chocolate lava cake, anyone?

So...I've been lifting weights at the gym recently. I used to lift, but when I started working a ton of hours last year I had to stop simply because of lack of time. One of my new year's resolutions was to be healthier and I know that lifting weights has all kinds of health benefits...so here I am, getting up even earlier to have more time at the gym to lift. I love it, it's a great stress reliever. I do not love that it makes me insanely hungry on the days I lift.

Speaking of food...anyone who knows me at all knows I am a sucker for molten chocolate lava cakes - in any of the various shapes, sizes and forms they come in. I first fell in love with the Chili's cake five years or so ago. Who can resist a chocolate cake with a gooey, warm chocolate center and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top? As far as I know, it's irresistable. (Albeit 1280 calories...so my love for this cake was strictly reserved to super special occasions). In 2007, I discovered that one of the restaurants in Disney World had a very similar cake, only better because it was made in Disney. (Obviously, this makes it better). In 2008, I got it a second time when we returned to the restaurant. This past Disney trip, 2009, I found another restaurant that had the dessert, only this time it was the best I've ever had. I even took a picture of it, it was that good.

As I said before, I rarely ever eat these cakes because they are almost equivalent to the number of calories I take in in one day. This gets very bothersome, since I have an innate love for all that is chocolate and gooey. I frequently come home to a house that hasn't an ounce of chocolate in it, leaving me a very annoyed chocolate-less girl.

This all changed though, last Sunday, when I came home to find my mom bought me mini chocolate lava cake desserts that are only 150 calories a piece! No doubt they are not nearly as yummy as the 1300 calorie ones - but they do a good job at filling that chocolate craving at 9:00 at night...without wrecking the 2 hours I spend at the gym in the morning.

This is the yummiest dessert in the history of forever.

oh dear...

This semester I have:

Three 14 page research papers.
One 5 page paper.
Three 4 page papers.
One group presentation.
Two independent presentation.
One of my classes has a quiz during every class session. One of my classes requires us to post 3 paragraph responses to reading before each class session.

Not to mention about 100-200 pages of reading due each Tuesday and Thursday (the days I have class).

Also, not to mention I work about 9 hours Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And I do not get home from school until 9ish on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?!

another semester begins

someone please explain why 3 year old ryan looks huge next to 6 year old gabriel?

Let me just start out by saying that I detest the fact that I have to go back to school tomorrow. It is comforting though, that this is my second-to-last semester.

This weekend went by too quickly, as they all do. Friday night we went to the newly renovated Pizza King which was surprisingly ten times better than it used to be. We got a buffalo chicken pizza that was so yummy, mostly because it wasn't too hot. Saturday we went to the gym in the morning, watched Titanic, and hung out wtih the boys all afternoon. We took them to the new laser tag place on the Berlin turnpike - don't go there, if you know what is good for you. $40 for the four of us for about ten minutes. Ten! That's all! I mean, I could care less because I hate laser tag but it clearly was not enough time for the boys but there was no way we were slapping down another $40 for a measly ten minutes. So, we did the boring thing and went back to their house so Uncle Johnny could play video games with them while I talked with Jennifer. Sunday we slept in, mostly because I had the most unimaginable cramps ever and I didn't want to move. After a ton of advil kicked in, we went to the mall to get my aunt a birthday gift and I finally got a new pair of running shoes for the gym. We also went grocery shopping and got lots of healthy food because we are both trying to not let our hours at the gym be in vain. That night we had a birthday dinner here for my aunt, ate yummy food and watched a video from my aunt and uncles wedding 14 years ago. All I have to say about that is hank goodness puffy bangs are not in style anymore.

This weekend could have been a disasterous one. Saturday was a significant date, one that I've dreaded for the last several months. Luckily, I have a wonderful boyfriend who kept me busy and my mind off of things. I am sure I will write about it later, but I almost want to let some time pass so it's not in my face as much.

Have I mentioned that I detest that I have to go to school tomorrow?

sweet thing

It has been very busy at work this week, but I love it. The days fly by so fast - I cannot believe tomorrow is Friday already.

I'm babysitting tonight, which I am excited for because I haven't seen the kids in months. Well, I've seen them because they live next door, but I haven't sat for them in a loooong time. I am also broke, so this is double good.

It is supposed to be a whopping 40 degrees tomorrow - it will feel like spring after this nonsense negative degree weather we've been having.

