2009?!?!?!

This year, I have decided to make New Year's Resolutions that I will actually have a chance of following through on.  So here goes:

1. I resolve to burn out from working out in about three weeks and return to my normal "work out when I feel like it" schedule.

2. I resolve to stay the same weight, + or - a few pounds.

3. I resolve to shop more, sleep less, and feebly attempt to recycle.

4. I resolve to wait until the laundry basket is overflowing to do laundry.

5.  I resolve to go to the beach, pet my dog, hug my son, kiss my husband and tell my entire family I love them as often as possible.

6. I resolve to drink beer, wine and iced tea.

7. I resolve to not look at my wrinkles, flabby butt, or cellulite in the mirror more than once a week.

8. One word, sex.

Happy New Year!

Coach

We have a friend who is a college football assistant coach.  We call him "Coach" ( I know - original - we're not big thinkers here)  We have tried to be loyal supporters throughout his career - even when that meant from as far away as Germany.  Now that we are back in the good ole USA, we live about an hour from where Coach coaches.  A few years ago he was hired as part of the defensive coaching team for University of Richmond - GOOOO, SPIDERRRRSSSSS!!! (that's for you, Uncle C)  

Well, Friday night, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Richmond Spiders beat the Montana Grizzlies to become the NCAA Division IAA National Champions!  While we were unable to go to the game, we had a Spider party and watched the game and cheered on our Coach.  It was a great game and an epic win - National Champions - how cool is that?  We had all decided that *knock wood* if they won, we would drive to Richmond to meet the plane and congratulate the team and surprise our favorite Coach.  My niece, P even made signs that said "We love Coach" and "Go, Spiders!"  We all piled into two cars and headed out only to be texted by Coach's wife that the plane had landed an hour early...oh well, we would just go straight to the sports center at the university and meet the buses.  

Coach was so surprised and proud to see us, he was speechless!  He showed the kids around the field house and all the cool nooks and crannies like the players lounge and the Hall of Fame.  Then we took him out for wings and beer.  It was great to see him.  He was still totally in surprise mode that he was one of the coaches of a National Championship team.  He was also totally amazed at his friends who have supported and encouraged him through all the years that he has been coaching.  What he doesn't realize is that we all love just a good reason to tailgate.  

Love you, Coach!

Foto Friday

Happy Birthday, Georgie!

Everyone go over to Georgie's and wish her a happy birthday!  

Hey Ya! Merry Christmas

100th Post

I can't believe it!  This is my 100th post.  I still feel like the new kid in school compared to some of you...Georgie, Jill, Amy, etc.  

I can't believe I have made it to 100.  I don't think I can list 100 things you don't know about me...my blog is an open book.  So, I thought I might do 100 things I have learned and loved about blogging.  Hold on to your knickers, ladies and gents...Here I go.

1. Always write something - sounds simple, but when I don't write my comments taper off and my Google Analytics has a sad face.

2. Analytics - I heard about Google Analytics for the first time after I had been blogging for about 6 months and now I am addicted.  Who would have known that someone found my blog by searching "Miss Germany Foto"  Boy, they must have been disappointed.

3. Anonymous commenters - Bubba is my steadfast reader, so is my niece - neither one has learned how to leave a comment as anything other than "anonymous" and I love my annony comments!

4. AmyBoBamy - Girlfriend, you are funny! I especially like your Friday Funnies!

5. Bubba - loves to read my blog and has only once gotten angry at what I have written.

6. BoyBoy - another reader and continuous supplier of content.  He is the funniest kid I know and never ceases to amaze me.

7. Blog friends - All my greatest, funniest, and most reliable friends live in my computer!

8. Back to Barnwell - Is it possible to live vicariously through a 22 year old self-professed slacker?  (and I use that term with much admiration!)

9. Comments rock - I didn't have my first comment until my 3rd month of blogging and that was from Bubba (see above re: anonymous commenters).  The first comment I had from a non-family member was like the first day of Kindergarten...a whole new world opened up to me.

10. Content counts - Don't post something just to have a post for that day...sometimes it is better to post nothing than to leave your followers scratching thier head and wondering why I forgot to take my med.

11. Cool giveaways - while I haven't done a giveaway here on my blog yet, I have participated (but not won - HELLO!  Can't someone throw me a bone?) in many.  Someday I hope to take home that coveted Etsy necklace.

