together. Hopefully this thing I've had going on gets closed today and I can leave at 5 like I normally would. Tonight H and I should probably pack for our Indiana trip and clean the house and do one last load of laundry. We can't do it tomorrow night because we have to go to H's company Christmas party and IMO open bars and Christmas parties are > than packing.

Peaseblossom55

@allusive007 yay I'm so excited for you!!

eilis1228

Last night FI and I went to see The Hobbit. He's been looking forward to it for months, so I wanted to make sure we still went even though I feel like poo. It was really entertaining... but be warned that there's very little plot. The majority of the movie is a battle, which makes sense because at this point in the book, there's very little plot left. We enjoyed the movie, and afterwards FI immediately started listening to the song at the end that Billy Boyd sings (he's done this every year with the Hobbit movies). Such a goober butt. We got home around 9:30, and I immediately took a shower and went to bed. :-\

I did get my fancy shmancy neck pillow in yesterday, and I tested it out before the movie. I sent FI this lovely pic of me, and he said it's the best picture I've ever taken lol:

Tonight I'm going to run by Target to get one of those study pillows that help keep you comfy while sitting up, and then FI and I are going to clean the apartment more. I realllllllly don't want to recover in a dirty apartment, especially since it will only get dirtier as I recover. Plusalso, my mom is going to be staying with us a night or two to take care of me, and I don't want her to clean it or see it as a mess.

All of my Christmas shopping is done, but FI still needs to get a few things. He drew my sister's name in one of my family Christmas gift exchanges, and the limit for that exchange is $35. We were going to get her a beer pong kit and CAH, but she texted last night saying that her Chi died. I think the cheapest I can find those is like $80-$100, so I don't think I'll be able to make it work... even a gift card to Ulta wouldn't really do her any good since the limit is $35. She'd still have to come up with most of the money herself. Hmmmm... 

Anywho, other than that, Christmas shopping is done. FI needs to get the gift for my sister and then a birthday present for a friend whose birthday is Monday, and then we're 100% finished. He's going to wrap this weekend with his butcher paper, twine, and fancy new wax seal. @AlPacina requested a pic of the seal yesterday, but I got too busy to post, so I'll post one here. Sorry for my pic heavy post today:

Tonight for dinner FI is making chicken tacos, but I think tomorrow I'm going to jump on the seafood wagon and make some tilapia. That sounds soooo good right now.

@Swazzle I'm so glad your mom's surgery went well! That's amazing news! And hooray for the house being so wonderful!!! I really hope this one works out for you guys. It sounds like an even better house than the last one.

@Hummingbird125 HM in Costa Rica sounds fabulous! That's so exciting!

@TwoDimes PUPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd wait until right after the New Year to send the invitations. With USPS being so inundated right now, I'd be more comfortable waiting until the holiday rush has passed. I think 7 months is still plenty of time for everyone to plan too.

@beanbot2002 Sending all the healing vibes to poor No-Uh! Poor guy

@peaseblossom55 I'm glad you're having a better day today! I hope your ENT appointment goes well!

@allusive007 Sending all positive, promotional vibes to you today!!!! 

@lmcooper86 I really hope you find something great tonight!

[Deleted User]

it is in the 30's outside, and some idiot has the A/C going up in hurrrrr.  I am wearing my overcoat and snuggling in a blanket.  BRRRRRRRR.  this is ridiculous.

@eilis1228 - cute photo! 

@LaPeanut1018 - Christmas parties are way better than packing.

Peaseblossom55

@eilis1228 I love the wax seal.  I wanted to do them on our wedding invitations but I got lazy.  I'm hoping the ENT doesn't discuss surgery.

eilis1228

@CocoBellaF Thanks lol. Totally sexy.

@Peaseblossom55 FI is in charge of the stamp. They're pretty, but it seems like a lot of work and a lot of burnt fingers. I hope you don't have to do surgery! If you do, there are a few ladies on here who can give you great advice about it. 

lmcooper86

@beanbot2002 - Aw poor little guy! I hope you can get him into the doctor's quick time

@Swazzle - I am willing to see just about any house unless it's in a particular neighbourhood. I do NOT want to live in sketchville, so there's one particular part of our larger search area that is off limits. FI's car would be stolen in about 5 minutes and there's a huge history of gang violence and drugs and break-ins. Not gonna happen. Other than that, I'm flexible! Our realtor sent us a list of 15 houses to look at and I think there's is a lot of potential this time. And I forgot to add, glad your mom's surgery went well!!

@allusive007 - Glad you're doing well! Yay for ultrasound!

@eilis1228 - Thanks! And you are really ridiculously good looking

@CocoBellaF - What is that noise? You need hot chocolate asap.

AlPacina

@Hummingbird125 – I know a lot about Costa Rica if you ever have any questions. I lived there for a few months and was able to do a ton of traveling. I’m trying to plan a vacation there right now as well. BF and I were supposed to go in December, but he was only willing to take 5 days off work, and there are too many awesome things for me to be able to pick and choose just a couple for him to see. I’m gonna try and make it happen by the spring though.

@TwoDimes – I’m so excited you two are spending Christmas together! This is only our third and I basically DEMANDED we be together, haha. And Indy is SO CUTE!

@Swazzle – I’m so glad your mom is doing well after her surgery!

@Ollie08 – I vote wrap them separately. The unwrapping is the fun part!

@lmcooper86 – No bake bars totally count! It’s not cheating.

@allusive 007 – Yay for the halfway point! And I’m crossing my fingers for you to get a raise!

@LaPeanut1018 – Definitely pack tonight. Definitely.

@eilis1228 - I never knew I needed a wax seal until I saw yours. WOW, that is awesome!

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My Christmas shopping is finished, and I'm about halfway done with the wrapping. I had a lot of huge and oddly shaped presents as well, so I did some gift bags. A couple of them are in the GIANT gift sacks.

I was in a bad mood last night. I didn't cross stitch at all. Just hung out with the dog and cuddled on the couch because BF was gone. I ate food that was terrible for me and then passed out around 8 out of boredom. I'm hoping today is slightly more interesting.

TMI ALERT: Today I'm having one of those colposcopy procedures on my cervix and I'm super nervous. I keep hearing it's not a big deal, but in my mind I keep thinking PAIN followed by OH, YOU HAVE CANCER........ So I can't wait for it to be after 3:30 and I can chill the hell out. Although I'm thinking the results aren't known right away, so I may be stressed for a while...... I once had a lymph node swollen for about 2 months straight. I basically thought I had lymphoma for two months. There has been too much damn cancer in my family.