Speaking of the cold, I have to go outside in a few to walk to the neighbors. Clearly I am not driving ten feet to get there, even though it is FREEZING outside.

a time of hope and change

Today history was made when Barack Obama was inaugurated as America's 44th President.

Because I love history, I found this all incredibly exciting.

I like Obama, perhaps not as much as I liked other political figures that did not even get the Republican nomination, but I like him. I think he is an excellent speaker and he speaks with the people, not to the people. I think the people like that. I think that a lot of people respect him more than W because he is an average American - his daddy didn't buy him a spot in government - he worked his way up the ladder.

I am a little sad that the 1.20.09 countdown I bought for John last year is over, now we will have to find something new to countdown to. Any ideas?

My mother bought this for me today - yes, it is a cookie. Of course I took pictures of it rather than eating it.

raspberry tea

This picture was taken when I was about four or five. My uncle took me hiking at the Cranberry Bog in town, and my father took this picture of us walking back to the car. I think it is an awesome photograph - especially because he is not the nurturing, hand-holding type. He is a pretty awesome guy though and I love him lots.

I went back to the gym tonight, for the first time since mid December. I feel so much better now, and hopefully in a few weeks my jeans will love me a little bit more. I'm kind of looking forward to going back to school, only because I'll have Tuesday and Thursday mornings off until 12:30, so I can go to the gym in the mornings and not be rushed. But for now, I'm going to go drink raspberry tea and curl up in bed with a magazine and my kitties.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, there are only about 14 more hours left of W. That makes a lot of people happy, I'm pretty sure.

i think i got it right this time

It's snowing. Again. It snowed last night, it's snowing now, and it's going to snow on and off for the next two days. Please remind me to move to Florida as soon as I'm done with school, ok?

I love weekends. I love laying in bed all day with John and Milo.

Speaking of Milo...he got a new toy. It's a pretty big one. It's a cat tree, and it goes from the floor to the ceiling, and has ledges every foot or so that he can sit on. As we all know, Milo is not the type of cat to just...sit. He tends to scramble to the top of the tree and look out over the entire room. He'll stay like that for a minute, or until he sees something he must investigate and then he jumps from the top down to the bed...a pretty big drop for a little guy. I'd been hearing about his newest antics all week and couldn't wait to see for myself when I got to John's on Friday night. It was funny at first, and as usual I took pictures of him flying through the room like super-kitty. Fast forward an hour or so, after we'd gone to bed, after we'd fallen asleep. Out of nowhere, I felt ten pounds of cat land on my back. After that happens a couple times, it gets to be not so cute anymore ; )

yes, he has devil eyes ; )

Remember the time I said I was going to make a book of all the sweet things John does, so that when I'm having a bad day I can look at it and be instantly cheered up? Well, this entire week I was going through John withdrawal...after spending 11 days straight with him, it was weird to not see him for five days and I missed him like crazy. And apparently I made sure I told him that 47 times this weekend, not to mention I barely let go of him for five hours ; ) So tonight, he sent me an IM telling me he was going to bed. It went like this (minus the screen names because there are lots of internets stalkers out there):

John: it's time for bed
Me: ok babe
John: sweet dreams, i miss you already!
Me: Awwwwwww!

You have to understand, he never says he misses me. I'd rather him not say these things because it's way cuter when he does : )

my oh my

• I have a cold. I keep whining about it. But seriously...I never get sick, so I'm allowed to whine when I do.


• I miss Milo. I also miss when he was a baby and let me cuddle with him all the time.


• I also miss when Cooper was a puppy. It's a good thing he's still insanely cute.


• I want to dye my hair dark but I don't want to pay to keep it dark.


• Did I mention I can't breathe?


• I want this. I got this while I was in Disney...I've wanted it for five years.


• I miss the sun and the heat and the fabulousness of Florida weather.


• I hope this writer's block is gone when I wake up in the morning.

you can call me rudolph

I can't breathe out of the right side of my nose, or swallow without feeling like my throat is made out of sandpaper.

My nose is all red and sore from cheap tissues.

I am so cold that I took two showers since getting home from work just to warm up.

This is crazy.

I really don't like winter.

bring me back to floridaaaaa

the most magical place on earth

It is always very sad when I get home from Disney, but this year it is a little different. Why?

Weeellll...

