holiday procrastination

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house/Not a creature was stirring, they were all at work.

So it’s a week before Christmas and I haven’t started shopping.  Well, that’s a lie, I did pick up a Starbucks Holiday cold cup for someone (no clue who yet – probably my bro).   I’m a procrastinator in the worst way.   I’ve never been the girl to clear out the holiday shopping in August, or November…or shoot even a week before the holidays.   There are a few upsides to my procrastination, shopping on the 22nd or 23rd the crowds aren’t so frightening and sometimes you can save some $$$.   Last year he thought I purchased stocking stuffers, I thought he purchased stocking stuffers so there was a last minute trip to CVS to make sure stockings hung by the chimney with care would be plump with goodies.   I got so much stuff for under $20, everything was marked down on Christmas Eve…I might wait until Christmas Eve to do stockings this year too!

If you’re still doing some last minute shopping for people, might I make a few suggestions from discoveries I’ve made?   If you’re shopping for a woman as of Tuesday Target has the most glorious 3/4 length puffer coats on sale in black, white, brown and purple – $15!!!!!  Amazing, right?  I picked up a black one and it has kept me warm and cozy throught this obscene cold we’re experiencing in the Northeast.   I’m not sure when the sale ends, but this jacket is amazing!

 

 

Another great gift for someone you really really really like would be the new iPod Nano.  I picked one up in September before I had my wisdom tooth removed and it was the best impluse purchase of the year!  It’s the perfect size, the expanded screen is beautiful, I love that I can listen to my music or the radio (shout out to local radio) and the video camera is pretty good.  Clearly not a light purchase, but if you’ve been thinking about purchasing the Nano for someone just do it – they will love it – you’ll be a hero and Christmas 2009 will be better for it.

If you’re a procrastinating shopper, best of luck and Happy Holidays!!

canned champagne

Cans aren’t just for Budweiser anymore!   While reading my lovely friend’s blog, Adventures in Dateland, I was delighted to learn about Sofia champagne, I guess I’ve been living under a rock, I’d never heard of it, but think it looks pretty fab and, c’mon, it comes in a pink can!  

She has the backstory and details on where you can find it locally, read on.

a spoonful of cabarnet

Wine + ice cream = ewwwwwww.   Hey that’s what I assumed.   Until today.  The recession has made me a very cautious food shopper.   Generic brands fill my shelves.   Deals make me smile.   When I was perusing the ice cream aisle of Hannaford I saw a lot of signage for Glace de Vino Ice Cream.   When I peered down into the frosty cases I saw that the Chocolate Cabarnet Sauvignon was on sale…$1.99.   You can’t even buy paper towels for $1.99.   I decided to go for it.    I can’t turn down a bargain!

I wasn’t expecting anything amazing when I grabbed my first spoonful, but I was happily surprised.  The chocolate and cabarnet tasted fantastic together!   I want to get my hands on the rest of the flavors, but I fear that the closeout $1.99 price at Hannaford may be a signal that they’re about to pull the plug on the brand.   While I can I”ll take a spoonful of chocolate cab and enjoy.

smoothie search continues

I decided to hit up another venue for my smoothie search this morning.  It was early so I just went with what was open – Starbucks.   I’ve read many opinions of the Vivanno smoothie, but had yet to try one.   Mango Orange Banana sounded much more appealing than Banana Mocha.   I was a bit miffed I could ONLY get a grande, but whatever.   $4.05 later I was sipping my first Vivanno, well attempting to sip.  This thing was so thick it literally broke my straw!

When I got home I wanted to see just how much I was drinking.   I should have done my research before just dropping by Starbucks, I definitely would have asked for the green tea infusion and would have chose the  nonfat milk option (apparently the default is 2%).   

The taste of the smoothie was overpowered by the bananas, not sure if one could customize the Orange Mango Banana to be banana-less, for my own tastes that would be a way to go.   There was a heavy cream aftertaste that just didn’t bode well with me.

Starbucks Vivanno is a fantastic healthy alternative to coffee, just not for me.   I do have a 80% full Mango Orange Banana smoothie if anyone would like to finish it up for me!

13 pound challenge!

I HATE the number 13, I will go to great lengths to avoid the number 13, I freaked out when my child was almost born on the 13th (ended up being 14th phew) I get chills when I look up and see that it’s 13 minutes past the hour and don’t even ASK about Friday the 13th…ugh.    13 is debilitating to me, so I’ve decided to use it.

I’ve been yo-yo-ing with my weight for the last year.  The yoyo hasn’t been 2 or 3 pounds, it’s up 12 pounds, then down 10 and so on.   When I jumped on the scale this morning I was on the up again and thought to myself:

‘If I could just lose 13 pounds.’

I surprised myself that I had volunteered the dreaded number, but it’s true, and it makes so much sense.  I hate 13, so why not eliminate it, perhaps it will be a healthy way to conquer my fear of 13?   I’ve given myself a two month window or so to kill 13, so we’ll see how it goes.

In honor of jumping on the elminiation of 13, here’s 13 healthy ‘things’ I need to try to help say buh bye to this dreaded 13.

1.  Michelle Obama squat thrusts to get those fabulous toned arms.

2. Dust off the old pedometer and use it to it’s full potential.

3. Really step up the H2o intake to 8 glasses, proof it can help!

4. Realize that with a little extra effort, a bikini isn’t out of the question.

5.  Find healthy alternatives to favorite foods.

6. Start training, even if it’s just to walk.

7.  Boost up the tea and dial down the coffee intake.

8.  Get out of my house and into a class, my mat needs to travel.

9.  Take time in the morning for grapefruit.

10. Bonding and biking with the kid (oooh I found a pink bike!)

11.  Teach myself to not gorge myself just because I’m at a restaurant.

12.  GET MORE SLEEP (stop writing blogs at 12:30am).

13.  Steal a few tips from the Sex and the City ladies.