12. Deb - We have all hung from the edge and laughter has brought us back...thanks, Deb

13. Don't try to post daily - you will run out of things to say the first week.

14. Do carry a notebook - you never know when a blog post will pop up in front of you at the grocery store.

15. Dooce - the mother of all mommy-bloggers.  She has reached the pinnacle of blogdom - she makes enough money on her blog for her husband to quit his job!

16. Etsy - I first heard of this on Dooce and now I am helplessly addicted.  Geesh, someone stage an intervention!

17. Facebook - Seriously, can you all please stop throwing snowballs at me?!?  I can't possibly return them all and, since I was raised in the south, I would be upsetting my Mama by not promptly returning a favor - and I am not going to write you all thank you notes, either!

18. Foto Friday - I had seen where several bloggers were doing Wordless Wednesday and I didn't want to steal their idea, so I came up with Foto Friday - who cares if it is the same idea, just a different day.

19. Georgie - Deb's partner in crime and the co-inventor of the Secret Santa Soiree.  The SSS is the reason that I have more than 2 followers.

20. Happy Hour Sue - no one can make the most of too much time on her hands like Sue.  I am an avid follower of BG and his shorties.  

21. JillJillBoBill - maybe the funniest bloggers out there.  I find myself in awe of her life, laughter, and outlook.  She is my hero!

22. Laughter is the best medicine, but sometimes tears can cleanse the soul.  I have learned that I don't have to be funny all the time and sometimes it is ok to bare my soul.  

23. The Mom - She taught me that blogging is indeed cheaper than therapy and a laugh a day keeps the men in white suits away!

24. McMommy - In my next life, I want to come back as the McMommy - she's cute, she has an adorable husband and even more adorable kids, she is an hysterical writer and a talented photographer - dammit!  I hate her!

25. Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser - this husband/wife photography team has given me regular "eyerections" with their amazing, beautiful, and unique style.  

Ok, that's enough - I know it is only 25% of what I was supposed to do - I suck at lists, sue me.  If I think of anymore, I will just use them as blog content and entertain you all!  Thanks for being loyal followers!  I couldn't do it without you!

um...Foto Sunday?

Secret Santa Soiree

I shipped my Secret Santa Soiree package today...teehee!  I love a good surprise!  I hope my Secret Santa loves everything as much as I loved getting it all together!

Sweet Home Florida?

Although this might contradict what you have read here before...

GO GATORS!

Foto Friday

Op Santa

Because I love Christmas and everything about it, I am working for a small non-profit organization here that brings Santa into underprivileged children's homes on Christmas morning.  I have worked for them before and, other than the budget constraints that always plague small non-profits, it was a great experience.  The look on those children's faces on Christmas morning when Santa walked in the door was more than priceless and worth all the headaches.  

We provide them with a sturdy play/school outfit, a winter coat, if they need it, and shoes, if needed.   Another group donates the toys, another the toiletry items, one group is doing school supplies, another gives socks and underwear and we always provide them with an age appropriate book.  Sometimes, we are even able to give bikes and helmets to the kids.

Today, we had our shopping day for clothing.  There is a local department store that lets us in before the store opens to shop, unhindered, for clothes for 50-75 kids each year.  They give us the best sale price of the season, box up each outfit and coat, and supply us with rolls of wrapping paper for us to wrap them.  Now, as the coordinator for this event, I am pretty organized in order to make the shopping go as smoothly as possible.  I print out a sheet with each child's name, age, sex and all their sizes.  The store supplies us with shopping bags that I staple the sheets to and each elf just has to fill up a bag.  There are elves who have shopped with us for many years.  They know how it works and are worker bees who come ready to roll and can usually shop for 3-4 kids at a time.  Then there are the elves who should just sit in the corner and color.  You know the ones...they need help with every little detail, they are out of touch with what a 7 year old girl would like (even though on the sheet it says "loves pink and Hannah Montana"), and they think that a white winter coat is a good idea.  The ones that you wish would just volunteer to be wrapper elves or delivery elves.  When these elves arrive, it takes them 45 minutes to shop for one child.  Our veteran elves can shop for 20 kids in 45 minutes.  It is not rocket science, people.  It is a sweatshirt and jeans.  It is a hoodie and cargo pants.  Brain surgery?  No.  I mean, I did shoes for all 50 kids in one hour, BY! MY! SELF!  

Whew, I feel better.  Wait, was that out loud?

So, now the fun can begin...wrapping, organizing, sorting, mapping, and delivering.  It will all be worth it when Santa walks in on Christmas morning with his herd of elves and sack full of presents.  Oh, those beautiful children's faces!  

Ho!  Ho!  Ho!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Happy Holidays...hope you like my new festive layout!