John and I bought real estate in Disney. We own .99% of the Animal Kindgdom Lodge Resort - click the link to see the amazing view from the rooms. As Disney Vacation Club members, we get 160 vacation points to use each year (which is equal to one huge vacation overseas or two week-long vacations in the states) in over 500 places around the world. Pretty sweet deal, and it lasts for 50 years. So, I am not too sad about coming home because we are likely going back in September and taking his family (including the three nephews) to a grand villa at Saratoga Springs (the resort where my parents own property).

The trip was a lot of fun; very exhausting, but fun. Driving down and back was fun, except for getting lost in Philly and being in the car for 21 straight hours on the way home. I was going to post a lot of pictures, but I spent hours putting them up on facebook and myspace this morning, so you can just go look at them there.

Sunday we arrived around 3pm, got to our villa and unpacked before heading over to the Beach Club Villas for our dinner reservations. That resort was super nice but I couldn't deal with the bus system they have - they share with four other resorts. Our resort, Saratoga, has its own bus which makes things waaay easier. Dinner kind of sucked because it was a buffet and those gross me out, but we got to color on the table so I was happy. Also, there was a super awesome dessert that made it worth going there. After dinner we walked along the boardwalk which was also really cool but crowded. I wish I'd taken more pictures there - it was really nice.

Monday we went to the Magic Kingdom (how can you not go there first?) and did a few rides. Splash Mountain was closed again this year (which means I have no done it since 2005 :( ), but we made up for it by going on Thunder Mountain a bunch. We rode the "people-mover," Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion. It was really crowded because Monday's are the busiest day for Magic Kingdom, so we went back to the pool after lunch. We had beautiful weather - 85 degrees and sunny. We had dinner at our resort and walked over to Downtown Disney for the night. We got drinks at Raglan Road and walked around the strip there.

Tuesday we went to Epcot. We stayed with my family for the morning and did the Nemo ride, went to Club Cool (they have different sodas from all over the world and last year my parents tricked me into drinking the Italian soda that tastes like sour cough syrup, and they wanted to get John to try it). John and I went on our own and did each of the countries in World Showcase. It was really nice to go through each of them. We stopped by a Disney Vacation Club booth and randomly signed up for the preview, only because we'd get $30 in gift cards for doing it. Little did we know we'd be signing up for DVC on Saturday  ; ). That night we had dinner at Kona Cafe at the Polynesian which was good - it had the most amazing dessert ever. It was chocolate cake filled with hot chocolate gooey stuff. Oh my goodness, so so so yummy. We watched the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom from the Polynesian resort that night which was fun but man it gets cold at night! We originally were going to go swimming there but I was so cold that I chickened out.

Wednesday we went to MGM (I dont care that they changed the name to Hollywood Studios, it will always be MGM to me lol) and because of my stomach thing I couldn't do my FAVORITE ride ever, but hopefully I'll be able to when we go back in September. We saw Indiana Jones for the first time which was so funny. They had a bunch of people from the audience go down to be in the show, and there was this one guy, "Tito from Cuba" who was the funniest thing ever. He couldn't understand English so when the instructor gave cues, he was totally clueless. He paused in the middle of the show and yelled up to his family in the audience "photo!" and posed with one of the stunt guys. I hope we have it on tape, and if we do I'll put it on here because you will pee your pants laughing. Turns out in the end, he was part of the show all along. We did the new Toy Story ride which was so cute, I loved it. John and I stayed a while after everyone else and did Star Tours and met some characters. We headed over to MK in the afternoon and did a few rides and watched the Mickey's Phillharmagic show. We had dinner at Planet Hollywood that night which was SO good. I got manicotti and completely stuffed my face - I am so going back there again. We had our own little room there, and I was sitting right under the real book of spells from Hocus Pocus (I was totally into that movie when I was ten, haha).

Thursday we went to Animal Kindgom which I looove. We went on the Safari ride and saw giraffes, lions (up close too!) and my favorite, tigers. John and I went on the river rapid ride and I got soaked, we did Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur and all sorts of fun stuff. We saw really cute endangered monkeys and got to pet goats and even saw a real live komodo dragon! That night we went to Epcot for dinner with Mickey and Chip & Dale. We went on Test Track three times in a row that night and got some funny pictures on it. I freaking love that ride, I wish we could have done it more.

