Happy New Year!

I hope each of you have a safe evening!

Michele tagged me for and end of the year Challenge...

What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before? a few things-went back to school to start on my masters, hired an attorney

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? didn't make a resolution but have one in mind for 2008-recycle more things and ride my bike 4-5 times a week

Did anyone close to you give birth? yes-my uncle's wife, on Christmas day, but she was delivered early, at 28 weeks, so she's in the NICU until March. My cousin's name is Allston Cross so keep her in your prayers

Did anyone close to you die? not close to me, but a volunteer from my school passed away and Phil's great uncle died just the other day

What countries did you visit? Bahamas

What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? a new car

What was your biggest achievement of the year? going back to school for my masters and moving schools (really leaving my comfort zone!!)

What was your biggest failure? gaining weight

Did you suffer illness or injury? just a minor one compared to Peanut's wounds

What was the best thing you bought? a new switch to keep my AC running

Whose behavior merited celebration? not sure

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? not sure

Where did most of your money go? Peanut's bills, daily living bills, and clothes!!

What did you get really, really, really excited about? Ummm....getting engaged!!!!

Compared to this time last year, are you: much happier, richer, nicer. don't know

What do you wish you'd done more of? gone to crops

What was your favorite TV program? Desperate Housewives and Reality Shows-Amazing Race, Biggest Loser, Big Brother...

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? no hating

What was the best book you read this year? still reading it-The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

What did you want and get? a Diamond Ring!!!!

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 32 and got engaged!!!! First I went to Kip's for a pool party, then out to dinner with Phil and then to the beach where he proposed!!

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? By far-not having to deal with a pit bull attack!!

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? comfy lounge pants, no bra, t-shirt and no shoes and hair in a pony tail

What political issue stirred you the most? don't know

Who did you miss? no one

Who was the best new person (people) you met? my new staff-they are wonderful!

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Take chances, no matter how scary it may be!

Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle!

Only 1 more day! Are you ready? I am! Is your shopping finished? Yep! Are the presents wrapped? Sure are!

I am so glad to be on vacation. I was starting to really stress out last week...just too much to do and too close to Christmas! But time for some rest.

This is a picture of my girl-I put this on my Christmas cards. Isn't she precious?! She hated every minute of it!

This was at the beginning of the photo shoot...

Now this one is towards the end...

So today we are off to have our family Christmas Eve lunch with my mom, Bill and brothers. My parents wanted to start a tradition for our family so that's what they came up with. We go to Bennagin's. Later on today, we are headed to Grandma's for her Open House. We have Oyster Stew, finger foods, and get to open Grandma's present! Tomorrow we will go to my mom's for Christmas day dinner. Pretty busy time!!

Hope you have a Wonderful Christmas!

Tagged by Robin...

1. What one person has most inspired you in your career? I think my mom since she is a teacher and I always wanted to be a teacher.

2. If money were not an issue, where would you live? I'd have a home in Florida on the water-west coast and a home in the mountains with a wonderful view.

3. What is the best advice you ever received? If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. AND You get what you get and you don't throw a fit-got that from former student and use it all the time with my kids.

4. What is your favorite time of the day? I like crawling into my bed and curling up with Peanut.

5. What is the best invention since sliced bread? not sure-maybe the microwave, ceiling fan, computer, digital camera...lots!

6. Not including family or friends, the top three things you’re thankful for? I am thankful to have a career that I love, the opportunity to further my education and that I own my home.

7. If you had that mobile phone service, who would be in your top five (Which five people do you talk to on the phone the most)? Phil, my mom, Phil, my mom, oh already said them, umm...grandma...that's it really-everyone else I text.

8 What things need to happen for you to have a good day? Wake up

9. What is your favorite every day outfit? shorts, t-shirt (no bra-I know TMI) and no shoes or flip flops

10. When you are alone in the car, what do you do? sing

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Nissan Sentra

12. What one person, whom you have never met, do you wish you could have lunch with? My mom's dad

13. What is the one part of your body that you like the most? my hair, eyes

14. What song, playing on the radio currently, is your favorite to hear? Bubbly

15. What is the one piece of advice that you wish you could give someone? Don't know...

16. What are you looking forward to right now? Getting married

17. What are the TV shows you watch every week, and hate to miss? Desperate Housewives, Amazing Race, Biggest Loser

18. What is the dinner that your family eats once a week? chicken

19. If you just won $100,000, what would you use the money for? down payment for a house, pay off my debt, and the rest for the wedding/honeymoon.

20. Name one random fact about you that you think most people do not know. My hands shake a lot.

I've been tagged!

Michele tagged me so here goes...

1. Colored lights or white lights on your house or not at all? no lights on my house-live in a condo, colored on my tree

2. Hot chocolate or Egg Nog? hot chocolate

3. What's your favorite holiday dish? don't have a favorite

4. Does Santa wrap the presents or just sit them under the tree? definately wrapped!!

5. Do you hang mistletoe? no

6. When do you put up your decorations? whenever the mood strikes and when there's money to buy a tree...no tree yet...

7. What's your favorite holiday tradition? everything...love it all!

8. What's on the top of your tree? there will be an angel

9. Do you have a nativity displayed through the holidays? I have one...need to get it out this year

10.Candy Canes, traditional or flavored? Or Chocolate Covered Cherries? actually none of them...but if I had to...it'd be flavored candy canes

11.What's your favorite holiday goodie to make and share? Reese's fudge

12.What's your favorite Christmas song? The First Noel

13.When did you learn the truth about the "magic" of Christmas? I don't remember how old I was, but I do remember recognizing Santa's handwriting...I wasn't crushed though!

14.Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes at Grandma's

15.Is there a special ornament or Christmas decoration that you wouldn't feel like Christmas without? My christmas tree skirt that Grandma made for me when I first got my place. Also my stocking that my other Grandma made for me. Oh and every year my mom gets me (and my brothers) an ornament. I have started doing this with Phil and hope to continue when we have a family.

16.Do you take neighbor gifts/treats to anyone, everyone, a select few? Some people, usually my volunteers in class, and this year my teammates.

17.Is your big meal on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning or Christmas afternoon? Well, lets see...we all (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma, etc) get together on a Saturday or Sunday before Christmas, then Grandma has everyone over for Christmas Eve (we have Oyster Stew and open her gifts), then my mom has us up for Christmas day along with some other family members...so that's 3 big meals!

18.How do you decorate your tree? lights, ornaments from my childhood, new ornaments, etc.

19.Snow? Love it? Dread it? Tolerate it? LOVE IT!!! Just don't want to live in it! Visiting it is fine and would love to go skiing soon!!!

20.Do you remember a favorite gift? All of them!

21.Do you have a family get-together during the holidays with extended family? YEP-see above!

22.What's the most important thing that you must do each Christmas season? make my Christmas cards

23.Do you bake Christmas cookies? yep

24.Do you leave cookies and milk for Santa? no, but hope to when we have a family

25.What's your favorite Christmas memory? Can't pick just one so every Christmas was memorable!


I don't think there are any others left to tag so...if you want to pass this along in an email to others feel free!
Merry Christmas!