Good-Bye 2009, Welcome 2010

Well it is New Years Eve, traditionally time to look back and ponder a year gone by and dream about the possibilities in the year to come.

First, the good about 2009. My job remained stable and (fingers crossed) appears to be continuing in the same vein. Hubby, who is self employed, also stablized. Just this time last year he was talking to bankruptcy counsel. All the kids are healthy and doing well in school. Even O, who has his own set of issues is thriving in kintergarden.

Now, the things about 2009 I won't miss and hope improve about 2010. The debt level in the house is high and I'm hoping to serriously make a dent in 2010. Hubby was out of work for nearly 2 years and the started his own buisness. During that same 2 years I was a stay at home mom to one child and also had twins which totally depleted our saving and run up some credit card debt. With things stabilizing this year, and me working now, at least it isn't getting any worse.

2010, gosh just 10 years ago we all thought the world was going to end with Y2K. How much has changed. My hopes for 2010 are that things will improve all over. I really dislike the negative tone in so much of the country. I'm hoping for good news all around. So Happy New Years to everyone and best wishes for a healthy, happy 2010!

Got them!

OK, I am so excited. I was persuing the Jcrew site, hoping for an interesting pop back when I spotted the Carina Metalic T-Strap Heels in metalic gold. Now I have been salivating over these beauties ever since I saw them over on Three Penny Princesses blogg. I check quickly, yes they were in my size, yes they were in metalic gold and just like that they were in my cart and I was checking out. With the extra 20% off they came to $44 dollars. So what that is is December 30th and a whole winter of rain and generally nasty weather lies before me before that golden day when they can come out to play. Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that they actually ship.

Love This Jcrew Photo - My Favorite Looks

When I think about when I first loved Jcrew 2007 comes to mind. That was when I first discovered their amazing blend of classic and yet stylish. Sometomes I feel that this has escaped them as the parade of ruffled camis continues, but that's another post! This photo from their holiday line in 2007 says it all. I love this model too. I had a very Jcrew christmas. On Christmas Eve I wore my coal minnies with a navy silk cami and sweater from the Gap and on Christmas Night I wore a red and black taffeta plaid strapless dress that was a score from Grandma last Christmas with a black tartine cardigan. Santa also left me a beautiful poppy red madeline coat under the tree! I am going to try and recreate this look tomorrow with my red coat and blue belle skirt! I'll post a photo if I can so you can see how it works.

Boxing Day Survival

Boxing Day is the day after Christmas and traditionally a big day for foxhunting. It was especially big this year as I ended up mounted on the horse my sister and I refer to as "the black monster". He is a big, black draft cross gelding my mom usually rides. Both my sister and I try and avoid riding him because when he was younger we both fell off of him and got hurt. She tore her ACL and I shattered my wrist resulting in a surgury with pins etc. Anyway, i rode him this time and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised as he was a total gentleman. Also out was my daughter C on her pony. The pony is a star, she doesn't jump yet but is tough as nails, the pony gallops right along and totally keeps up. This photo is of C, myself, my Dad and a friend. It was a greta day!

Christmas Re-Cap

Well its Monday and I am back at work. I hope everyone had a great holiday. We went over to my folks house and my sister was there with her kids as well as my grandmother and her husband. The kids had a great time and Santa was most generous. He left me a poppy red madeline coat which I just love. These two pictures are from Christmas Night. The one on the left is the whole family and the one on the right is just hubby, myself and the kids.

Merry Christmas! And God Bless Us, Everyone!

A Merry Christmas to all! I'm still at the my office but only making this one last post before I run off to start my holidays. This year I am happily taking Christmas Eve off. Last year I worked and even though we were able to leave early, it was a harder thing to do. I'm going to go hme, kiss my kids and hubby, wrap a last few presents and toast the season with a glass of wine, stylishly dressed in my navy minnie pants and a gray merion turtleneck of course. Tomorrow we will head over the river and through the woods to my parents house for the holidays and return home on Saturday afternoon. So, however you and yours celebrate, may it be merry and bright!

Minnie, where have you been all my life?

Ok, it took me a while to jump on the band wagon with the Jcrew Minnie pant but I bought the coal ones with the latest promo code and I adore them. In sz 10 they fit just right and make my legs look so slim. Not an easy feat for someone whose legs have always been described as "athletic". I was a distance swimmer in high school and college, it goes with the territory. Anyway I love these pants and see many wearings in their future!

Santa Baby!

Now's here is something to make your spirits bright! My daughter's Daisy troop caroled at the mall last weekend. For those of you that don't know, Daisy's come before Brownies. Essentially these girls are all in the first grade. They are singing, without music, before a group of about 100 at the local mall. They were great. All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth never sounded so good!

Do bad things come in threes? If so I'm covered

Wow has it been a week. So glad tomorrow is Friday. I'll say upfron that the attached picture has nothing to do with this post's topic. It just makes me smile plus it's been super cold her this week and I wish it had snowed. And after this week, I'll take a smile hands down! First off, I had a meeting with the resrouce teacher and school psycholgist at A's school. He's in the 3rd grade and struggling with language arts. They are going to test him for learnig disabilities, specifically dyslexia. Not surprising since his father has it. It can be hard to hear your child isn't perfect. I have another one who is on the autisic spectrum so I know what it can be like. Secondly, while working from home yesterday so I could attend the above mentioned meeting, I had a tech meltdown. Wiped my blackberry, couldn't get through the company firewall, you name it. I spend about 45 minutes on the phone with the help desk before it finally all got resolved. Finally I had a horrid conversation with my boss about, well basically everything. The environment here isn't very good right now and I had posted for another postion in the company which she found about about. I'm a relatively junior member of her staff and she is not giving me the mentoring and support I was hoping to get. It was just a disapointing conversation. I'm hoping the weekend will be better and I can get it into perspective. Sunday afternoon C's Dasiy troop is singing at the mall. Now that's festive!

Now Thats Style!

Love this photo from Kappa Prep's blog Monograms and Maincures. I wish my lofe, and myself, were in this photo!

Thank God it's Friday!! Well it will be Tomorrow

Gosh I am glad this week is almost over. The clock ticks towards the end of a very long work day and soon I can pack up my weary self and head for the BART ride that will take me home. I hate BART, don't get me started. Tomorrow is Friday and in my office that means jeans!! Since I am an attorney and I work in a bank most work days involve heels, pencil skirts and jackets. I usually wear a jacket on Fridays too but the pairing makes all the difference! Here's my plan for tomorrow. I'm going out after work with a group of mom's from my daughters first grade class too!