Friday was a sad day because it was our last, but we went to Epcot in the morning and did Soarin' and the Figment ride and some other stuff. We went to Magic Kingdom that night for dinner at Tony's which I love just because Lady and the Tramp is one of my favorite movies. John and I got a bunch of pictures taken in front of the Castle at night, and did all of the kid rides that are usually really busy during the day. We rode Snow White, Winnie the Pooh, and the Speedway which I've never been able to do. I was so tired by the end that I was ready to head home.

And now I'm just happy that Cooper is home from the kennel, I missed that guy so much.

Oh, and I found out today that I have an extra week off from school. That totally made my day!

off to the most magical place in the world!

It is 6:30 pm right now, and in less than ten hours I will be on my way to sunny, WARM, and magical Disney World.

I still have to pack some stuff. And give my kitties a million kisses to last them all week. I just got back from dropping Cooper off at "doggy camp" and amazingly I did not cry when I left him this time.

I am very excited.

See you all on January 12!

I sure hope I get to see this fabulous guy : )

Hello 2009!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I attempted to learn how to rollerblade...which didn't end well. I drank legally. I can't think of anything else.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember making any last year. I guess that means I didn't not keep any, right?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin just did a few days ago.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No but a lot of people died this year - mostly my residents, but also quite a few people I knew outside of the nursing home too.

5. What countries did you visit?
None! Well, unless you count the ones in Epcot ; )

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
I think I should do more things for me.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't remember the exact dates because everything was insanely overwhelming, but there are a couple days I'll never forget.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being able to buy a car?

9. What was your biggest failure?
As always, not talking things through when I'm upset. Maybe my resolution this year should be to stop keeping everything to myself?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had pleurisy (not fun at all), and I broke my elbow.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Pepper, obviously. I love her.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
John - he is the most selfless person I know.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My brother.

14. Where did most of your money go?
For most of the year, it went to gas. Then to my car and car payments. Fuuun : )

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting Milo! And going to NYC to spend the day with Kirby and Alynda!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
A few - Broken - Lifehouse; Always Be My Baby - David Cook; I Get It - Kate Voegele.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
(a) Happier or Sadder? Happier.
(b) Thinner or Fatter? Actually, a little bit thinner.
(c) Richer or Poorer? Well I'm making more money but it doesn't last long (thank you Pepper).

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I spent more time on school in the spring semester.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Arguing with my mother. I'm beginning to think I can't help it.

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2008?
With my family on Christmas Eve and with John's family on Christmas Day.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Stayed?

22. How many one-night stands?
None. Sad, I know.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Army Wives, One Tree Hill, Private Practice, and American Idol when it's on.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I try not to hate anyone.

25. What was the best book you read?
My Sister's Keeper.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Kate Voegele.

27. What did you want and get?
A kitten and a car. I got both : )

28. What did you want and not get?
A winning lottery ticket.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
PS I Love You, Wall-E, Role Models.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
It was Thanksgiving day, so I ate turkey. And I turned 21.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More money, more sunny days, less time working.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Simple. I can't see the sense in spending hours getting ready each day.

33. What kept you sane?
Milo.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Charlize Theron. I love her.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Immigration. I actually learned a lot about it that I didn't know before, but it didn't change my opinion much.

36. Who did you miss?
I didn't really miss anyone this year. That much, anyway.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Kirby and Alynda! Although, I already knew they were awesome.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I'm still trying to figure it out, ask me next year.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing with a broken heart that's still beating. In the pain there is healing; in your name I find meaning, so I'm holding on, I'm holding on, I'm still holding, I'm barely holding onto you. Pretty self-explanatory, if you know the situation.

40. What are your resolutions for 2009?
I want to stop biting my nails, I want to write (f0r myself, not for anything academic) at least twice a week, and I want to try to sort through the mess in my head.

We did't do much for New Year's. We went to Chuck's Steakhouse and paid way too much for mediocre food, and froze our butts off in the frostbite temperatures. I didn't feel good and he was tired so we didn't go out (oh yeah, and it was freezing) - instead we stayed home and watched the ball drop on TV and drank champagne (well, I had a couple sips and he had two glasses, ha). I could not believe the people in Times Square - there were warnings on the news that thirty minutes outdoors could lead to frostbite and there were STILL over a million people standing out there. Crazy...I would never sit in the cold that long. I hate being cold.

Here is to a healthy and happy 2009 for everyone!