What is it about the holidays that make you just want to eat a bunch of sugar? I think it’s the cold weather and our instincts to just burrow under blankets with steaming mugs of hot cocoa and cookies. This year I’ve finally managed to get lose some inches and I’ve been feeling great about my body. Unfortunately, I’m getting those sugar cravings that threaten to undermine all of my hard work. I think it’s about time to bust out the yoga dvd and do my daily workouts. If nothing else, it will help me maintain, even with me putting away all those cookies!

With my family in Oregon, and us not visiting them this year, I’m having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit. We were also pinching pennies since we just bought a home. I wish I had known about sending cake pops online with ProFlowers because I think that would be a very fun gift for my parents. Maybe I’ll have to do that for my mom’s birthday next month.

Movies

Posted by Arden Wallace

Ever since we got satellite TV from DirectStarTV.com, my husband cannot stop watching movies. I am glad we are no longer paying rental fees because my husband used to rent movies and keep them forever before taking them back. I love to watch movies, but lately I just have not had any time to watch them. My husband watches a movie almost every night before he goes to bed. He sometimes falls asleep watching movies and comes to bed several hours after I have gone to sleep. I would not mind this, but our daughter is two months old and sleeps in a bassinet in our room, so whenever he comes to bed late he wakes her up. Then I am the one who gets up with her and has to get her back to sleep. My husband says he tries to be as quiet as he can when coming to bed, but I told him he needs to start watching his movies earlier. At least we have DVR so we he has the option of watching the movies whenever he wants to.

Today we stopped by one of my favorite home improvement stores on a mission for some weather stripping for our front door. We also took a peak at their lighting department, and looked at the cost of new ceiling fans, bathroom light fixtures and ceramic switch plate covers. Our goal is to update the lighting in the master bedroom, all three bathrooms, and the downstairs family room. We’d also like to get rid of the outdated switch covers and update them with nice ceramic white ones to match the baseboards we will be putting in. But for now we need to focus on saving up so we don’t go into debt. We spent a lot on just buying the house, so now it’s time to build back up that savings we lost. We can’t wait to make more home improvements though. That’s half the fun of buying a house!

I’m so excited that one of the people of storybrook is remembering his real life! Not just any person, but the sheriff of storybrook, the ever hunky Graham. He remembers his past and how he was a hunter for the queen. I was beginning to fear that this was the kind of show that wouldn’t progress through the story, much like the writers did with the show LOST.
But this episode marked some pivotal story changes and showed that the mayor does know that she’s the evil queen, something that was hinted at but only just now confirmed. It also showed why she has such control over Graham. Because she literally has his heart in a box.

Meanwhile Emma is realizing that she’s in love with Graham. Since she’s the key to saving the town, every time he kisses her he remembers more, until he finally remembers everything. But then the most horrible thing happens-the queen squeezes his heart, killing him, just as he remembers everything. I’m so sad that they killed him off! But also excited that they’re moving the story forward.

I love this show. It’s getting better and better. Does anyone else watch it? I love the mix of modern day with fairy tales. This episode centered around Snow White and her Prince Charming. It shows the history of how Prince Charming was forced to become engaged to King Midas’s daughter. He was even given titanium rings for their wedding. Luckily he met Snow White and ended up with her instead.

Then there’s the modern day version of Snow White and Prince Charming. He’s David, he has amnesia, and doesn’t want to be with his wife. He leaves her for Snow, aka Mary, is conflicted because David has professed his love. She wants to be with him, but she doesn’t want to be a homewrecker.

Of course the evil witch, aka Mayor, gets involved and tries to lead him astray. So he ends up in Rumpelstiltskin’s shop where his memory is jogged. He ends up going back to his wife and breaking Mary’s heart. Not the happy ending I was hoping for at all. Hopefully next week brings better luck for the folks of Storybrook.

Well we finally moved in. I’m so bone tired. I loaded up my car, the movers came and loaded their giant truck, and 4 hours later we were moved in. Now if only the movers could have unpacked all the boxes and helped me clean.

One thing I noticed when I was packing is our long forgotten guitars. We bought them on a whim and we decided to try to teach ourselves acoustic guitar songs years ago. Maybe once we get settled I will pull the guitars out and actually try to learn. I’m just so excited to know that we will not be moving again for a very, very long time. This tree can finally put down some roots.

This week I’ve been anxiously waiting for our loan to fund. How many hoops must a homebuyer jump through? Uck. Also, I’m trying to soak up tv since once we move we’ll probably be without for at least 3-5 days. Hopefully less!

So this week I watched all of my regulars, and as previously blogged, I started up with Once Upon a Time. This show is seriously awesome guys. If you’re not watching it, start! I love fairytales and seeing them with a new spin is just awesome.

I’m not going to recap each episode of the shows I watched. But I will just give you a brief rundown of what’s frustrating me:

-How I Met Your Mother: OMGosh! Robin and Barney kiss! But what does this mean for Barney and Nora? And Robin and Kevin? And what about that guy she keeps running into that Ted teased us with, saying their story wasn’t over yet? I need more input!

-Desperate Housewives: Why are Lynette and Tom separated? It makes zero sense. They were the one couple who had the most chemistry. They better get back together before the series ends.

-Parenthood: How annoyed are you with Sarah? I’m so pissed at her. She finally gets the hunky teacher, and she’s pinning away for her deadbeat rehab flunky ex husband? REALLY?! Also Jasmine and the doctor make me sad. Poor Crosby’s face is pure heartbreak when she says it’s getting serious. Oh and Haddie’s reaction to her baby sister is pretty selfish, though I think I’d be annoyed if my parents had a baby when I was 17 too.

-Parks & Recreation: I want Leslie and Ben back together. Boo to their breakup. It sucks. The end.

It’s OK…

To be totally behind on my blog linky post ups. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks!

To be thrilled that it’s Fall, but sad that all the fall decorations are packed up for the move.

To pay someone else to clean your new home. Gasp! I know. I feel like Monica on Friends, all weirded out about it. But our new home has been sitting empty for months, and it needs a thorough scrubbing. I can’t wait to walk in and have it all sparkling and clean.

To have had the house all packed up and ready to go way before moving day, which is TOMORROW!

To have new keys made with Tinkerbell and Cookie Monster on them. Who says being all responsible and buying a new home has to be 100% grown up?

To have butterflies about moving, similar to getting married. This is it for homes. This house is it for at least the next 5-10 years of our lives. Since moving out on my own, the longest I’ve lived in a home is 2 years. This long term move is HUGE. I can’t wait to get in there and make it ours. Cue contented sigh.

Guest post from: Constance Rodgers

I looked into business internet service when I first started the company and to be honest, the whole thing overwhelmed me. I’m not very computer savvy anyway which is why I do lawn care, not IT, but I took the time to learn what I need instead of just giving up and letting someone else deal with it like I normally do. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m no computer expert or anything but I understand a little bit more about what a business like mine needs to stay running. I’m even starting to learn about search engine optimization and website building, both of which I think are skills that make me happy to know. I don’t like having to trust someone I don’t know to something I don’t know anything about and thankfully I’ve spend some time learning more so I can feel better equipped to make good decisions for my business. It’s a tough thing to do but I highly recommend it to anyone in my position or just starting out.